Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 just got a lot bigger for anyone who wants to fly down under. World Update 21: Australia is available now as a free download for all owners of the simulator, and it packs in some of the most recognizable terrain on the planet.

The update — announced on the PlayStation website, though the simulator is also available on PC and Xbox — focuses on the sheer variety of Australia's geography. The country holds everything from sweeping interior deserts to dense rainforest, and from dramatic coastal cliffs to modern architectural icons. World Update 21 aims to bring those sights into the sim with higher fidelity and a handful of curated missions that put you in the cockpit over some of these locations.

What's actually in the update?

According to the announcement, World Update 21 delivers Australia to Microsoft Flight Simulator aviators like never before. That means improved scenery for several highlights:

• Sydney Opera House — one of the most distinctive structures in the world, now rendered with more detail.
• The Twelve Apostles — those famous limestone sea stacks along the Southern Ocean coastline in Victoria.
• Vast sweeps of interior desert — the kind of featureless but beautiful expanse that makes Australia unique.
• Lush stands of rainforest — likely covering areas like the Daintree or similar tropical zones.

The briefing isn't specific about how many new airports, hand-crafted landmarks, or upgraded elevation data are included. Past World Updates for Microsoft Flight Simulator (the 2020 version) typically added 3D photogrammetry cities, new airports, and improved terrain data for a specific region. It's reasonable to expect World Update 21 follows a similar pattern, but only what is confirmed in the announcement can be reported: the update includes these mentioned attractions and a collection of missions.

Missions for exploration

A key part of the update is a set of missions designed to let pilots explore some of the finest sights that Australia offers. The briefing doesn't list specific mission types — it doesn't say whether they're landing challenges, sightseeing flights, or bush trips. But the phrase collection of missions for pilots to explore suggests a series of guided flight experiences that take you to the most scenic spots. Based on how Microsoft Flight Simulator has handled previous World Updates, these missions often serve as curated tours, giving players a reason to fly routes they might not otherwise discover on their own.

For anyone who has already spent hours flying over European cities or American national parks, Australia offers a change of pace. The interior desert, with its red dirt and sparse settlement, is a different kind of flying — less about navigation by landmarks and more about raw distance and endurance. The coastal areas, meanwhile, offer some of the world's most dramatic scenery: the Great Ocean Road, the cliffs of Tasmania, the Whitsunday islands. The update seems designed to cover both extremes.

Free to all owners

World Update 21 is free to all owners of Microsoft Flight Simulator. To get it, you need to ensure that your simulator is updated to the latest version, then download World Update 21 through the in-game marketplace. The announcement notes that the sky is calling, which is a nice way of saying there's no reason not to grab it.

That pricing model — free updates for a premium simulator — has been a consistent part of Microsoft Flight Simulator since its 2020 reboot. The base game costs money, and there are paid add-ons from third-party developers, but the World Updates themselves have always been free. They're a way to keep the world map fresh and give existing players reasons to come back. Australia is the 21st such update, which means the sim has been steadily filling in gaps all over the globe since launch.

Who is this update for?

If you already own Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, the answer is everyone. The update is free, adds new content, and doesn't require any additional purchases. Whether you're a casual player who likes sightseeing or a dedicated simmer who wants more accurate terrain for Australian routes, World Update 21 gives you something new.

If you don't own the simulator yet, this update is not a standalone purchase. It's part of the existing game. The announcement on the PlayStation website is likely meant to remind PS5 players — the game launched on PlayStation 5 in late 2024 — that the sim is still receiving substantial free updates. Console players, especially those who might not follow PC flight sim news, benefit from seeing updates promoted on the storefront they use.

The timing is also worth noting. World Update 21 arrives at a moment when Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is still relatively young — it released in November 2024. Regular free updates like this one help maintain momentum and show that the developer, Asobo Studio, is committed to supporting the platform beyond the initial launch.

What's next?

The announcement doesn't hint at World Update 22 or any other future content. But given the pattern — 21 updates in roughly four years across two simulator versions — it's safe to assume more are coming. Australia is a major region that had been missing detailed treatment in the sim's 2024 edition. Now that it's done, the team could turn to other underserved parts of the world: Southeast Asia, the Arctic, South America's interior, or the Pacific Islands.

For now, the focus is on Australia. If you haven't flown there yet — or if you have but want to see it with updated scenery — World Update 21 is worth a download. No payment, no complicated installation. Just update the sim, download the content, and pick a flight.

The Australian outback, the Twelve Apostles, the Sydney Opera House at dusk — they're all waiting. The sky, as the announcement puts it, is calling.