Sim Update 5 makes significant improvements across the entire simulator, introduces PS VR2, and unlocks two more Career specializations.
Technical Polish
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- Performance Improvement: Optimization in SU_05 improves frame rates and reduces stuttering, especially in large cities and complex airports.
- AMD Hardware Fix: We have implemented a fix for visual glitches on AMD Radeon RX 9xxx series cards, ensuring exposure levels remain consistent across all hardware architectures.
Virtual Reality
- PS VR2 Launch: Arriving as a free update for all PS5 owners of MSFS 2024.
- VR-Specific HUD: Simmers can now toggle the HUD off specifically for VR while keeping it on for 2D play.
- Tooltips Display: Tooltip cards in VR are now positioned closer to the switches you’re looking at, reducing eye strain and “floaty” UI.
Career Mode Improvements
All career modes are now fully unlocked and received a significant “quality of life” pass.
- Heavy & VTOL Unlocked: Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) content as well as all “Heavy” aircraft specializations are now available.
- Smarter Dispatching: The sim leverages more information to check for runway lights at night and runway length requirements before sending simmers on a mission. Search & Rescue and Banner pickup zones have also been reconciled with vegetation information.
- New ATC Queueing System: Ensures that the player’s requests take priority. Simmers no longer have to wait up to several minutes to get a landing clearance because an AI plane is repeating its taxi instructions.
- Reliable Ground Services: Even if one service (like catering) is unavailable, the rest of the ground crew (baggage, fuel, jetway) will now function correctly to keep players on schedule.
- Mission Spawning: Additional parking spot tests and assignments fallback to ensure simmers do not spawn on parking stands that are too small anymore, or on parking spots that are unusable because of obstacles.
UI Improvements
- Aircraft Selection: Aircraft variation types are now visible in the aircraft selector.
- Controller Support: Improved interaction feedback when using sliders or menus with a controller.
- Sim Rate Feedback: Sim rate is now conveniently displayed under the mini-map.
- Graphics Settings: New Global Rendering Quality page.
- Flight Interface Settings: New Air Flow Visualization section.
Aircraft & Avionics
- Avidyne IFD540/550: Pilots can now fly the legendary Cessna 172 Skyhawk (Classic) equipped with the Avidyne stack as a high-fidelity alternative to the standard GNS units.
- Weather Radar API: The platform now allows aircraft developers to provide authentic weather radars including the tilt function.
- Aircraft Improvements: Numerous improvements were made to the aircraft fleet.
The Sky Is Calling!
Microsoft Flight Simulator’s Sim Update 5 is FREE to all owners of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Ensure that your simulator is updated to the latest Sim Update, and explore the wonders of the world. The sky is calling!
Microsoft Flight Simulator is available for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, PlayStation 5, and on supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (formerly known as Twitter) or visit our website at: www.flightsimulator.com.