Scenery
Orbx Announces TrueEarth Southern California for MSFS 2024, 1m Ortho & Custom Mesh
By Rachel Morrison · · 2 min read
Orbx Simulation Systems has revealed TrueEarth Southern California for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, featuring 1m/pixel aerial imagery and custom 10m mesh. The package covers 180,000 km² including KLAX, KSAN, and KVNY with hand-placed landmarks.
Orbx Simulation Systems has officially announced TrueEarth Southern California for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, marking the first TrueEarth region built natively for the new platform. The package spans over 180,000 square kilometers, from the Central Coast down to the Mexican border, and includes 1-meter per pixel aerial imagery derived from recent satellite captures. A custom 10-meter mesh replaces the default terrain, dramatically improving the San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Monica Mountains, and the Channel Islands.
Key airports such as KLAX, KSAN, KBUR, and KVNY are not included as detailed renditions—those remain separate—but the surrounding photoreal scenery is designed to blend seamlessly with existing payware and default Asobo airports. Orbx has also hand-placed over 200 landmarks, including downtown Los Angeles skyscrapers, the Hollywood sign, and major freeway interchanges, using photogrammetry-optimized models to maintain performance.
The developer notes that MSFS 2024's improved rendering engine allows for higher-resolution ground textures and more efficient LOD streaming, resulting in smoother framerates than the MSFS 2020 version. Night lighting has been reworked with accurate light pollution maps, and seasonal variations are supported. TrueEarth Southern California is expected to release in Q4 2026 for $39.99 AUD, with a discounted upgrade path for owners of the MSFS 2020 version. Pre-orders are not yet open, but Orbx promises more details at FSExpo 2027.
Tags: Orbx, TrueEarth, MSFS 2024, Southern California, Photoreal