Microsoft has released the second major system update for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Sim Update 2 (version 1.4.20.0), has just been released and brings numerous improvements, bug fixes, and new features to the flight simulation game.

New Features

Some of the most important new additions include:

• FSR Frame Generation: AMD’s frame generation technology has been integrated
• DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation: Native support for NVIDIA’s latest DLSS version
• Wake Turbulence Visualization: Option to visualize wake turbulence
• Foveated Rendering for VR: Improved performance in virtual reality
• New Flight Assistance Systems: Revised gyro drift compensation and wake turbulence assistance

Performance Improvements

The update focuses heavily on performance optimizations:

• Improved loading times for packages with many individual files
• Reduced memory usage and more efficient utilization of rolling cache
• Better GPU utilization and reduced requests when loading models
• General stability improvements with fewer crashes

Aircraft Updates

Over 60 aircraft received extensive revisions, including:

• Boeing 737 MAX 8 with corrected hydraulic systems and instruments
• Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner with more realistic engine spool-up times
• Airbus A310/A321/A330 with numerous bug fixes from iniBuilds
• Helicopters like Robinson R66 and Bell 407 with improved flight behavior

Particularly noteworthy is the attention to detail in systems such as glass cockpits. The Garmin G1000, G3000/G5000, and other avionics systems have been extensively revised to provide more realistic behavior.

Scenery and Airports

Numerous airports received LOD (Level of Detail) upgrades, improving visual quality from a distance, including:

• San Francisco (KSFO)
• Zurich (LSZH)
• Munich (EDDM)
• Charles de Gaulle (LFPG)

Vegetation has been revised with a more natural distribution of trees and shrubs, particularly improving the transition between forested areas and open spaces.

Career Mode

The career mode received important improvements:

• Better filtering options for missions by difficulty and specialization
• New validation processes for aircraft compatibility with career mode
• Bug fixes for various certifications and mission types

Conclusion

Sim Update 2 is a comprehensive update that improves numerous aspects of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The performance optimizations and detailed aircraft revisions in particular demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to the simulation. For developers, many SDK improvements have also been implemented to facilitate the creation of add-ons.

The update is now available for all Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 users on PC and Xbox and can be downloaded through the usual update channels.