Microsoft Flight Simulator adds Chicago, Twin Cities, Milwaukee

The Microsoft Flight Simulator team posted City Update 15 on June 12, 2026, adding high-fidelity coverage for Chicago, the Minneapolis–St. Paul area and Milwaukee. The release includes eight areas of interest rendered with TIN (triangulated irregular network) surface texturing. The update was published as FlightSimExpo 2026 opened in St. Paul, Minnesota, running June 12–14 at the St. Paul RiverCentre.

City Update 15 focuses on metropolitan regions and nearby suburbs across three Midwestern states. The update uses TIN surface texturing to refine terrain and urban detail, with an emphasis on lakes, rivers and rolling terrain and on how elevations render at close range for low-altitude flying and urban approaches.

Illinois coverage centers on Chicago and nearby communities including Elgin, Cicero and Arlington Heights. Noted skyline features in Chicago include Willis Tower, 875 North Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park. The city’s historical connection to Meigs Field, an early default airport in the franchise, is also referenced in the update.

Minnesota coverage highlights Minneapolis and St. Paul and includes Bloomington, Duluth, Brooklyn Park, Woodbury, Lakeville, Plymouth and Blaine. Minneapolis is identified for its lakefronts and river crossings and landmarks such as the Stone Arch Bridge, Capella Tower and Two22. St. Paul is listed with the Minnesota State Capitol, the Cathedral of Saint Paul and the James J. Hill House. Bloomington is noted as the location of the Mall of America, and Duluth is described as a major port on Lake Superior with the Aerial Lift Bridge among its landmarks.

Wisconsin additions include Milwaukee, Madison and Racine. Milwaukee is presented as the state’s largest city on Lake Michigan, with industrial and architectural sites such as the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Basilica of Saint Josaphat. Madison is identified as the state capital and a university center, with Monona Terrace and the Wisconsin State Capitol among its cited sites.

City Update 15 is available free to owners of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Users must run the latest simulator version to download the update. The simulator is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC (including Xbox Game Pass for PC and PC Game Pass), Windows, Steam, PlayStation 5 and via Xbox Cloud Gaming on supported mobile devices, tablets and lower-spec PCs.

The release continues the series’ pattern of periodic regional updates that refine visual and surface data for major metropolitan areas.