In the northern hemisphere, December is typically a colder month but Microsoft Flight Simulator is coming in hot this December with Sim Update 4 releasing alongside availability for all PlayStation 5 owners. It’s a pretty big day for the sim. Here’s what’s changed!
The big long list of updates
The last couple of Sim Updates for MSFS 2024 have been consequential ones helping to rescue the sim’s less than stellar release state and get things running again. But it looks like Sim Update 4 may actually be the most consequential as it builds on the work from before and tackles some long standing issues. Let’s have a look at some highlights.
One of the things that people have most been looking to in Sim Update 4 is performance and stability. The sim has been running much better since release but it hadn’t quite worked its way back to what MSFS 2020 was offering in recent times. It looks like we might be in a very good place now given my own experiences and those we’ve been hearing from beta testers and over the last few hours from around the community.
Improvements include fixing crashes, optimization across a wide range of categories (including some Xbox specific changes), there’s a huge list of scenery fixes and improvements, generic airports have been generally improved, and many aircraft have been improved. Some of those biggest changes are to some historically really poorly implemented aircraft like the 787-10 which has seen a thorough overhaul of the external visuals or the H225 which has had several serious bugs fixed. They are not alone as dozens of aircraft have extensive changelogs!
Now its not all roses as some folks are still reporting issues on the forums and while there have been some changes to career mode, I suspect that feature will need far more in the way of changes before it will be fully viable. Still, it has improved slightly as well.
This sounds very encouraging and my first flights appear to confirm the general improving vibe around the sim. More to come on that.
The other bit of news is that PlayStation 5 owners with the standard edition now join in on the fun that has been on offer for the other versions of the sim since late last week. I look forward to the influx of new people joining the sim and hobby, sometimes, for the first time. Love to see it!
Stormbirds 
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