Add-on developer SamScene3D released two packages for Microsoft Flight simulator, Shanghai and Tokyo Enhanced.
Shanghai is priced at $12.95 and adds several landmarks to the otherwise slightly drab default version of the largest city of China.
Here’s what it includes, alongside a few screenshots.
- over 200 custom iconic buildings and apartments
- many famous museums, buildings, apartments, hotels, banks, landmarks in Shanghai city center area
- beautiful and detailed bund area with old style buildings
- few bridges across the river
- buildings with PBR material
- beautiful night effect
- fixed MSFS default Pearl tower size and added night effect
- free update in the future
Tokyo is priced at $5.95 and may appear a harder sell considering that Microsoft itself just released a giant Japan world update for free.
Yet, true Japanophiles may still find a few reasons to grab it. The photogrammetry model used by Microsoft is a bit outdated, dating all the way back to September 2014 (How do I know? I was there and I recognized the billboards in Akihabara. I know. I need help), so this package adds landmarks that were built after that date. Tokyo is a fast-changing city.
The Tokyo Tower has also been replaced with a high definition model, which is great because the photogrammetry-based one isn’t that good.
The whole Ikebukuro area has been added, since the photogrammetry stops just short of it.
Most importantly, the Gundam statue in the Diver City plaza in Odaiba has been replaced with the current Unicorn model instead of the old RX-78 model that was removed in 2017.
Yakuza series lovers will also be pleased to hear that this landmark has a better version of the iconic gate in Kabukicho that our hero Kazuma Kiryu has popularized.
Of course, there’s a lot more. Does it show that I miss Tokyo?
You can read a full list of features and see a gallery of screenshots below.
- FujiTV and surrounding buildings with PBR handcrafted night effects
- Many iconic buildings with PBR high-quality textures
- High-quality handcrafted Tokyo tower with night effect, as well as the temples landmarks
- in front of the tower
- Added back the missing Skytree shopping mall with night effects
- Added back the Ikebukuro area which the MSFS doesn’t cover
- Shinjuku area with high-quality textures and great details
- Details of the Dome city area with PBR buildings
- Handcrafted Senji temple and the hotel building with PBR textures
- Handcrafted the cargo area objects near the Haneda airport
- High-quality textures of Shibuya area and added back some missing buildings and objects
- Many more landmarks and buildings with high-quality PBR textures
- Fixed some photogrammetry display problem around the rainbow bridge and its
- surrounding landmarks
- Added few missing buildings to the Ginza
Incidentally, just yesterday Microsoft announced that the next free world update will feature the United States.
If you want to learn more about Microsoft Flight Simulator, you can check out our review that will tell you everything you need to know about Asobo Studio’s new and groundbreaking game.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is already available for Windows 10 and Steam. An Xbox version is also planned for the future but has no release date for now.
You can also check out our growing guide wiki that includes more information that can help you get started in the game.
