World Update 23: Poland and the Baltics adds stunning detail to regions throughout Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland!
The European countries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland offer an incredible range of spectacular sights and experiences. Steeped in history and filled with beautiful vistas of natural splendor and architectural masterpieces, the region offers endless opportunities for exploration. Poland, one of the largest countries in Central Europe by both landmass and population, comprises a tremendous variety of destinations, including urban skylines of Warsaw, northern Baltic shorelines, broad river valleys, and mountains. The three contiguous Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia lie to the northeast of Poland. Lithuania, Poland’s northeastern neighbor, is renowned for its lakes, lush forests, and Baltic coastline. Latvia, located directly to the north of Lithuania, offers treasures including white sand Baltic beaches, interior wetlands, and picturesque villages. Estonia, located directly north of Latvia, is defined by extensive Baltic shorelines on its northern and western borders and two large Baltic Islands dotted with seaside hamlets.
For the first time in the franchise’s history, Microsoft Flight Simulator delivers a much-anticipated update to this region with World Update 23: Poland and the Baltics.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator team partnered with Bing Places, Asobo, and Gaya to bring this incredible addition to the Microsoft Flight Simulator world to life. The update comprises 12 areas of interest (AOIs) rendered using updated photogrammetry, TIN (triangulated irregular network) surface texturing, and digital elevation model (DEM) data. Eight of these AOIs are located in Poland, two in Lithuania, one in Latvia, and one in Estonia.
Photogrammetry Areas of Interest (AOIs) include:
Estonia
- Tallinn: Estonia’s capital is renowned for its diverse architecture from the medieval to the ultra-modern.
Latvia
- Riga: The capital of Latvia lies on the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the Daugava River and is famous for its medieval Old Town.
Lithuania
- Kaunas: Located at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris Rivers, this city is known for its modern architecture.
- Vilnius: The capital and largest city in Lithuania, it has one of the largest medieval Old Towns in Europe.
Poland
- Gdansk: A major port city on the Motlawa River that is renowned for its colorful maritime architecture.
- Katowice: With a history based on coal mining, the southern Polish city is today an important hub of business, finance, and technology.
- Krakow: Located on the Vistula River in southern Poland, it was the official capital of Poland until 1596 and is today the second most populous city in the nation.
- Lodz: Located in central Poland, it was a major textile and manufacturing hub during the Industrial Revolution and is one of the nation’s most populous cities today.
- Poznan: Located on the banks of the Warta River in western Poland, it is a major center for academia and commerce.
- Warsaw: Located on the Vistula River, it is the capital of and most populous city in Poland and one of the most important commercial and cultural centers in Europe.
- Wroclaw: Located along the Oder River across 12 islands, it is the most populous city in southwestern Poland.
Points of Interests (POIs)
Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update 23 also comprises 77 of points of interest (POIs), including castles, lighthouses, cathedrals, bridges, and towers. Points of Interest include:
Estonia
- Angla Windmill Park: A historic hilltop group of traditional windmills.
- Keri Lighthouse: Located on Keri Island in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea.
- Kõpu Lighthouse: The third oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the world and the oldest on the Baltic Sea.
Latvia
- Ēdole Castle: Rare 19th-century New-Gothic Tudor castle that has been painstakingly restored.
- Kolka Lighthouse: Located in the Irbe Straight, 5.2 km off the coast on an artificial island.
- Riga Radio and TV Tower: The tallest tower in the European Union.
- Rundāle Palace: A massive, world-renowned example of Baroque architecture that is often called the “Versailles of the Baltic.”
Lithuania
- Lazdininkai Windmill: 200-year-old historic wooden Dutch-style windmill.
- Lyduvenai Bridge: One of the longest bridges in Lithuania, it crosses the river Dubysa.
- Old Zabyskis Church: Early Gothic church that was built between 1530 and 1578.
- Trakai Island Castle: Located on an island in Lake Galve. Construction began in the 14th century.
Poland
- Malbork Castle: The largest brick castle in the world.
- Sopot Pier: The longest wooden pier in Europe.
- Urania Hall: A world-renowned futuristic architectural feat comprising a massive concrete dome encircled by a large ring.
Handcrafted Airports
The update also includes five meticulously handcrafted airports from Microsoft Flight Simulator’s long-term partner, Gaya:
- Kärdla Airport (EEKA), Estonia: The only airport on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa, it serves as a vital lifeline for the area’s residents.
- Jūrmala Airport (EVJA), Latvia: Initially built in the 1930s, it once served as a Soviet nuclear weapons bunker. Today it is a renowned museum and home base of Latvia’s Baltic Bees aerobatic demonstration team.
- Palanga International Airport (EYPA), Lithuania: Lithuania’s third largest airport and the primary gateway to the country’s Baltic Sea region.
- Warsaw-Babice Airport (EPBC), Poland: Located within the urban confines of Warsaw, Poland’s capital, this airport has a focus on private aviation, turboprop operations, and flight training.
- Opole-Kamień Śląski Airport (EPKN), Poland: Originally built as a military airfield in the mid-1930s by Germany, it is a small private airfield today. It is also home to the Silesia Ring automobile racetrack, where Porsche operates the Porsche Experience Center Poland.
Missions
Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update 23: Poland and the Baltics features several incredible missions for both Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024:
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – World Update 23 Missions
- Three Discovery Flights: Warsaw, Poland; Sigulda, Latvia; and Tallinn, Estonia.
- Four Precision Landings: Kärdla Airport (EEKA) in a Textron Aviation Cessna Citation CJ4; Jūrmala Airport (EVJA) in an Airbus A310-300; Palanga International Airport (EYPA) in an Airbus A320neo; and Opole-Kamień Śląski Airport (EPKN) in a Textron Aviation Beechcraft King Air 350i.
- Sopot Landing Challenge: Polish Red Bull Air Race pilot Łukasz Czepiela landed a custom-modified CubCrafters STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft on the wooden pier in Sopot.
- One Guided Tour: Tatra National Park.
- One Rally Race.
Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) – World Update 23 Missions
- Three Discovery Flights: Warsaw, Poland; Sigulda, Latvia; and Tallinn, Estonia.
- Four Landing Challenges: Kärdla Airport (EEKA) in a Textron Aviation Cessna Citation CJ4; Jūrmala Airport (EVJA) in an Airbus A310-300; Palanga International Airport (EYPA) in an Airbus A320neo; and Opole-Kamień Śląski Airport (EPKN) in a Textron Aviation Beechcraft King Air 350i.
Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update 23: Poland and the Baltics is FREE to all owners of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Ensure that your simulator is updated to the latest version, download World Update 23, and explore the wonders of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. The sky is calling!
Microsoft Flight Simulator is available for Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, PC, PlayStation 5, PS VR2, Steam, and 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 Twitter) or visit flightsimulator.com.