Landmark Update Expands Australia’s Presence in Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft has turned its attention back to Australia with the release of World Update 21 for Microsoft Flight Simulator, delivering one of the most detailed recreations of the country seen in the series to date.
The update marks the simulator’s biggest Australian refresh since World Update 7 in 2022, adding dozens of new landmarks, upgraded cities and handcrafted airports across the country. From Western Australia’s Busselton Jetty to Victoria’s Memorial Arch along the Great Ocean Road, the update significantly expands the game’s local detail using enhanced aerial mapping and photogrammetry technology.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator Jorg Neumann said Australia remains one of the franchise’s most requested locations among dedicated aviation fans.
Australia Holds a Special Place for Flight Sim Fans
“We listen to our community,” Neumann said. “Australia is sort of in the hearts of flight simulator fans.”
According to Microsoft, Australia ranks third globally for airport density within the simulator’s world map, behind only larger aviation markets. Neumann said the country’s long-standing connection to aviation history likely contributes to its popularity among players.
The game’s Australian audience has also grown substantially since the launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.
“I asked our data scientist team how many people from Australia have flown in Flight Sim in the last few years, and the number is half a million,” Neumann said.
He added that players have collectively recorded around 30 million landings across Australia in-game, highlighting international interest in flying through the country’s vast landscapes and regional centres.
What’s Included in World Update 21
New Australian Landmarks and Airports
World Update 21 introduces more than 40 new Areas of Interest and 36 additional Points of Interest across Australia.
The update also includes:
- Six handcrafted airports
- Three Discovery Flights
- Four Precision Landings for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Three Landing Challenges for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
- One Bush Trip
- Two Low Altitude Challenges
- Two Rally Race Challenges
Australian “Big Things” attractions — including the Big Mango, Big Golden Guitar, Big Orange and the Giant Koala — have also been recreated, reflecting the country’s distinctive roadside tourism culture familiar to many regional travellers.
Neumann said Microsoft’s developers worked closely with local contributors to identify locations that Australian players believed had been overlooked in previous updates.
Improved Mapping Technology Brings Cities to Life
A major focus of World Update 21 is the overhaul of Australian urban environments.
Generic buildings and parklands previously used in cities have now been replaced with more accurate structures layered over updated satellite imagery. Microsoft said this was made possible through partnerships with mapping and photogrammetry specialists including Azure Maps, Vexcel and Gaya Simulations.
Neumann said Australia now contains 42 high-density triangular irregular network (TIN) regions — more than any other country represented in the simulator.
“Out of the top population centres in Australia, I think we have almost all of them covered now,” he said.
The expanded city modelling increases Australia’s photogrammetry coverage from roughly 6,000 square kilometres during World Update 7 to more than 30,000 square kilometres in the latest release.
Historic Australian Aircraft Join the Simulator
CAC Boomerang Added as Local Legend
The update also introduces the CAC Boomerang as a new “Local Legend” aircraft.
The fighter aircraft was developed during World War II by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation after the Australian Government requested a domestically produced defence aircraft shortly after the outbreak of war in the Pacific.
Neumann described the project’s rapid development timeline as remarkable.
“They got it done in sixteen weeks. And it was airworthy,” he said.
Several preserved Boomerang aircraft remain on display in Australia today, particularly in aviation museums and heritage collections.
Southern Cross Aircraft Offered Free for Limited Time
Microsoft is also giving away the Southern Cross Fokker F.VII aircraft for a limited period.
The aircraft was chosen to commemorate the approaching centenary of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s historic trans-Pacific flight, one of the defining moments in Australian aviation history.
NSW Rural Fire Service Partnership Highlights Aviation’s Real-World Role
To mark the release of World Update 21, Microsoft hosted a launch event at Bankstown Hangar in Sydney in partnership with the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Neumann said the development team gained a deeper appreciation for Australia’s aerial firefighting operations during production.
“Airplanes are a portion of how fires are fought,” he said. “Mostly the airplanes are there to support the ground crew because the ground crews are the ones that really put out the fire.”
While Flight Simulator currently simplifies firefighting mechanics, Neumann said the company aims to improve realism over time as the simulator evolves.
Flight Simulator Inspiring a New Generation of Aviators
Neumann also pointed to the growing influence of Microsoft Flight Simulator among younger audiences interested in aviation careers.
He said gaming events such as Gamescom regularly attract large crowds of younger players eager to try the simulator, with internal surveys showing strong engagement among users aged between eight and fifteen.
“There’s a lot of jobs, oftentimes very important jobs that aviators do that are maybe not as well known,” he said.
“But when you can start trying these things in Flight Simulator, you start to realise this is not that far away — and maybe this is a career you want to pursue.”
Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update 21 Available Now
World Update 21 is available now as a free download for all owners of Microsoft Flight Simulator, bringing one of the most comprehensive digital recreations of Australia yet seen in the long-running aviation series.
Cory Weinberg is a contributor to Sproutwired.com, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Cory’s work highlights relevant stories, practical insights and important issues affecting communities and industries, with an emphasis on accuracy, clarity and information that readers can trust.
