Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 News

[p][/p][p]Yesterday, we hosted our latest Developer Livestream on our official Twitch channel. Our usual panel of Jorg, Seb, and Martial answered many questions from the community about both Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and then welcomed Marwan Gharib from FlightFX to demo their newly-released aircraft, the Cessna Citation X, the first in our Marketplace Exclusive Series. If you missed it live, you can watch the replay on YouTube below:[/p][p][/p][p]Also this week, we released three new test builds to those participating in the public beta for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 3 and Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) Sim Update 16. You can read the release notes  for both below:[/p]

• [p]Sim Update 3 Beta (1.5.18.0) Release Notes – July 18th, 2025[/p]
• [p]Sim Update 3 Beta (1.5.19.0) Release Notes – July 23rd, 2025[/p]
• [p]Sim Update 16 Beta \[1.39.9.0] Release Notes – July 22nd, 2025[/p]

[p]The development team has been very closely monitoring the feedback submitted by players in the beta forums and reviewing the telemetry data we receive from testers. Thank you to everyone who has opted in to the beta, shared feedback and bug reports on our forums and voted in the SU3 and SU16 beta player surveys.[/p][p]Finally, you may have noticed that we recently started posting on Bluesky! You can now keep up with the latest MSFS news on your social platform of choice:[/p]

• [p]Bluesky[/p]
• [p]Facebook[/p]
• [p]Threads[/p]
• [p]X (formerly Twitter)[/p]

[p]Additionally, we also post short video content to Instagram and TikTok. Be sure to follow @msfsofficial on all your preferred social networks![/p][p]– MSFS Team[/p][p]
[/p][hr][/hr][p]Click here to continue reading the Development Update![/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]Since our last update, the public betas for both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 3 and Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) Sim Update 16 have both received new pre-release test builds. Each of these builds was relatively small and contained few changes, but you can find the release notes below:[/p]

• [p]Sim Update 3 Beta (1.5.17.0) Release Notes – July 16th, 2025[/p]
• [p]Sim Update 16 Beta \[1.39.8.0] Release Notes – July 15th, 2025[/p]

[p]As announced last week, several aircraft from the Deluxe and Premium Deluxe Editions of MSFS 2024 are now available to rent from the in-sim Marketplace. If you decide you like the aircraft after renting it and wish to buy it, you will receive a discount on the full purchase price! This week, three new planes are now available to rent:[/p]

• [p]Dornier Seawing Seastar[/p]
• [p]Pilatus PC-24[/p]
• [p]Zlin Aviation Savage Norden[/p]

[p]As a reminder, our next Developer Livestream is next Wednesday, July 23, 2025 starting at 10:30am PDT (1730 UTC). You can watch our panel of Jorg, Seb, and Martial respond to questions from the community, discuss the upcoming development roadmap, and reveal other changes coming to the sim live on our official Twitch channel. If you’re not able to watch the broadcast in real-time, we’ll also upload the VOD to our YouTube channel afterward.[/p][p]– MSFS Team[/p][hr][/hr][p]Click here to continue reading the Development Update![/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]Public pre-release testing of both Sim Update 3 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Sim Update 16 for Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) continues, with both sims receiving a new beta build this week. In case you missed it, you can read the release notes for these new beta builds here:[/p]

• [p]Sim Update 3 Beta (1.5.15.0) Release Notes – July 9th, 2025[/p]
• [p]Sim Update 16 Beta \[1.39.6.0] Release Notes – July 8, 2025[/p]

[p]Also new this week, we’re pleased to announce that several aircraft from the Deluxe and Premium Deluxe Editions of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are now available to rent from the in-sim Marketplace. Renting gives simmers the opportunity to try these planes for a small fee. When you rent an item, you’ll also receive an offer to purchase it at a discounted price.[/p][p]This offer is valid during your rental period and for seven (7) days after your rental expires. The purchase price is calculated by subtracting the highest single rental price you paid from the current full purchase price of the item in the Marketplace. For example: If the item costs $10 and you rented it twice, once for three days at $3 and once for one day at $1, the discounted purchase price would be $10 (item price) – $3 (highest rental paid) = $7.[/p][p]You can find more information about which Deluxe and Premium Deluxe Edition aircraft are available for rent in the image below:[/p][p][/p][p]Finally, we are now accepting questions for our next Developer Livestream scheduled for July 23, 2025. If you’d like to pre-submit a question to the panel, you can do so at this link.[/p][p]– MSFS Team[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]Click here to continue reading the Development Update![/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]Last Friday, we released City Update 11: Northeastern United States 2 and Famous Flyer 12: Piper PA-28-236 Dakota. The City Update may be claimed for FREE from the in-sim Marketplace for both MSFS (2020) and MSFS 2024 users. The Dakota is available FREE to all MSFS (2024) players and will automatically appear in My Library — no download needed! For MSFS (2020) players, you can purchase the PA-28 from the Marketplace for USD $14.99.[/p][p]In beta news, we released two new pre-release test builds for MSFS 2024 Sim Update 3 this week. You can read the release notes for each of these builds at the links below:[/p]

• [p]Sim Update 3 Beta – 1.5.12.0[/p]
• [p]Sim Update 3 Beta – 1.5.13.0[/p]

[p]As a reminder for everyone participating in the pre-release test, we really appreciate it if you submit bug reports for any issues you encounter and vote in the surveys for each build. Your timely and detailed feedback helps the development team immensely as we work to deliver the best possible Sim Update to our player community.[/p][p]As announced in our Development Update Blog last week, the FlightFX C750 is coming to the Marketplace soon! As a special preview of this exciting upcoming aircraft, check out twotonemurphy’s Twitch stream on July 9! The livestream begins at 1900 UTC, and the FlightFX C750 preview is expected to begin about an hour into the broadcast. Murph will be chatting with the FlightFX devs and exploring all the great new features of the plane which releases for MSFS (2020) and MSFS 2024 on July 10![/p][p]– MSFS Team[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]Click here to continue reading the Development Update![/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]The PA-28-236 Dakota: Refined and Resilient[/p][p]When first delivered in 1979, the Piper PA-28-236 Dakota represented a refined evolution of a Piper aircraft family that dated back nearly two decades. A member of the venerable PA-28 Cherokee lineage, the prototype of which took its maiden flight on January 14, 1960, the Dakota quickly proved to be a pilot favorite. The single-engine, 4-seat, all-metal aircraft excels at a wide range of flying, from short jaunts to cross country touring. Comfortable, reliable, and resilient, the Dakota provides aviators both high performance as well as forgiving flight characteristics.   [/p][p][/p][p]The Dakota’s cabin seats up to four, including the pilot. It has a traditional tail unit and a fixed tricycle undercarriage with wheel pants for maximum aerodynamic efficiency. The aircraft measures 24 feet, 7 inches in length, stands 7 feet, 2 inches tall, and has a wingspan of 35 feet, 4 inches. It is powered by a Lycoming O-540-J3A5D 6-cylinder piston engine that generates up to 235 horsepower and turns a 2-blade, constant-speed propeller.  [/p][p][/p][p]The PA28-236 is known to pilots as a responsive, great performer that is forgiving enough for new pilots. It has a range of 852 miles, a service ceiling of 17,500 feet above sea level, and it climbs at 1,110 feet per minute. It cruises at 166 miles per hour and has a top speed of 170 mph. It requires 886 feet to take-off and 825 feet to land.  [/p][p][/p][p]The Microsoft Flight Simulator  Piper PA-28-236[/p][p]The Piper PA-28-236 Dakota comes with the following liveries: Beige on Brown, White with Red and Grey Stripes, Chrome Red, Beige on Red, White with Blue and Grey Stripes, White with Green Stripes, Chrome Green, White, Aviators Club Livery, Xbox Aviators Club Livery. [/p][p][/p][p]The Microsoft Flight Simulator Piper PA-28-236 Dakota is the third of the four aircraft the team promised to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 consumers as a “make good” for their patience with the issues encountered during the launch. The plane is available for free today to all owners of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.  [/p][p][/p][p]For those wanting to fly the Piper PA-28-236 Dakota in Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020), it is available today for $14.99 in the in-sim marketplace. The sky is calling! [/p][p][/p][p]Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are 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. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator products, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (formerly Twitter) or visit [/p][p]www.flightsimulator.com.[/p][p] [/p][p] [/p]