In 2020 we saw the release of one of the best modern simulators and perhaps the best example of what the current generation of consoles is capable of with Microsoft Flight Simulator, who came to Xbox Series X | S and PC, as well as the Xbox Game Pass service. Since then, MFS has been constantly receiving content updates and the most recent one allows us to travel to New Zealand, as it is Global Update XII: New Zealand.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a flight simulator that allows us to travel the world on a real scale, with a map generated using Microsoft Azure technology that achieves good results in almost all parts of the world. However, the Microsoft Flight Simulator team has added hand-created cities and airports, with the next update dedicated to New Zealand.
Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update XII: New Zealand arrived a few days ago as free DLC for all simulator players, adding 7 new cities, 9 airports and 62 hand-recreated points of interest. That’s not all, as World Update XII also adds new content to Microsoft Flight Simulator with 3 Exploration Voyages, 3 Discovery Flights, and 4 Landing Challenges.
According to Xbox, the Microsoft Flight Simulator team gathered satellite data to create content for the new update, including satellite imagery, aerial photography, and digital models. Using high-resolution photogrammetry data and triangulated irregular grid modeling, World Update XII adds seven overflow cities to the game: Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Nelson, Queenstown, Tauranga, and Wellington.
There are 62 new points of interest ranging from Mount Cook, the nation’s tallest mountain, to the Sky Tower, one of the tallest structures on the planet. Additionally, the following 9 airports have been added to Microsoft Flight Simulator: Gisborne Airport, Milford Sound Airport, Martins Bay Airfield, River Gorge Airstrip, Rotorua Airport, Lake Tekapo Airport, Whangarei Airport, Westport and Quintin Lodge Airstrip.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is available on Xbox Series X and PC through the Windows Store and Steam, but it can also be played on Xbox One, mobile devices and browsers thanks to its availability on the Xbox Game Pass service with Xbox Cloud Gaming.