The public beta for Sim Update 17 is now open to Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) players on PC and Xbox Series X|S. It's an opt-in, pre-release test, and Microsoft says it's mainly focused on stability. The beta build is version 1.40.1.0.

What's in the beta

  • Sim rate on screen: following community feedback, the sim rate now shows on the HUD below the compass whenever it isn't set to 1. You change it with the Increase and Decrease Sim Rate commands, which you can map in the Controls options.
  • New water masks: the water masks from Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 have been brought across to the 2020 sim. Microsoft asks testers to watch for missing or misplaced water, wrong shorelines or odd terrain near coasts, islands and lakes.
  • New controller presets: default input presets for recent devices on PC and Xbox, including Honeycomb's Alpha Flight Controls Lite and Bravo Throttle Quadrant Lite, Thrustmaster's TCA Sky Yoke and T.Flight Hotas 5, Turtle Beach's VelocityOne Flightstick II, and Moza's AB6 and AB9 force feedback bases and AY90 and AY210 yoke bases.
  • SDK fixes: SimConnect no longer crashes when asked for unknown NavData, a painted-line glitch in the scenery editor is fixed, and a WASM string bug is fixed.

The release notes don't list any known issues. They do say that on PC, out-of-date packages in your Community folder can cause problems, so move them out if you get crashes or long loading times.

How to join

  • Microsoft Store on PC, and Xbox: open the Xbox Insider Hub, go to Previews, pick Microsoft Flight Simulator Beta and select Join or Manage. Choose the group "Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 – Sim Update 17", save, then restart your PC or Xbox and launch the sim to get the update.
  • Steam: right-click Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 in your library, open Properties, then Game Versions & Betas, and pick "flight_sim_beta – Sim Update 17".

Before you opt in

  • On the Microsoft Store version for PC, joining or leaving the beta can mean reinstalling the sim. Microsoft says that's much less likely if your sim content is on a custom path rather than the default one.
  • If you didn't leave the last beta, you're already in this one and will get the new build.
  • In multiplayer, you'll only see players on the same build as you.

Microsoft asks testers to share feedback in the SU17 beta forums. The beta posts don't give a date for the full release.

Also: Manchester on sale

iniBuilds Manchester (EGCC) for MSFS 2024 is 20% off on the iniBuilds store until 23:59 GMT on Monday 2 November.

Sources: SU17 beta announcement (https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/msfs-2020-sim-update-17-beta-now-available/779832), SU17 beta release notes (https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/release-notes-msfs-2020-su17-beta-1-40-1-0-october-26-2026/779573), How to join the SU17 beta (https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/read-first-welcome-to-the-sim-update-17-beta-msfs-2020/779544), @MSFSofficial (https://x.com/MSFSofficial/status/2114827579068915732), iniBuilds Manchester (EGCC) (https://inibuilds.com/products/inibuilds-manchester-egcc-msfs-2024).

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Microsoft Flight Simulator © Microsoft Corporation. Some images in this article were created under Microsoft's "Game Content Usage Rules" using assets from Microsoft Flight Simulator, and this article is not endorsed by or affiliated with Microsoft. Rules: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/developers/rules

An Airbus A320neo, a light aircraft and a business jet flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)
Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020). Official still, not from the SU17 beta.Image: Microsoft Flight Simulator
A white business jet banking above the clouds in Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020). Official still, not from the SU17 beta.Image: Microsoft Flight Simulator
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