X-Plane flight simulator gets big update 12.3

Laminar Research has released update 12.3 for its X-Plane flight simulator. This marks the third major free update, which the developers have tested extensively over four months, first in an alpha and later beta phase. Anyone who wants to play the updated version no longer needs to take the risks associated with beta versions.

The main changes focus on the weather system and its simulation. The core addition is a new simulated weather radar that can be used in aircraft. There is also support for historical weather data going back one year.  So anyone who wants to recreate a specific weather situation can only use data from the past year.

There are some further improvements. For example, the Airbus A330-300 engines now vibrate realistically when the throttle is adjusted in the cockpit. The engine nacelles also shake visibly. In general, the A333 has received numerous detailed upgrades.

Engines now behave differently across other aircraft as well. X-Plane update 12.3 introduces a feature that allows users to set the age of each engine individually. This means that the right-hand engine could be a few years older and therefore perform differently. This can affect engine response times and other metrics like fuel consumption.

Virtual passengers will appreciate the improved cabin interiors, while the cockpit crew benefits from better lighting effects. This applies especially to the aforementioned Airbus A330-300, which received lots of changes. Smaller updates were also made to the 737-800, the Cessna Citation X and the Piper PA-18.

Furthermore, the OpenStreetMap-based terrain of the simulator has been improved. The Dubai International Airport (DXB/OMDB) is now part of the "Custom Airport Collection". Players who use multiple computers linked together will benefit from improved data synchronization in X-Plane 12.3, according to Laminar Research.

Lastly, the game’s controller support has been expanded and remains one of X-Plane’s advantages compared to Microsoft Flight Simulator. The latter often requires manual setup to avoid crashing during the first flight after installation. X-Plane now directly supports the Moza MFY Yoke as well as a set of pedals and the CLS-60 / CLS-120 yokes from Flitesim.com.

The corresponding changelog is divided into two sections. For one, there’s a general and very detailed overview of update 12.3 from September. It also includes many images and animations, and a classic bullet-point changelog that tracks the update’s progress from alpha through beta to its stable release in November.