Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update 20 brings major upgrades to Japan

Microsoft Flight Simulator World Updates don't land often, but they carry a massive amount of visual upgrades to terrain and cities when they do. Today at the Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft unveiled World Update 20, and matching the occasion, it's focused entirely on Japan. Watch the reveal trailer above for some glimpses of the newly upgraded regions.

World Update 20 is being described as one of the largest content drops for Flight Simulator so far, bringing increased detail to cities Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. The company has collaborated with Bing Maps, Gaya, and Asobo to use photogrammetry and TIN (triangulated irregular network) surface texturing for the visual and terrain upgrades seen across 23 areas of interest.

At the same time, 67 points of interest have been added for players to visit during their flights across the country. This includes Osaka Castle, Akinada Bridge, Shosanbetsu Observatory, Enoshima Sea Candle, and the Fukuoka Tower.

The update carries five handcrafted airports from the region as well:

• Hokkaido Spaceport (JP-0052): Also known as Taiki Multi-Purpose Aerospace Park, this facility is located outside of Taiki Town on the island of Hokkaido and comprises a single asphalt runway.
• Kitakyushu Airport (RJFR): Built on an artificial island outside of Kitakyushu on the Seto Island Sea, this airport comprises a single asphalt / concrete runway and is one of six in Japan that operates 24 hours per day.
• Rishiri Airport (RJER): located near the town of Rishiri on the volcanic island of Rishiri, the airport has a single asphalt runway.
• Sado Airport (RJSD): Located in the city of Sado, on the island of Sado, the facility has a single asphalt runway.
• Satsuma Iōjima Airport (RJX7): A private airfield in the village of Mishima, on the island of Iōjima, which comprises a single asphalt runway.

Aside from the visual and accuracy upgrades, three discovery flights, three landing challenges, one bush trip, and one spotlight event are also a part of the update, letting players explore the land via curated missions.

World Update 20 is now available for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Microsoft Flight Simulator as a free download. Don't forget that the latest entry was just announced for Sony's PlayStation 5 platform too.

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Posted Friday 26 September 2025 at 4:01 am AEST (my time).

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