The MSFS team was back this week with the May 2025 Developer Livestream for Microsoft Flight Simulator, and as usual, it was packed with detailed updates, explanations, and even a couple of surprise announcements. Here’s a recap of everything that was covered during the nearly 70-minute session, from bug fixes and system updates to aircraft development and Marketplace improvements.
SU2 aftermath and SU3 in focus
Jörg Neumann kicked things off by thanking the community for participating in the Sim Update 2 (SU2) beta and providing valuable feedback. SU2 tackled 120 of the top issues, with 37 fully resolved and 7 partially fixed. Since launch, a total of 62 issues have been addressed, with more work already underway for SU3, which is now in beta.
SU3 continues the theme of bug fixing and optimization. Asobo and Working Title are still focused on improving stability, refining VRAM usage, and adding requested features like downloading content locally. VRAM optimizations in SU2 saved around 1GB in some scenarios, but further improvements are expected in SU3.
GeForce Now and usage data
Microsoft Flight Simulator is now available on GeForce Now. While not a focus of the stream, Jörg shared this milestone as an option for those wanting smoother performance without upgrading hardware.
On the topic of usage data, Jörg clarified that while hard data can’t be shared publicly, 2024 continues to outpace 2020 in user count. A notable portion of new users were casual or non-simmers drawn in by the visual improvements. Stability across all platforms has increased since launch, now hovering around the 90% mark.
SU3 feature highlights
SU3 is bringing some anticipated improvements:
- Local content download: Already available in beta.
- Peripheral setup: 28 fixes landed in SU2, with 10 more planned for SU3.
- Multiplayer liveries: Compatibility for 2020 and modular 2024 aircraft liveries is being improved.
- ATC updates: Better arrival procedure awareness and fewer violations of STARs. SU3 also fixes various regressions and introduces model/livery matching improvements.
- AI traffic behavior: Bug fixes around ground movement, parking, runway behavior, and regional airline placement.
World data alignment: Sim Update 16 for MSFS 2020
Lionel from Asobo joined to outline Sim Update 16, the first major update for MSFS 2020 in months. This update, scheduled for July 1, focuses on aligning MSFS 2020’s world data with 2024:
- Updated aerial imagery, DEM, vector data, and generic airport alignment.
- Better vegetation masks and waterbody detection.
- Use of improved compression formats (ZSTD, TIN).
- Enhanced memory management, especially for Xbox Series S.
Notably, this does not include 2024’s advanced rendering features like 3D trees, crop fields, seasonal transitions, or photometric rendering. The goal is consistency in world data between sims, not full feature parity.
Developer tools for Career Mode aircraft
Chris from Working Title provided an in-depth walkthrough of new developer tools aimed at bringing third-party aircraft into Career Mode. The system uses:
- A Career Compatibility Tool: Validates aircraft configuration.
- A Career Tool: Allows devs to simulate career scenarios in development.
- Detailed documentation and automatic ingestion processes through the Marketplace.
Only aircraft distributed through the Marketplace will be eligible for Career Mode integration. This ensures stability and security, avoiding exploits or incompatible configurations.
Career mode traction and expansion
Career mode is being played by as many users as free flight, according to telemetry, surprising even the team. There are plans to expand available mission types and aircraft categories, with Sim Update 3 expected to include heavy transport missions (e.g., for the C-17) and more Career-compatible aircraft.
Third-party aircraft are expected to join career mode soon, thanks to the toolset now available. Support for more aircraft types (like bush planes and fixed-wing firefighting) is also in consideration, though bush trips will likely return only in SU4 or SU5.
Market trends, rentals, and accessibility
Jörg announced several Marketplace-related changes:
- Rentals are now live for first-party aircraft. Players can rent planes for 1, 3, or 7 days, and rental cost is deducted from the final price if the aircraft is purchased shortly after.
- Gifting is still in development, with backend complexities being worked through.
- Top-rated aircraft sale: The Marketplace is running a two-week sale highlighting the top 100 highest-rated aircraft.
- UI/UX improvements are planned, including better display of developer names, more visible thumbnails, and additional filters.
- Translation and testing requirements are being reduced to accelerate approval of third-party content.
Naming changes and legacy support
With Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 now established, MSFS 2020 will soon be referred to in official materials as “Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)” to reduce confusion. Jörg also confirmed plans to bring all Local Legends and Famous Flyers to 2024, although some delays exist due to defunct dev teams and remaining bugs.
City Update 11 and a free aircraft
Coinciding with FlightSimExpo 2025 (which Microsoft won’t attend in person), City Update 11 will be released on June 27, featuring Providence, Rhode Island, and other northeastern U.S. cities.
To mark the event, MSFS 2024 users will also get a free Piper PA-28 Dakota developed by Carenado. This is the third free aircraft in the “Make Good” initiative.
Expert Series update: Embraer Praetor 600
The stream concluded with the first deep dive into the Expert Series 02 aircraft: the Embraer Praetor 600. Developed jointly by Working Title and Asobo in collaboration with Embraer, this high-fidelity business jet is targeting an unmatched level of system depth:
- Fully modeled ProLine Fusion avionics.
- Independent FMS units with full feature set.
- Simulated navigation sensors with realistic drift and position uncertainty.
- Functional HUD, electrical systems, failures, and reversion logic.
- Custom EFB app using MSFS 2024’s SDK, showcasing system data in real-time.
It will be a native MSFS 2024 aircraft under the Expert Series banner. Updates are planned as development progresses.
All in all, the May 2025 stream reflected a developer team that’s committed to stabilizing the sim, refining core systems, and preparing for broader feature improvements. As always, we’ll keep you up-to-date on all the important stuff about Microsoft Flight Simulator!
