Twice since SU16, when launching FS2020, I get a mandatory download and it says SU16. The update was about 600-700MB. After the last one (yesterday), my opening screen showed World Update Japan. So, is the Japan Update new? Why would it show SU16? Is it just showing the last sim update but really just doing a world update or is it not recognizing that I already have SU16??
The recently issued update for Japan is a WU, World Update, not an SU, Sim Update.
WU’s are entirely voluntary and do not have to be used.
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While yes, you go grab the WU from the Marketplace, there was still a mandatory update portion yesterday as part of it.
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That makes sense. It did, however, also say SU16, with a FS2020 version number. So I was a little confused.
Thanks.
Hi folks,
To clarify what happened here, whenever a new World Update is released, there is also a small update to the sim itself (separate from the WU that you claim for free from the Marketplace). This update doesn’t change any core sim code or functionality; all it does is update the splash screen loading page with a new image showcasing the World Update. The current build of Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) is still 1.39.9.0 and has not changed since SU16 released on August 5.
Thanks,
MSFS Team
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I’m kind of feeling the same way. It certainly appears to me like there were some other “under the radar” improvements, e.g. ground texturing, that occurred with this mandatory download.
As recently as last week, I was complaining somewhat about how the runway texturing was very flat in both sim versions. After this WU 20 download, MSFS 2020 has definitely improved for me - 2024, not so much, at least not today.
I’ve read where others in this forum seemed to observe texture degradation correlating with weekends, and the heavier server loads. Who knows? I don’t! 
If I remember well, there were also 2 mandatory files to download during sim startup (even if you don’t install the WU) related to fs-base navaids & airports. I guess they are required in order to have the information up to date for the WU to be correctly integrated. So that may explain the size of the update.
I had a mandatory update today as well. No clue why.
But I’m very pleased that FS2020 is getting some attention!
No complaints.
This is due to a monthly mandatory update:
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Like I said, any attention we (FS2020) get from Asobo is a good sign.
Ths is the 2nd time in 48 hours I am having to do this - unsure why but i beleive it could be FENIX related - 11 hours just to install 130.47 GB
My understanding is that the current public version of the Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) 2020 steam edition is 1.39.9.0, which was released as Sim Update 16 on August 5, 2025.
That is also what I have now, (non Steam version) despite an update I got recently, which was probably not a SU update, but rather a monthly database update ?
Maybe you updated just before that update, got that update, and then very soon after that, the NEXT update came current, so you then uploaded that newer one ?
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But the 11 hours just to install 130.47 GB is a big RED FLAG, of something not being as it should !!
I have found that turning off Virus Protection during the MSFS updates, often makes the update go a lot smoother –
BUT DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK - I AM NOT RECOMMENDING YOU DO SO, UNLESS YOU ARE 100% AWARE OF ANY POTENTIAL NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES .
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Yes it was: AIRAC Cycle Update (2511) | MSFS 2020 & 2024. They did not post an announcement for the last one (2512) that happened on November 27th.
Thank you for the reply - really annoying this. I installed the Fenix last evening and it just went wrong. So, after the installation and the install into the community folder, the Fenix created another community folder into the community folder. Then I uninstalled the Fenix and that’s when it went wrong. Add on linker was not working, I had problems with bought addons in the community folder. Then I shut down and started again. Upon entering the sim, I got the update - I left it on overnight and then this morning the update complete I then had to install all updates and cities etc. Including the fab PMDG737 and so on…..
Then repeat at 14:00 and an uninstall then a start from scratch
What a 100+gb update twice?
So what is the current market place version?
As of 2 minutes ago, still 1.39.9.0 (as posted earlier today) - 2020 Premium - Deluxe