What’s new in 12.3.0?

Langen Radar, N273XP, request deviation left of course, weather ahead
– N273XP, deviation left of course approved

Weather is a critical part of aviation, and with X-Plane 12.3.0, we’ve taken it to a whole new level. This update brings one of our most-requested features: a brand-new, fully simulated weather radar. Coupled with Synthetic Vision in the X1000, your flights are now safer, more immersive, and more realistic than ever.

But that’s not all – our Airbus A330-300 has received a complete overhaul, refining every system for a smoother, more accurate flying experience. In addition, we’ve updated ATC, added a streamer mode to protect your privacy and included a new option to adjust the intensity of our G-Loaded Camera. Last but not least, we added a new hand-crafted airport for you: Dubai International Airport (OMDB).

Let’s dive into all the improvements that make X-Plane 12.3.0 the most realistic and feature-packed version yet!

Taking Weather Awareness to the Next Level

The Weather Radar is one of the most important tools a pilot can have in the cockpit, providing critical information about storms, turbulence, and precipitation. With X-Plane 12.3.0, we’ve brought this essential instrument into the simulator, taking in-air decision-making to a whole new level of realism. Plan your deviations, adjust your course, and fly with confidence knowing the radar provides accurate reflections, attenuation, and range sensitivity, just like in the real world.

Radar Variants

Airbus A330-300 Weather Radar

Our Airbus A330-300 has received a complete overhaul in X-Plane 12.3.0, and that includes its Weather Radar. Now fully simulated, the radar provides realistic storm reflections, attenuation, and beam tilt, giving pilots the ability to make real-world style decision in flight. The radar integrates seamlessly with the aircraft’s avionics, helping you avoid turbulence, precipitation, and other hazardous weather conditions while maintaining maximum situational awareness.

Boeing 737-800 Weather Radar

The Boeing 737-800 also benefits from our new radar simulation. Designed to mirror its real-world counterpart, it offers the same functionality and fidelity, including ground clutter suppression and automatic tilt adjustment. Whether you’re flying short-haul or long-haul routes, the 737’s radar ensure you have the weather information you need to plan safe deviations and smooth approaches.

X1000 Weather Radar

The X1000 now fully integrates with the Weather Radar on aircraft that are equipped with it. Pilots can view radar returns directly on the X1000 display, with realistic reflections, attenuation, and range sensitivity. This integration allows you to fly safely across the sky and make informed decisions without switching between multiple instruments, creating a more seamless and realistic cockpit experience.

Benedix RDR2000 WXR

For developers and fans of steam gauge cockpits, X-Plane 12.3.0 introduces the Benedix RDR2000 on the Beechcraft Baron 58. This fully simulated custom radar demonstrates how to leverage our new Weather Radar API. It’s a great example for creating custom radar functionality in your own aircraft, giving you full control over attenuation, tilt, range ,and reflectivity settings.

We’ve released the source code under the MIT License on GitHub. Feel free to modify and integrate it into your X-Plane aircraft.

Terrain Display

X-Plane 12.3.0 introduces Terrain Display support, bringing a major leap in flight safety realism, helping pilots avoid controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). This system integrates seamlessly with X-Plane’s global terrain database, enhancing situational awareness during approaches, low-visibility operations, and mountainous terrain flights. The result is a more authentic training and simulation experience, giving pilots the tools they rely on in real-world operations.

A330 Improvements

X-Plane 12.3.0 introduces a major update to the Airbus A330-300, bringing enhanced realism, improved systems fidelity, and a smoother flying experience. From flight planning and VNAV logic to cockpit lighting and engine animations, every aspect has been refined to provide a more authentic Airbus experience, and we have even more to come with a future release of X-Plane.

Exterior Weathering

The A330-300 now features improved exterior visuals with realistic decals, dirt accumulation, and subtle weathering effects. These changes not only enhance immersion but also provide a more authentic look in varying flight conditions.

Engine Vibration Animations

Engine animations have been upgraded with realistic vibration effects, reflecting actual operating conditions. Pilots will now see the subtle movements of the engines during different thrust settings, adding to the tactile realism of flying the Airbus.

Interior Changes

The cabin and cockpit lighting have received a complete overhaul. Cockpit lighting has been enhanced with backlit instruments, realistic spill lighting, and improved annunciator effects, creating a more immersive environment for day and night operations.

The cabin features fully 3D dynamic lights, adjustable reading lights, and an auto-purse function that adapts lighting based on flight phase and altitude.

Systems

The A330-300’s flight management, autopilot, and flight control systems have been significantly enhanced. Key improvements include:

• Full support for a secondary flight plan (SEC F-PLN).
• Enhanced VNAV logic with smoother deceleration, path capture from above, and step climb support.
• Accurate roll rate and alpha protection under FBW.
• Improved autopilot disengagement handling, auto-trim reset, and deceleration logic post-touchdown.
• More precise climb, cruise, and descent predictions considering winds, fuel use, and constraints.
• Updated V-speed suggestions, fuel prediction logic, baro/STD handling, and ECAM messages.

Aircraft Operations Computer / Air Traffic Services Unit

The Aircraft Operations Computer (AOC) and Air Traffic Services Unit (ATSU) now support ATIS, METAR, and PDC messages realistically, including ACARS-style memo displays, controller selection for requests, and realistic data-link transmission delays. These updates improve pre-flight planning, keep in-flight information current, and enhance overall operational realism.

Synthetic Vision

Flying at night or in low visibility has always been one of the biggest challenges for pilots. With X-Plane 12.3.0, we’ve introduced Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) to the X1000, giving you a powerful new situational awareness tool.

The display provides a realistic 3D representation of terrain, runways, and obstacles directly on your Primary Flight Display (PFD). This allows you to safely navigate complex terrain, maintain better orientation in poor visibility, and anticipate your flight path with confidence. Combined with the new Weather Radar, SVT brings a whole new level of realism and safety to your cockpit.

Engine Health

Every engine is different, and now, X-Plane reflects that. With X-Plane 12.3.0, aircraft developers can enable engine “ages” at load, so that Engine 1 might be 7.7.years old while Engine 2 is only 3.2. This introduces natural variation in performance right from the start, just like in the real world where engines don’t age at the same pace.

The effect is subtle but noticeable: small differences in spool-up times, fuel flow, and efficiency make each flight feel more authentic, adding individuality to every aircraft the moment you power it up.

One of the busiest hubs in the world, Dubai International is now part of the X-Plane custom airport collection. Known for its massive terminals and nonstop long-haul operations, OMDB is a true test for both pilots and scenery developers alike.

Recreating the airport in detail meant tackling the unique challenges of its sprawling concourses and extremely long terminal structures. Our artist Cristiano carefully modelled the terminals and other buildings, while Jan was responsible to create all runways and the taxiway network to deliver an authentic layout.

Dubai International is the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic and home base of Emirates, the largest operator of the Airbus A380. Its iconic Concourse A was first in the world designed specifically to accommodate the A380, with 20 dedicated gates for the aircraft.

Whether you’re flying regional routes across the Middle East or intercontinental trips to Europe, Asia or North America, Dubai offers a stunning new hub for your operations.

Vegetation Annotation for OBjs

Scenery just got greener! With X-Plane 12.3.0, custom OBJ models can now include vegetation annotations—meaning trees and plants can be placed directly on rooftops, terraces, or other custom structures. This feature lets scenery developers create more realistic environments, from lush airport terminals to urban skylines with rooftop gardens. The result? More vibrant, lifelike airports and cities for your flights.

External Visuals Sync

Multi-screen cockpit builders, this one’s for you! External visuals in X-Plane are now smoother and more consistent than ever. In version 12.3.0, we’ve improved synchronisation across multi-PC setups — not just for the aircraft, but also for ground vehicles, boats, jetway extensions and static aircraft.

Whether you’re running an immersive three-screen desktop or a full-scale home cockpit, these improvements ensure every moving element stays perfectly in sync, delivering a more seamless and realistic experience.

Dedicated Avionics Screens 

Avionics displays like the G1000, G530, or PFD can now be assigned directly to a dedicated hardware screen — no more relying on popup windows. This makes it easier than ever to build your perfect home cockpit setup.

Historic Weather

Missed that perfect storm or want to recreate a real-world flight from last winter? With Historic Weather, X-Plane now lets you fly in past conditions — up to one year back in time.

Whether you’re training, testing performance, or just exploring, you can load accurate historical METAR data for the exact date and time you choose. Experience how the weather really was, whenever you want.

Cockpit Lighting Improvements

Rotate MD-11F : PANC @ 1530

We’ve enhanced cockpit lighting for a smoother, more realistic look. A key update is the reduction of specular aliasing, eliminating distracting shimmering on glossy surfaces when exposed to strong light sources like the sun or cockpit lighting.

This results in cleaner reflections, better night lighting, and an overall more immersive experience for pilots.

Aircraft Updates

X-Plane 12.3.0 improves realism and usability across the fleet. FMS, VNAV, autopilot, and trim behavior are more accurate, and ATC/ATSU integration now supports datalink weather updates. Key aircraft updates include a modernized 737-800 cockpit, upgraded Citation X VNAV logic, and authentic flap handling on the Piper PA-18.

Scenery Assets

Our scenery artists have also been busy. This time, we have some brand new assets for WED artists to use, as well as some existing airport kit updates!

Custom Water Polygons and Edge Markings

Low-profile airport barricades

Updated Detail Textures and Weather Effects

Night Vision

We’ve improved our night-vision rendering, so you can conduct those all-important missions in the dark!

Gateway Airports

X-Plane 12.3.0 includes an updated set of Gateway Airports, featuring many new and refreshed airports contributed by our talented airport designer community.

Hats off to our amazing airport designer community for making X-Plane’s world richer and more realistic!

New Hardware Support

This release introduces additional hardware support to make your cockpit setup more immersive than ever. We’ve added native support for the MOZA MFY Yoke, as well as the CLS-60 / CLS-120 Force Feedback Yoke and Rudder Pedals from FliteSim.com — bringing even more realism and choice to your flight simulation experience.

X-Plane 12.3.0 Beta 1 is out now!

Time to take to the skies and explore all the new features, from the fully simulated weather radar to improved aircraft and our new custom Dubai International (OMDB) airport. Hop into the Airbus A330 and plan a long-haul route to London, Frankfurt, Singapore, or New York — and experience X-Plane like never before!

For additional details and a more comprehensive list of changes, have a look at the full release notes.