August 3rd, 2023 Development Update

The development team is currently hard at work preparing the first beta build of Sim Update 13 (SU_13), the next major release for Microsoft Flight Simulator. If you were enrolled in previous public tests and didn’t manually opt-out, the SU_13 beta build will be automatically installed for you as soon as it is available. If you did not take part in previous betas but would like to help test SU_13, we will provide instructions on how to join the beta when the public testing period begins.

Recently, we have seen some questions from players asking about the status of the Scenery Gateway System, which the Development Roadmap stated would be released with World Update XIV last week. Unfortunately, this did not happen. The Scenery Gateway is currently undergoing accessibility and privacy requirement reviews, and while we were hopeful these reviews would be complete in time for a launch with World Update XIV, they remain ongoing. We are currently targeting the Scenery Gateway System to release alongside the launch of Sim Update 13 in September, although this may change depending on how the accessibility and privacy reviews progress.

Yesterday, the Xbox team announced the lineup of titles that will be appearing at gamescom, the world’s largest gaming event, in Cologne, Germany from August 24-27. Attendees at gamescom will have the opportunity of hands-on experience with the latest content coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator! If you’re attending gamescom, be sure to stop by the Xbox booth in Hall 8 of the Koelnmesse, North entrance and say hello to the team!

For gamescom attendees and those who will be in or near the Cologne area on August 26, we are hosting a small community event for Microsoft Flight Simulator fans. Space will be limited, so please complete this form to express your interest in attending this event!

Finally, to third party developers, you may have noticed that the DevSupport forum migrated to a new software platform today. The web address remains unchanged, and you should have received an email advising you how to login to the new platform.

– MSFS Team

SDK & Third Party UPDATEs

Community Video

Princess Juliana International Airport (TNCM) in Sint Maarten remains a very popular destination for beachgoing tourists, planespotters, and sim pilots alike. So popular is this airport among aviation enthusiasts that the Microsoft Flight Simulator team added an updated bespoke version of TNCM as part of last year’s 40th Anniversary Edition release.

Recently on YouTube, Alpha Originals re-created a real-world flight to Princess Juliana: a seven-hour voyage in a KLM Boeing 747-8 from Amsterdam. You can watch a highlight reel showing the best parts of this flight in our featured Community Video this week. Check it out!

 

Screenshot Challenge

You can submit your screenshot via Twitter with #MSFSchallenge or the Weekly Forum Post! This week’s screenshot challenge: Circles, Squares, and Triangles

This past week’s Screenshot Challenge was “Central Eastern Europe“!

Weekly Screenshot Challenge Winner: 2525ARW (Twitter)

Screenshot by CpuGeta486 (Twitter)

Screenshot by DrCsany (Forum)

Screenshot by ExplorerJB (Forum)

Screenshot by HolmesCZ6127 (Forum)

Screenshot by iNeedKelp (Forum)

Screenshot by IronWings_VP (Twitter)

Screenshot by IsakWold (Forum)

Screenshot by KotetuP (Twitter)

Screenshot by ukaka5656 (Twitter)

Screenshot by ZILLNIAZI17 (Forum)

---

NEXT DEVELOPMENT BLOG UPDATE – August 10th, 2023

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team