The live Developer Q&A took place earlier this week with Microsoft and Asobo (plus special guests) taking to Twitch to inform the community about the near-term plans for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
After a break from regular streams, Microsoft and Asobo used the presentation to discuss Sim Update 5, ongoing performance work, virtual reality support, weather systems, marketplace priorities and the wider roadmap for both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. We have already covered the World Update, and Expert Series Planes in separate posts, so this one will focus on other exciting developments from the stream.
Sim Update 5 Approaching Release
One of the headline topics from the stream was Sim Update 5. The development team said the update was close to release, with only a small number of must-fix issues remaining at the time of broadcast. These final items were described as being connected mainly to Career Mode progression systems and general release readiness across supported platforms.
No exact launch date was provided, but the team indicated they were hoping to release the update soon, once final checks were complete, with the aim being later this month.
Performance and Optimisation Work
Asobo also shared additional technical details on optimisation work included in Sim Update 5. Developers explained that aircraft simulation tasks have been further reworked to make better use of multithreading, helping reduce pressure on the main thread and improving CPU-limited scenarios.
This should be particularly beneficial when operating heavier or more system-intensive aircraft.
Further work has also taken place to reduce memory allocation frequency across several systems, including buildings, electrical systems, boats and bridges. These changes are intended to improve smoothness and reduce stutters during flight.
Performance remains one of the most common community discussion points, and the team said optimisation continues to be an ongoing priority.
Marketplace to See Improvement
Jorg said that after core simulator stability and polish, the Marketplace is now one of the team’s highest priorities. He described the health of the ecosystem as important, particularly on Xbox and PlayStation where users rely on the in-sim store for add-ons.
For the Marketplace, SU5 brings a redesigned main page with a better hero layout and curated recommended rows for aircraft and scenery. On that note, the PS5 marketplace is also launching alongside SU5, starting with a curated batch of around 20 add-ons that have passed a technical evaluation process for performance on that platform.
Microsoft also addressed concerns from developers waiting to join the Marketplace. The team explained that new internal tools now allow creators to submit and manage their own releases, reducing the need for manual handling by Microsoft staff. This should free up resources and help onboard more developers over time.
Sim Update 5 will also introduce Marketplace gifting, allowing users to purchase products for friends. Microsoft also continues to support product rentals, letting users try selected content before buying. The team suggested this is an area where the Marketplace can further expand.
Other improvements being considered are the rating system, the ability to do written reviews, and improving discoverability.
2026 Roadmap Overview
Microsoft also shared a broader roadmap for the year ahead. Planned releases currently include:
- Five City Updates
- Three World Updates
- One Famous Flyer
- Four Local Legends aircraft
- Two Expert Series aircraft
- One new base aircraft
For platform updates, the roadmap currently lists three Sim Updates for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and one additional Sim Update for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.
Virtual Reality Coming to PlayStation 5 in SU5
We already knew this from their FSWeekend presentation. But we also knew about upcoming improvements and changes coming to the overall VR experience.
According to the developers, Sim Update 5 will include:
- Improved HUD readability in VR
- Better interface behaviour while using headsets
- Refined tooltips and cockpit interactions
- General VR usability improvements
Although some of the immediate work is tied to PSVR2 on PlayStation 5, PC VR users are also expected to benefit from the changes included in the update.
Meeting the Team at FlightSimExpo 2026
We covered this in a separate post, also, but to reiterate that the Microsoft Flight Simulator team will be present at FlightSimExpo 2026 in Saint Paul.
Microsoft has previously attended FlightSimExpo in Houston and Las Vegas, always bringing an impressive exhibit space to showcase the latest features. It’s very likely that they will bring the latest build of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and give everyone there the chance to fly the simulator with VR on PlayStation 5, which we saw earlier this year.
