Key Notes
- World Update 23 is free to Flight Simulator owners and expands Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with scenery, landmarks and handcrafted airports.
- The 2020 and 2024 simulators receive regional activities, with additional challenges and touring content listed for the newer version.
- The Antonov An-28 released alongside the scenery update is a separate $14.99 purchase and is not required to explore the updated region.
Microsoft Flight Simulator has released World Update 23: Poland and the Baltics, a free regional scenery update covering Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The October 26 release adds detailed locations and activities for both the 2020 and 2024 simulators.
The official release announcement lists 12 enhanced areas, 77 points of interest and five handcrafted airports. Microsoft worked with Bing Places, Asobo and Gaya on the regional package.
New Scenery Creates More Places to Explore
The featured cities include Tallinn, Riga, Kaunas, Vilnius, Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk. Updated photogrammetry and elevation data improve the regional representation, while landmarks include Malbork Castle, Trakai Island Castle and Sopot Pier.
Handcrafted airports span the four countries, including Kärdla, Jūrmala, Palanga, Warsaw-Babice and Opole-Kamień Śląski. That offers different starting points for short local trips instead of making every visit a long international flight.
Both simulator versions receive discovery flights and landing activities. The 2024 package also includes a Sopot landing challenge, a guided tour of Tatra National Park and a rally race. The feature lists differ between versions, so the activities should not be treated as identical.
The An-28 Is a Separate Paid Aircraft
Microsoft also released the Antonov An-28 as Local Legend 26 on October 26. It costs $14.99 in the in-sim marketplace and is separate from the free World Update.
The twin-turboprop utility aircraft is designed for short takeoffs and landings. Microsoft describes the real aircraft’s roles as including passenger service, freight and medical transport, making it a different proposition from a large scheduled airliner.
The published simulation description lists a cruise speed of 219 mph and a range of 851 miles. Those figures explain its intended operating niche; they are not performance measurements from our own testing.
For someone returning to explore the region, the distinction is practical. New scenery can be visited using an aircraft already owned. Buying the newly released An-28 is an optional way to change the flying experience, not a requirement to unlock Poland or the Baltic locations.
Update the Simulator Before Downloading
Microsoft instructs owners to bring the simulator up to date and then download World Update 23. The regional package does not replace ownership of the underlying game.
A useful first route is simply a short flight near a featured city or airport. That makes it easier to concentrate on the scenery and handling of the chosen aircraft before taking on a challenge with stricter landing demands.
We covered Microsoft’s broader focus on different gaming devices, but this release is chiefly about what existing Flight Simulator players can do inside the world. It adds a new set of destinations and structured activities without requiring an additional scenery purchase.
