X-Plane 12.4.3 – The VR Update is now available! Let’s take a look inside…
We are very excited to announce the public beta release of the X-Plane VR update. This update includes many improvements for VR users across all headsets, as well as the Apple Vision Pro.
Let’s grab a nice cup of coffee or tea and see what’s included.
Apple Vision Pro
With Apple Vision Pro, X-Plane enters the era of spatial computing – where the cockpit is no longer confined to a screen, but exists around you. Instruments, controls, and the world beyond the windshield are rendered with remarkable clarity and depth, allowing you to interact with your aircraft in a way that feels both natural and immediate.
This is not simply VR – it’s a fully realized spatial environment, where simulation and reality blend seamlessly, and flying becomes something you truly inhabit.
For our X-Plane Pro Customers, this is the simulator solution you’ve been asking for. Combine this with RealSimGear Flight Sim Packages for the most powerful training environment available.
X-Plane 12.4.3 – Apple Vision Pro support includes
- NVIDIA CloudXR Foveated Streaming
- Spatial Tracking via AR Kit
- Full Pass-Through Capability
- Custom Masking
- Hand-Tracking
- Gesture Controls
- UI Wrist-tap functionality
Watch Apple Vision Pro In Action
X-Plane 12.4.3 running passthrough with an Apple Vision Pro. The physical cockpit is demonstrated with the RealSimGear SR7X Home Package
Try Today!
Download the FREE companion app from the App Store for the Apple Vision Pro! X-Plane can then automatically detect and connect to your Apple Vision Pro.
VR Improvements
We’ve brought VR Improvements to everyone in this release. If you have a headset that has the relevant openXR extensions, you can also enjoy the following features!
Mixed Reality
In 12.4.3, X-Plane introduces Mixed Reality for the first time – bringing the simulator into your physical space in a truly transformative way.
With passthrough rendering and precise room-scale anchoring, your cockpit can now exist seamlessly within your real environment, blending virtual and physical worlds with striking clarity. Interfaces remain visible and interactive, allowing you to stay connected to both your hardware and the simulation at once.
It’s a fundamentally new way to experience flight – where your setup, your space, and the aircraft come together as one. We’re really excited to see how this unlocks user cockpit setups!
Handtracking & Gestures
VR interaction has been made more natural and easier to use. Hand tracking and gestures have been improved, with better support for actions like pinch, grip, and poke, all with greater stability and accuracy. Interacting with cockpit controls now feels more precise, thanks to a clearer distinction between aiming and gripping. Overall, the experience is more consistent and predictable, whether you’re using controllers or hand tracking.
Variable Rate Shading (VRS)
Eye-tracked Variable Rate Shading makes a debut in 12.4.3, bringing a smarter, more efficient way to render in VR. By focusing full detail exactly where you’re looking and reducing it in your peripheral vision, the simulator delivers a sharper, more responsive experience where it matters most. Designed for supported headsets, this technology works seamlessly in the background – enhancing clarity at the centre of your gaze while optimizing performance across the rest of the scene.
Improved UI
The VR interface has been refined to feel more consistent and intuitive in use.
We have a new glass theming on pop-up elements. We’ve designed this to address historical user feedback.
Pop-ups have a large tab at the bottom, allowing you to easily manipulate and move pop-ups around. No more second-guessing where the grab areas are
- A new resize grab handle is at the bottom right of each pop-up
- A new quick zoom-in and zoom-out for each open pop-up
- Pop-Up styling slowly fades away when not in focus
Supported controllers will also demonstrate haptic feedback when interacting with the UI, giving you an additional layer of interaction.
Have you ever had trouble inputting keyboard inputs into text fields? Well, we’ve provided you with a larger and movable keyboard, making this much simpler.
Willkommen to Munich
Where Planes Meet Pretzels
Grüß Gott aus München — wo alles wie ein Uhrwerk läuft und der Himmel nie weit entfernt ist.
Set against the Bavarian Alps, Munich Airport stands as one of Europe’s most refined gateways – calm, deliberate, and unmistakably German in its execution.
Set in southern Germany along the banks of the Isar River, Munich is the capital of Bavaria and a city where historic charm meets modern precision. Known for its grand architecture, cultural heritage, and world-famous Oktoberfest, Munich blends tradition with innovation – from centuries-old beer halls and landmarks like Marienplatz to a thriving hub of technology, engineering, and aviation.
Opened in 1992, it serves as a major base for Lufthansa and is widely regarded for its seamless layout, modern infrastructure, and passenger experience. With two parallel runways, expansive terminals, and a distinctive central area featuring shops, dining, and even its own brewery, Munich Airport combines operational precision with a touch of Bavarian character – delivering a smooth, well-orchestrated journey from gate to runway.
In X-Plane 12.4.3, Munich benefits from a focused visual and environmental uplift, bringing greater fidelity to the airport’s distinctive character. With new custom terminal assets and updated layout, whilst leveraging the new assets in previous X-Plane updates. Our default Munich has never looked better!
New Scenery Assets
As always, we’re continuing our overhaul of simulator art assets. These are requests surveyed by the community on what you want us to make. With more than half of the requests now realized in the sim, let’s take a look at the next batch of additional art.
Static Aircraft Update – Part 1
In 12.4.3, airports feel a little less… familiar. You know the one – the same United 747 and Piaggio Avanti parked at every gate, no matter where you fly.
With thanks to Justin and Eric, we’ve gone a long way to address that. With 182 static liveries across 11 aircraft (with 10 new aircraft added), ramp life now reflects a far more varied and believable world. Different regions feel different, gates look less copy-paste, and the overall scene just feels that bit more alive.
- Air Europa
- Aeroflot
- Aero Mexica
- ANA
- Aerolineas Argentinas
- Boeing Business Jet 1
- Boeing Business Jet 2
- Boeing Business Jet 3
- Boeing Business Jet 4
- Boeing Business Jet 5
- Batik Air
- Corendon Airlines
- Air China Peony
- Dalian Airlines
- Shandong Airlines
- China Eastern
- Jiangxi Air
- Copa Airlines
- China Southern
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Urumqi Air
- China Eastern YN
- China Easter YN (Peacock)
- Air Algerie
- El Al
- Enter Air
- Donghai Airlines
- Jet 2
- Fly Dubai
- Factory Livery
- Fictional 1 (LRAUS)
- Fictional 2 (LRXUT)
- Grand China
- Garuda Indonesia
- GOL
- Hebei Airlines
- Greater Bay Airlines
- Hainan Airlines
- Hainan Airlines (Mixue)
- Iraqi Airways
- TUI
- Japan Airlines
- Jeju Air
- Japan Transocean Air
- Jettime
- 9 Air (Air Blue)
- 9 Air Air (Cantaloupe)
- 9 Air (Air Cyan)
- 9 Air (Air DarkGreen)
- 9 Air (Air Grape)
- 9 Air (Kelly Green)
- 9 Air (Air Modern)
- 9 Air (Air Purple)
- 9 Air (Air Red)
- 9 Air (Air Wine)
- 9 Air (Air Yellow)
- Kunming Airlines
- Lucky Air
- Lioan Air
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Malaysia Airlines (Legacy)
- Malaysia Airlines (Modern)
- EgyptAir
- Batik Air Malaysia
- NokAir
- Norwegian Airlines
- OK Air
- Oman Air
- Pobeda Airlines
- Pegasus Airlines
- Military 1 – PAD 0111
- Military 2 – PLAAF B4000
- Royal Air Maroc
- Ruili
- Ryanair Malta
- Ryanair
- Ryanair UK
- Ryanair Buzz
- S7 Airlines
- Sun Country
- Fly Safair
- Singapore Airlines
- Skymark Airlines
- Sunwing
- iAero Airways
- Sun Express
- Turkish Airlines
- Anadolujet
- TUI
- Transavia
- Turkmenistan Airlines
- Transavia
- SmartWings
- TWay Air
- United (Legacy)
- United (Modern)
- UT Air
- Virgin Australia
- Westjet
- Suparna Airlines
- Air Transport International
- Azerbaijan
- Business Jet 1
- Blue Dart
- C32A
- CargoJet
- Cygus Air
- DHL 1 DALES
- DHL 2 GBMRB
- Delta N654DL
- Delta N695DL
- EMS
- FAA
- Fedex
- Geosky
- Icelandair
- Jet 2
- KAF
- Myfrighter UK75001
- N757A
- New Pacific
- North Western Cargo
- RNZAF NZ7571
- UPS N417UP
- UPS N464UP
- US DOJ N119NA
- United (legacy)
- United (Modern)
- Azuraair
- Swift Air
RGB Flat Hangars, Warehouses (With EU Trucks), and Cargo Facades
We have further expansions to our warehouses and cargo facades, but this time with the new European truck objects attached. In addition, we’ve also provided these facades in colors of red, green and blue.
We also have further flat hangar options, with facade colors of red, green and blue. Perfect for artists who want more faithful depictions of Northern Europe.
X-Plane Gateway Update
We have a new round of airport updates. As always, these are the product of the spectacular work of the Gateway artists. Why don’t you pick up our World Editor today and have a go?
For a full list of updated airports, click here.
PHNY – Lanai
As part of our demo areas, we’ve been slowly reworking the regions around Alaska, Hawaii and Austria. For this update, Julian has done extensive work on PHNY – Lanai Airport, serving the smallest accessible Hawaiian Island. You can really see how all the new Terminal facades, sidewalk facades, landside vehicles, and vegetation can really elevate airports in X-Plane 12. Check it out!
12.4.3 is in Public Beta now!
X-Plane 12.4.3 enters Public Beta today.
At its core, 12.4.3 delivers meaningful advancements to the VR experience – enhancing immersion, usability, and performance across supported headsets. From improved interaction fidelity to underlying rendering and system refinements, this update continues to push X-Plane’s VR capabilities toward a more seamless and intuitive cockpit environment.
For the complete list of changes, refer to the full release notes.
Happy flying!
