We’ve got less than four weeks left in 2025 and Microsoft Flight Simulator still has a few items on the roadmap that haven’t yet arrived. Let’s have a look at what we know. Early access for Play Station 5 is now underway and full access begins next week. Let’s talk about that too!

Welcome PlayStation 5 simmers!

Another console has joined in on the Microsoft Flight Simulator fun as the platform takes a leap into a whole new customer base. PlayStation 5 users are now able to access the simulator, for the first time, with early access prioritized for Deluxe, Premium Deluxe, or Aviator Editions of MSFS 2024. That access started yesterday with rolling times across the world. If you pre-ordered Standard Edition, general access for all is coming on Monday, December 8.

The launch brings in a whole new batch of simmers to the sim joining those already playing on Xbox and, of course, on PC. MSFS has already broken records for most players and most active users and this seems like a surefire way to further increase that number. The launch comes as Microsoft appears to be shifting away from Xbox exclusives in favour of a more generalized approach to game releases.

Sim Update 4 news plus aircraft update

We’re very close to the end of the ear and there are still a few items left on the list before the year comes to an end. The news we have tonight is that Sim Update 4, long in beta, is getting close to release.

Speaking of PC and Xbox simmers, Sim Update 4 is getting very close to release on your platforms! Our goal is for the full release to launch next week, but as always this is a target, not a locked-in promise, and the release timing could possibly change. We follow the feedback from beta testers on our forums very closely, so be sure to vote in our beta surveys, submit bug reports, and leave comments if you are participating in the pre-release test!

Meanwhile, a First Party Aircraft Update release came out today as well with updates to the following aircraft:

• Dornier Do J “Wal”
• Dornier Do X
• Focke Wulff FW200 Condor
• Fokker F.VII
• Grumman HU-16 Albatross
• Junkers F13
• Junkers Ju-52
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries MU-2
• Savoia-Marchetti S.55 / S.55X
• Waco CG-4A

I am overjoyed to see these aircraft getting attention and updates particularly for MSFS 2024 though some of them have notes that improve their 2020 experience as well. The full change log is available here.

I’m expecting to see a lengthier list of changes coming with Sim Update 4. While beta testers have reported on the technology updates and some very encouraging news surrounding performance in SU4 beta, what isn’t there are many of the aircraft changes. We already know that there are fixes coming to types like the A400M, H225 and possibly the An225 and there’s likely quite a bit more likely on the way too.

Still to come before the end of the year

Going back to one of Jorg’s slides at the end of the October 2025 Developer Stream, and we have a bunch of content still to be released. The Northrup T-38A (Famous Flyer 13) and Boom Supersonic XB-1 (Famous Flyer 14) are both expected December 9th if plans continue to hold and one more Local Legend is due. There’s also one more unrevealed City Update on the list and one surprise. For a while we thought maybe the PlayStation release was the surprise… but it isn’t. So we’re going to have to wait and see what that’s all about.

That’s quite a bit that should happen in the next week or so. Two or three aircraft releases, a Sim Update, a City Update and maybe a surprise. That should be exciting!