Microsoft Flight Simulator is thrilled to add to the beauty of the simulator with fascinating new landscapes. Known as both a continent and a geographic region, and straddling the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Hemispheres, Oceania is comprised of remote coral islands, long stretches of white sand beaches, towering volcanoes, vast interior sweeps of uninhabited rainforest, and populated cities boasting modern architectural wonders. Antarctica is a dream destination for aviators with adventure, intrigue, and boundless vistas of pristine coastal and inland glaciated terrain.
Microsoft Flight Simulator’s World Update XIII includes Polynesia (Hawaii and Easter Island), Melanesia (Fiji, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Indonesia’s West Papua, and the Solomon Islands), the Galapagos Islands and key regions of Antarctica, notably the Antarctic Peninsula. The update provides a total of 13 countries and 28 non-sovereign territories, many with improved resolution that will allow pilots to experience stunning new vistas throughout these regions. The release is based on the latest aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and digital elevation modelling data. There is an updated height field for Hawaii and features the city of Honolulu with dozens of handmade buildings.
Our partner team at Orbx has also created 150 points of interest (POIs) throughout the region, including:
- Four series of Moai monoliths on Easter Island
- The Autograph Tower – the tallest building in Indonesia and the Southern Hemisphere
- A series of Antarctic research bases including McMurdo Station, Scott Base, and Davis Station
- The Point Venus Lighthouse on Tahiti
Orbx has also produced over a dozen hand-made airports for the release, some of which will tempt the adventurous STOL (short take-off and landing) aviators to test their mettle, including:
- A collection of highlands dirt airstrips in Papua New Guinea
- Easter Island’s Mataveri International Airport (SCIP)
- Hawaii’s Kona International Airport (PHKO)
- Nusatupe Airport (AGGN) on the Solomon Islands
- Bora Bora Airport (NTTB) in French Polynesia
- Moorea Airpot (NTTM) in French Polynesia
Additionally, the team at Perfect Flight developed eleven missions to showcase the best of Oceania. These include five discovery flights:
- The West Maui Mountains in a DG Aviation LS8-18 glider
- Tahiti in a Cessna 152
- Kiribati’s Tarawa in a Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopter
- Hawaii’s Mauna Kea in a Diamond Aircraft DA62
- Central Java in a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan.
3 Landing Challenges:
- Fiji’s Nadi International Airport (NFFN) in an Airbus A320
- Palmyra Airport (PLPA) on Palmyra Atoll in a Bonanza G36
- Busilmin Airstrip (AYIN) on Papua New Guinea in a a CubCrafters XCub.
3 Bush Trips:
- New Caledonia Tour in a Diamond Aircraft DA62
- New Guinea Challenge in a CubCrafters NXCub
- Aloha Hawaii in a Cessna 172.
World Update XIII: Oceania and Antarctica is available FREE to all owners of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Check that your simulator is updated to the latest version, download World Update XIII, and explore the incredible detail reproduced in Oceania and Antarctica. The sky is calling!
Microsoft Flight Simulator is available for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
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