Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 SU17 Beta Adds MSFS 2024 Water Masks and Controller Presets

What the beta changes​

Water masks from MSFS 2024​

Microsoft is asking testers to look near coastlines, islands, lakes and other bodies of water. The things to watch for are misplaced or missing water, incorrect shorelines, and unexpected terrain or geometry. The notes frame this as a change under test. They do not promise that every location improves, and they don't describe how the port was done.

There is some background. The SU16 beta notes said Microsoft changed how water body polygons work, so overlapping polygons of the same type no longer cancel each other. SU16 also aligned the Bing Maps data with MSFS 2024. SU17 is the first update to bring the 2024 masks themselves across. I can't say from the evidence how directly the two changes are connected, so I'll leave that comparison alone.

In-game sim rate display​

Following community feedback, the sim can now show the simulation rate on screen. The rate appears on the HUD below the compass whenever it is set to anything other than 1. You change it with the Increase Sim Rate and Decrease Sim Rate commands, which can be mapped in the Controls options. Microsoft wants testers to try this and report problems.

Default presets for newer controllers​

SU17 adds default input presets for recent peripherals on both PC and Xbox:

• Honeycomb: Alpha Flight Controls Lite, Bravo Throttle Quadrant Lite.
• Thrustmaster: Sol-R Flightstick/HOTAS, TCA Sky Yoke, T.Flight Hotas 5, T.Flight Hotas Neo.
• Turtle Beach: VelocityOne Flightstick II, VelocityOne Dual Throttle, VelocityOne HOTAS.
• MOZA: AB6 and AB9 FFB bases, AY90 and AY210 FFB yoke bases, MRP rudder pedals, MTLP take-off/landing panel, MTP throttle panel.

That is 16 devices. Console pilots are the most likely to benefit, because the Xbox offers few ways to load third-party profiles. That's my reading of the platform rather than something in the release notes. The notes say the presets apply to PC and Xbox. They don't say every device behaves identically on both. Owners are asked to test the default bindings and report anything unexpected.

Fixes for add-on developers​

• SimConnect: a crash when requesting unknown NavData is fixed. A random issue where the sim stopped sending some messages is also fixed.
• Scenery Editor: painted lines no longer glitch above roughly 11,000 elements.
• WASM: a problem with get_name_of_name_variable that corrupted the returned string is resolved.

Where SU17 sits in the 2020 timeline​

MSFS 2020 received Sim Update 16 in August 2025, then the small Sim Update 16.1 stability patch in March 2026. SU17 is the first full numbered update since then. Microsoft described SU16.1 as a relatively small update fixing a few stability and crash issues.

Release date: a conflict between sources​

Microsoft's own notes give no final release date for SU17. One third-party tracker, MSFS Addons' MSFS 2024 updates page, lists Sim Update 17 as planned for November 17, 2026. I couldn't confirm that date in Microsoft's material, so treat it as unconfirmed.

Before you join the beta​

Microsoft's standard beta caveats apply:

• Reinstall risk: Store PC users may need to reinstall when joining or leaving a beta. The risk is lower if all simulator content sits on a custom path instead of the default one chosen by the in-game content manager.
• Recommended layout: keep the Store app on the C: drive and put the content on a different drive.
• Leaving early: if you leave before the beta ends and your content isn't on a custom path, you will likely need to reinstall to get back to the live build.
• Multiplayer: you only see other players on the same build.
• Previous beta: if you stayed in the SU16 beta and never opted out, you stay enrolled and receive this build.
• Community folder: Microsoft's PC troubleshooting note says outdated Community packages can hurt performance or stability. If you see crashes or long loading times, move those packages to another folder and relaunch.

How to join​

Microsoft Store (PC and Xbox):

1. Open the Xbox Insider Hub and go to Previews.
2. Select Microsoft Flight Simulator Beta, then Join or Manage.
3. Choose the "Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 – Sim Update 17" group and save.
4. Restart the PC or Xbox so the Store refreshes, or wait a few hours. Then launch the sim and accept the update.

To leave, go to Xbox Insider Hub, then Previews, then Microsoft Flight Simulator Beta, then Manage, then Leave preview. Wait for unenrollment, restart, and launch the sim.

Steam:

1. Right-click the sim in your library and open Properties.
2. Go to Game Versions & Betas.
3. Select "flight_sim_beta – Sim Update 17".

To exit, go to Properties, then Betas, and choose None.

Reporting effectively​

Microsoft's forum separates regressions found in SU17 from long-standing bugs. When you file a report, say whether the problem is new in this build, and avoid re-reporting old issues that are already logged. For the water masks, the most useful reports name a specific location and describe the visual fault.

The MSFS Addons report says participation in 2020 beta testing has dropped since MSFS 2024 launched. It attributes this to Microsoft's SU16.1 notes, which it says called flighting telemetry less reliable. I couldn't check that wording against Microsoft's notes. I also found no figures on tester numbers.

Why it matters​

For anyone who still flies the 2020 sim, SU17 is a modest but useful update. It carries over a long-requested visual fix from the newer sim, adds a small feature, and extends hardware support. Global scenery changes are hard to test, so coastal reports from a wide range of testers are what will show whether the masks work as intended.