Microsoft Flight Simulator is taking simmers on a new journey to the furthest reaches of the globe with the release of World Update 13, which brings to life the breathtaking regions of Oceania and Antarctica. This latest update enhances the already immersive experience for MSFS users by providing stunning new landscapes, points of interest, and missions to try out.
Oceania, a vast region that includes Polynesia, Melanesia, and the Galapagos Islands, is home to remote coral islands, pristine white sand beaches, towering volcanoes, and dense rainforests. World Update 13 delivers higher resolution imagery for 13 countries and 28 non-sovereign territories, as well as improved height field data for Hawaii and handcrafted buildings for the city of Honolulu.
Meanwhile, Antarctica offers a unique flying experience for aviators with its untouched coastal and inland glaciated terrain. The update brings key regions of Antarctica to life, notably the Antarctic Peninsula, and adds several Antarctic research bases as points of interest, including McMurdo Station, Scott Base, and Davis Station.
Orbx, a partner team for this update, has created 150 points of interest across Oceania and Antarctica, such as the iconic Moai monoliths on Easter Island, the Autograph Tower in Indonesia, the Point Venus Lighthouse on Tahiti, and more. Orbx has also handcrafted over a dozen airports, catering to adventurous STOL (short take-off and landing) pilots with challenging highlands dirt airstrips in Papua New Guinea, as well as more conventional airports like Kona International Airport in Hawaii and Mataveri International Airport on Easter Island.
To help pilots explore the beauty of Oceania, Perfect Flight has developed eleven missions for World Update XIII. These missions include five Discovery Flights over locations like West Maui, Tahiti, Kiribati, Mauna Kea, and Central Java. Additionally, there are three Landing Challenges at airports like Fiji’s Nadi International Airport, Palmyra Airport on Palmyra Atoll, and Busilmin Airstrip on Papua New Guinea. Finally, three Bush Trips have been designed for New Caledonia, New Guinea, and Hawaii, offering an unforgettable experience for virtual aviators.
World Update 13: Oceania and Antarctica is now available as a free download for all Microsoft Flight Simulator owners. To access the update, ensure your simulator is updated to the latest version and download the new content pack through the Marketplace.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Altutaki Lagoon Island Resort, The Cook Islands
Amédée Lighthouse, New Caledonia
APEC Haus, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Apia Town Clock Tower, Samoa
Autograph Tower, Java
Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua, Tonga
Bora-Bora Pearl Beach Resort, French Polynesia, Bora-Bora
Borobudur Temple Compounds, Indonesia
Cactus Test Dome, The Marshall islands
Capitol of Palau, Palau
Centennial Church, Tonga
Central Bank of Samoa, Samoa
Coast Watchers Memorial Lighthouse, Papua New Guinea
Conrad Bora Bora Nui, French Polynesia, Bora-Bora
FMFMIl Government Building, Samoa
Fort Teremba, New Caledonia
Four Seasons Bora Bora Resorts, French Polynesia, Bora-Bora
St. Regis Bora Bora Resorts, French Polynesia, Bora-Bora
Gama Tower, Java
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Java
Grand Hotel and Casino Vanuatu, Vanuatu
Grand Pacific Hotel, Fiji
Great Mosque of Central Java, Java
Guam Museum, Guam
Ha’amonga ‘a Maui, Tonga
Hilton Hotel Tahiti, French Polynesia
Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort, French Polynesia, Mo’ore
Hotel lorana, Easter Island, Chile
Hotel Manava Beach Resort, French Polynesia, Mo’orea
Hotel Nikko and Crystal Chapel, Guam
Imagination Island Hotel, Solomon Islands
Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral, Samoa
Indosiar Television Tower, JavA
InterContinental Bora Bora Resorts, French Polyn, Bora-Bora
InterContinental Le Moana Bora Bora Resorts, French Polyn, Bora-Bora
Intercontinental Moorea Resort, French Polynesia, Moorea
Istiqlal Mosque, Indonesia
Isurava Memorial, PNG
Jakarta Cathedral, Java
JOC Building, Johnston Atoll, Johnston Atoll
Kingsford Smith Grandstand, Fili
Kingston and Arthurs Vale Historic Area, Australia
Kiribati Parliament House, Kiribati
Lapangan Banteng, Indonesia
Lawang Sewu, Java
Le Meridien Bora Bora, French Polynesia, Bora-Bora
Le Meridien Noumea Resort, New Caledonia
Le Taha’a island Resort, French Polynesia
Lempuyang Temple Compounds, Indonesia
Lengkuas island Lighthouse, Belitung
Leon Dormido, Kicker Rock, Ecuador
Luminary Tower, Java
Mairie de Pirae, French Polynesia
Markham Bridge, PNG
Menara TVRI Tower, Java
Moai Statues Ahu Akivi, Easter Island, Chile
Moai Statues Ahu Nau Nau, Easter island, Chile
Moai Statues Ahu Tahai, Easter Island, Chile
Moai Statues Ahu Tongariki, Easter Island, Chile
Monas (National Monument), Java
Mori Building, Java
Muri Beach Club Hotel, Cook Islands
MV Ocean Giant, Antarctica
National Parliament House, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Nayara Hangaroa Hotel, Easter Island, Chile
Noble Center, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Norfolk island Convict Barracks, Australia
Notre Dame Cathedral, Papeete, French Polynesia
Numa-Daly Stadium, New Caledonia
Pacific Arcade, New Caledonia
Pacific Place, Java
Pacific Plaza Noumes, New Caledonia
Papeete Town Hall, French Polynesia, Tah
Para O Tane Palace, The Cook islands
Parliament Of The Republic of Fiji, Fiji
Point Venus Lighthouse, French Polynesia, Tahiti
Poreporena Stilt Villages, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Prambanan Temple Compounds, Indonesia
Presidential Palace, Papeete, French Polynesia
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, Indonesia
Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, Samoa
RSV Nuyina, Antarctica
Sam Poo Kong Temple Compounds, Indonesia
Sanbis Resort, Solomon Islands
Sand Island Structures, Midway Atoll, Midway Atoll
Sanggar Agung Temple Compounds, Indonesia
Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Siti Walidah UMS Main Building, Java
Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island, French Polynesia, Bora-Bora
Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea, French Polynesia, Mo’orea
Suramadu Bridge, Indonesia
Taumeasina Island Resort, Samoa
Te Rua Manga (The Needle), The Cook Islands
Tengku Fisabililish Bridge, Batam
Teufaiva Sport Stadium, Tonga
The City Tower, Insia
The Tsubaki Tower, Guam
Tiibsou Cultural Center, New Caledonia
Tomb of King Pomare V, French Polynesia
Tonga Royal Palace, Tonga
Treasury Tower, Java
Us Naval Hospital Guam, Guam
Vanuatu Parliament House & Convention Centre, Vanuatu
Wisma 46, Java
Youtefa Bridge, Papua
Hawaii
A’alii Tower, Oahu
Ala Moana Residential Towers, Oahu
Aliiolani Hale, Oahu
Aloha Stadium, Oahu
Aloha Tower, Oahu
Aloha Tower Marketplace, Oahu
Byodo-in Temple, Oahu
Captain Cook Monument, Hawaii
Diamond Head Lighthouse, Oahu
Haleakala High Altitude Observatory Site, Maui
Hanalei Bay Pier, Kaua’i
Hapuna Heliport, Hawaii
Harbor Square, Oahu
Hawaii Air National Guard Radar Site, Kaua’i
Hawaii State Capitol, Oahu
Hawaii State Library, Oahu
Hawaiian Monarch Hotel, Oahu
Hilo Medical Center and Rainbow Falls, Hawaii
Hilton Hawaiian Resort, Oahu
Honolulu Hale, Oahu
Honolulu Park Place, Oahu
Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hawaii
Iolani Palace, Oahu
Jagger Museum, Hawaii
Kilauea Point Lighthouse, Kaua’i
King Kalakaua Building, Oahu
Ko Olina Resorts, Oahu
Makaha Ridge Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kaua’i
Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Maui
Maui Ocean Center, Maui
Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii
Moana Pacific, Oauhu
One Waterfront Towers, Oahu
Outrigger Kona Resort, Hawaii
Pearl Harbor National Memorial Museum, Oahu
Rainshed Heliport, Hawaii
Royal Sonesta Kaua’i Resort Lihue, Kaua’i
Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Oahu
The Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki Beach, Oahu
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Oahu
Tripler Army Hospital, Oahu
USS Missouri (BB-63), Oahu
Waikiki Landmark, Oahu
Waikoloa Heliport, Hawaii
Antarctica Bases
McMurdo Station, USA, Ross Island
Scott Base, New Zealand, Ross Island
Davis Station, Australia, Princess Elizabeth Land
AIRPORTS
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 Airport (NTTM) in French Polynesia
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.