City Update 13: California Now Available

Important note for MSFS (2020) users

You will need to manually update World Update II and World Update X from your in-sim Content Manager for City Update 13 to work correctly.

Called the “Golden State” due to its Gold Rush of the mid-19th century, fields of golden poppies, and reputation for boundless prospects, California is renowned for its beauty and diversity. City Update 13 celebrates California in the Microsoft Flight Simulator World by adding breathtaking detail to 18 urban regions across this renowned state. The update includes some of the state’s most spectacular and notable locations, from its capital of Sacramento in the north, to San Diego at its south. Microsoft and partners created each of the 18 areas of interest (AOIs) using TIN (triangulated irregular network) surface texturing to provide Flight Simulator pilots with stunning vistas during flights over these remarkable cities.

From north to south, City Update 13: California offers:

Sacramento

Established in 1848 in the heart of California’s Great Central Valley, Sacramento is surrounded by broad swaths of verdant agriculture fields crisscrossed by canals and rivers. It is home to several notable sights, including the California State Capitol and Capitol Park, Tower Bridge, and The Ziggurat building.

San Francisco Bay Area

Cities in the update include San Rafael, Novato, Oakland, San Francisco, Fremont, and San Jose.

Nestled between Mount Tamalpais (“Mount Tam”) and San Francisco Bay, San Rafael is known for its beautiful architecture and natural setting in Marin County, part of the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Situated on the northwestern shore of San Pablo Bay near the wine country regions of Sonoma and Napa Valleys, Novato is renowned as a center of scientific research and biopharmaceutical innovation.

Oakland, located in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay area, is home to Jack London Square, Lake Merritt, and the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge.

San Francisco is home to some of the world’s most famous landmarks, including the Transamerica Pyramid, the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, Alcatraz Island, and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Fremont is located on the southeastern shore of the San Francisco Bay and is known for the Old Mission San Jose, an important Spanish mission that was founded in 1797.

A vital part of the Silicon Valley technology region, San Jose is the most populous city in the South Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area and the third most populous city in California. It is home to several renowned landmarks including San Jose City Hall, The 88, and Bank of Italy Building.

Key Cities of the San Joaquin Valley

The San Joaquin Valley composes the southern portion of California’s Great Central Valley and is known for its agricultural opulence. The region includes the cities of Modesto, Fresno, and Visalia.

Modesto is world renowned as the setting for the film American Graffiti and its proximity to Yosemite National Park. It is home to several notable landmarks, including the Modesto Arch, McHenry Mansion, and the Gallo Center for the Arts.

Fresno (from the Spanish word for “ash tree”) is known as the heart of the San Joaquin Valley agriculture industry as Fresno County is consistently ranked the top agriculture producing county in the United States by economic output. Notable sights in Fresno include the Old Fresno Water Tower and the Kearney Mansion.

Visalia is notable as the gateway to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, two renowned natural areas in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Landmarks in Visalia include the Palace Hotel and Fox Theater.