Microsoft Flight Simulator Gets World Update 22 With U.S. National Parks

Microsoft has released Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update 22: United States National Parks for both modern versions of the simulator.

The free update improves scenery across major U.S. national parks, forests, and natural landmarks. It also arrives as Microsoft begins marking the United States’ upcoming 250th birthday.

Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update 22 Focuses on U.S. National Parks

World Update 22 improves several well-known outdoor locations across the United States.

The update highlights areas such as Death Valley National Park, Olympic National Park, Acadia National Park, and Mount Hood National Forest.

Microsoft says the update aims to better represent the country’s natural variety, including mountains, coastlines, deserts, forests, and other scenic landmarks.

31 New Areas of Interest Added

The update overhauls 31 new areas of interest across U.S. national parks and forest regions.

These include improved visitor centers, lodges, lookouts, resorts, and natural wonders. The goal is to make flights over these locations look more detailed and closer to their real-world appearance.

Players also receive new flight content as part of the free package.

World Update 22 includes three guided tours, nine discovery flights, enhanced national park scenery, improved terrain and landmark detail, and updated visitor-focused buildings and natural points of interest.

Microsoft Uses Photogrammetry and Terrain Technology

Microsoft worked with Bing Places, Vexcel, Gaya, and Asobo on the update.

The teams used photogrammetry to improve real-world visual detail. They also used TIN surface texturing and digital elevation modeling to enhance terrain, landmarks, and scenery accuracy.

These technologies help the simulator better represent complex landscapes, including cliffs, mountains, forests, valleys, and coastal areas.

World Update 22 Is Free to Download

World Update 22 is available for Microsoft Flight Simulator and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

Players can download it for free from the in-game marketplace. However, they must update the simulator to the latest version before installing the package.

In other Microsoft Flight Simulator news, Microsoft has removed Mscenery from the Flight Simulator Marketplace after community complaints.