Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 2
A Full Upgrade to the Pimax VR Experience
Foveated Rendering, DLSS 4, and a New Era of Immersive Flight
The release of Sim Update 2 for MSFS 2024 on May 15th, 2025 brought significant improvements to the flight simulation experience, especially for VR users. This update not only enhances the overall flying experience but also brings specialized optimizations for VR, focusing on Foveated Rendering, VR controller interaction, and stability. Many VR users are already feeling unprecedented progress.
"Is it finally time to move from 2020 to 2024?"
"Tons of VR fixes – feeling loved again :D"
With its exceptional optical clarity and ultra-wide field of view, the Pimax Crystal series is the perfect match for this upgrade. SU2 brings smoother frame rates, reduced latency, and enhanced visual detail—making Pimax the go-to choice for high-end flight sim enthusiasts.
VR-related Updates
in Release Notes – Sim Update 2 [1.4.20.0]
Foveated Rendering（Fixed & Dynamic）introduction
Sim Update 2 introduces Foveated Rendering, supporting both fixed and eye-tracking modes. This technology renders the area you're focusing on in high resolution while reducing the resolution in peripheral areas, effectively lowering GPU load and boosting frame rates while maintaining visual quality. For users with high-resolution headsets, this results in a smoother experience, especially during low-altitude flights or in complex scenes.
DLSS 4 Support
With the integration of NVIDIA’s cutting-edge DLSS 4 technology, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 delivers a significant leap in visual performance. This advanced upscaling technique allows users to enjoy higher frame rates without sacrificing the visual fidelity that makes the simulator so immersive. DLSS 4 intelligently enhances graphics by leveraging AI-driven algorithms to upscale lower resolution frames, providing a near-native resolution experience while reducing the load on the GPU.
Corrected Instrument Scaling & UI Depth Placement
Sim Update 2 fixes the incorrect scaling of cockpit instrument panels, ensuring gauges and controls now display at realistic, true-to-life sizes inside VR cockpits. Additionally, the update addresses the incorrect floating of 3D user interface elements in front of cockpit panels. Both issues have been resolved, making cockpit interactions more natural and believable.
Toolbar and Interface Improvements
Sim Update 2 ensures consistent toolbar visibility and now properly remembers the positions and sizes of opened panels—even after pausing, switching modes, or restarting a flight. A much-requested quality-of-life feature was also added: users can now freely reposition and move the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) panel in VR, improving cockpit organization and usability.
VR Controller and Interaction Fixes
Sim Update 2 restores the default control mappings for the right-hand controller and resolves issues with rotating the pilot avatar in the pre-flight menu using VR controllers. Problems with input recognition for steering wheels and collective joysticks in VR have also been fixed, along with faulty interactions involving cockpit levers, knobs, and task panels. These improvements make VR flying more seamless and interactive—particularly for pilots using hand tracking or VR controllers exclusively.
Performance, Stability, and Visual Quality Enhancements
Several crash-to-desktop (CTD) bugs were eliminated, including those triggered by switching DLSS quality modes in VR, activating Developer Mode during a VR session, using HDR displays, and enabling Quad View rendering at high resolutions. Additionally, VR graphic presets were optimized to better manage foliage, grass, rocks, and environmental assets at lower settings—easing GPU demand without sacrificing cockpit clarity. Gesture detection for operating cockpit levers and knobs in VR was also improved, enhancing cockpit interactivity.
Why is Foveated Rendering so Important?
Foveated Rendering significantly boosts GPU performance without sacrificing visual quality. MSFS 2024 introduced Quad View technology, which reduces resolution in non-focus areas while maintaining or even increasing pixel density in the focus area. For most users, this drastically lowers the total pixel load, resulting in a huge performance boost.
For headsets without eye tracking (like Pimax Crystal Light), the focus area is fixed in the center of the screen. For headsets with eye tracking (like Pimax Crystal Super), the focus area shifts based on where your eyes are looking.
According to a review by VR Flight Sim Guy, even without eye tracking, Fixed Foveated Rendering can increase FPS by about 12. This is particularly important for players using high-end headsets like the Pimax Crystal Super, as it provides a smoother, more stable VR experience at higher resolutions.
Partner of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Pimax Crystal Light
Designed to Bring Virtual Skies to Life
VR Flight Sim Guy
"MSFS 2024 Sim Update 2 CHANGES EVERYTHING!"
“In my current test with the Pimax Crystal, I'm getting eight to nine frames per second more in VR right now, and again this is just fixed foveated rendering, not DFR. If I can get DFR working — which hopefully will be very soon within this beta process — the increases are going to be huge.”
Sim World Pro
"The RIGHT VR Headset for FLIGHT SIMULATION!"
“The beta version brought several under the hood changes that directly benefit VR users, giving a more performance-optimized experience. The level of detail transitions have been refined, minimizing the distracting pop-in effect that used to break immersion in VR. Users have also reported improved frame consistency and reduced ghosting when using motion reprojection or frame generation with DX12. These changes suggest that Asobo is not only polishing the existing VR pipeline, but also preparing for the next changes in the sim engine to better handle the demands of more modern headsets. This includes Pimax Crystal Light. And while this is still a beta, the experience already feels more stable and immersive.”
Pimax Crystal Super: MSFS2024 Ultimate Settings Guide
"Remember that the Crystal Super has 29 million pixels. That's 3 1/2 times more than a 4K monitor." As Tally Mouse said，he will show us how to set up MSFS 2024 with the Pimax Crystal Super for a smoother gaming experience. From optimizing GPU settings to leveraging new features like Foveated Rendering and DLSS, this video offers practical tips for a smoother flying experience.
FINALLY! SIM UPDATE 2 IS LIVE... BUT IS VR FIXED? MSFS 2024 BIG UPDATE
In this video, we dive deep into the highlights of MSFS 2024 Sim Update 2. We'll explore the new Foveated Rendering and eye-tracked dynamic rendering, which significantly boost performance. "That is a big deal for headsets such as the Pimax Crystal Super", With smoother visuals and improved image streaming, this update offers a major upgrade to the flight simulation experience.
Sim Update 2: The VR Update We've Been Waiting For!
From smoother FPS to enhanced visual fidelity, this update delivers remarkable improvements. "We need to give Pimax some credit here as they went out to Seattle to see the development team at Microsoft Flight Simulator to demo how using quad views", Thanks to the inclusion of foveated rendering and eye-tracked dynamic rendering, VR users will experience a massive performance boost.
Sim Update 2 VR Performance Test | MSFS 2024
"This is just a fantastic experience with VR, Thanks to the improvements made in Sim Update 2. Pimax Crystal Light really brought everything to life." With the introduction of foveated rendering and Improvements VR performence, players can now enjoy smoother frame rates and sharper visuals.
MSFS 2024 Sim Update 2 BETA is a GAME CHANGER! | Massive VR Performance Boost Thanks to Pimax!
VR pilots can now enjoy smoother frame rates and enhanced visual fidelity with the introduction of foveated rendering and eye-tracked dynamic rendering. "Pimax did an absolutely outstanding job standing up for all of us and really pushing and working closely with Microsoft to bring us this amazing feature." Let's explore how Pimax Crystal Light allows for full ultra settings in MSFS 2024 and see firsthand the improvements made for VR users.
NEXT CHANGES Coming to MSFS 2024 | SU2 Beta, Aircraft + MORE! | Weekly Update
"Pimax played a vital role in shaping the VR experience in Sim Update 2 Beta. They showcased how quad views and foveated rendering improve both image quality and frame rates in virtual reality." Pimax worked closely with the MSFS team to bring these improvements, making flight simulation more immersive than ever. Let's look at some more details.
In the News
Helisimmer
Pimax Crystal Light headset of choice at official MSFS2024 preview event
"The Pimax Crystal Light was the headset selected for the occasion and, while I didn’t have enough time to fully appreciate it – or write a proper article on it – I can say it was a very good, seamless experience and it just made me wish I had more time to check it out (and potentially look at it as a future upgrade)."
Readwrite
Microsoft shows off Flight Simulator 2024 in VR using Pimax’s latest Crystal Light headsets
"Even though the Meta Quest 3 can be hardwired up to your PC and used for VR flying, it is Pimax that has taken over from Valve and Oculus before it as the PC simmers VR headset of choice, as seen here by the fact Microsoft chose to show off its new game using Pimax Crystal Light headsets."
FSELITE
VR Will be in MSFS2024 on Day 1, Pimax Crystal Light Used at Global Preview Event
"During the Global Preview Event of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, a handful of VR set-ups were made available to indivuduals to try out. The headset of choice for the event was Pimax’s Crystal Light, which features high resolution displays and good refresh rates to ensure that you get a quality visual experience."
Ongoing Events
Limited-time free shipping on Crystal Light
Immersive Flight, Beyond Vision.
Pimax Crystal Light
- Ultra-sharp 2880 x 2880 resolution per eye.
- Glass aspheric lenses with a large sweet spot.
- 35 PPD for super clear vision.
- Variable refresh rate (72Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz) provides smooth gameplay.
- Manually adjustable IPD (58-72mm).
- Local dimming delivers vibrant, true-to-life colors.
- Foveated Rendering: Fixed 2.0.
- Headset with two controllers
- Easy setup with inside-out tracking or expand with Lighthouse tracking.
- Audio: interchangeable 3.5mm jack, 2x microphone.