How to download and install MSFS SDK, Blender, plugin
Users can create their own content for Microsoft Flight Simulator by using the SDK (Software Development Kit) provided by Microsoft. In the world of MSFS, you can display your favorite buildings such as your home, or create airports that are not built into the product or imaginary airports. You can then distribute it to other users for a fee or for free.Here we will explain how to download and install the MSFS SDK and tools necessary or useful for content development.
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Contents
- Create optional content for MSFS yourself
- Enabling DEVELOPER MODE
- Download and install the MSFS SDK
- How to install LTS version of Blender, past versions of Blender
- How to install exporter/importer plugin between Blender and MSFS
- Other importer plugins for Blender
- How to install Google Earth Decoder
- How to install Google Earth Decoder Optimization Tools
- How to install Lily Texture Packer plugin
Create optional content for MSFS yourself
To create content for MSFS yourself, switch MSFS to [DEVELOPER MODE] and use the SDK (Software Development Kit) that can be downloaded from the [HELP] menu. Microsoft has published a site that explains this SDK: Flight Simulator SDK Documentation page.And as for how to use the SDK, YouTube is a waste of time, Mr./Mrs. superspud has published his A Written MSFS SDK Scenery Creation Tutorial on flightsim.to, which is very helpful as it provides detailed explanations for beginners. It includes a wealth of samples and documentation, but start with "MSFS Airport and Scenery Creation.pdf".
Flight Simulator SDK Documentation (Microsoft)
A Written MSFS SDK Scenery Creation Tutorial (Flightsim.to)
Enabling DEVELOPER MODE
Download and install the MSFS SDK
How to install LTS version of Blender, past versions of Blender
Blender is a free tool that can be used to create 3D object data. If you install using the normal procedure, the latest version will be installed. However, the MSFS plug-in only supports the LTS (Long-Term Support) version. You need to install the LTS version of Blender. See below for details.How to install exporter/importer plugin between Blender and MSFS
Many types of exporters and importers from Blender to MSFS have been developed by users, such as the Blender2MSFS toolkit. AsoboStudio, the developer of MSFS, has released the plug-in "glTF-Blender-IO-MSFS" that aims to bring these together. This tool is still under development and is updated several times a year. The latest version only supports Blender 3.3.x LTS and 3.6.x LTS. Additionally, to protect content rights, models that have been built using the SDK cannot be imported.Download glTF-Blender-IO-MSFS plugin
glTF-Blender-IO-MSFS is distributed on Github. This file is also included in the "\Tools\Blender" folder of the MSFS SDK.
AsoboStudio (Github)
You can also scroll this page to read a detailed description about this tool.
glTF-Blender-IO-MSFS (Github)
glTF-Blender-IO-MSFS Releases (Github)
Installing the glTF-Blender-IO-MSFS plugin
The installation method is also explained in detail with images on the glTF-Blender-IO-MSFS page on Github.
The installation is now complete.
If you cannot find the plug-in on this screen, try typing "Microsoft Flight Simulator glTF Extension" in the search box at the top right of the screen.
Import MSFS 3D model (glTF) with Blender
Note that the MSFS SDK's ModelLib type asset group requires texture files to be collected in a dedicated "texture" folder before build, but in this state Blender cannot read the texture files. Depending on the configuration when creating the glTF file, you will typically need to move the texture file to the same folder as the glTF file.
Also, by default, Blender only displays a range of 0.01m to 1,000m from the camera. To display a vast scenery, you need to increase the value in the [Clip End] field on the [View] screen.
Sites related to how to use plugins
Documentation for Microsoft Flight Simulator glTF 2.0 Importer and Exporter for Blender (Github)
THE BLENDER PLUGIN (Microsoft)
BLENDER PLUGIN PROPERTIES (Microsoft)
THE BLENDER EXPORTER (Microsoft)
New Blender Exporter (MSFS DevSupport)
msfs2blend (Github)
Blender2MSFS toolkit (FSDeveloper)
Other importer plugins for Blender
In addition to "glTF-Blender-IO-MSFS" shown above, there are other importer plug-ins that can import MSFS 3D models (glTF) into Blender, such as the following.msfs2blend
This is a plug-in developed by Daniel that is mainly used to paint aircraft models. For Blender version 3.0 and above.
msfs2blend (Github)
msfs2blender2msfs
This is a plugin developed by flybywire group. Maintenance has been completed for both.
msfs2blender2msfs (Github)
msfs-blender-tools (Github)
This will also be helpful.
Fly By Wire addon for Blender 3.x (FSDeveloper.com)
The installation method is the same as How to install exporter/importer plugin between Blender and MSFS shown above.
In other words, start Blender, select [Edit]-[Preferences] from the menu, open the [Add-ons] screen, and click [Install an add-on].
How to install Google Earth Decoder
Using the free software "Google Earth Decoder" developed by Mr./Mrs. Jonahex111, you can read Google Earth's 3D map data from Google's server and convert it to 3D data (modelLib) for the MSFS SDK.Downloading Google Earth Decoder
Google Earth Decoder is distributed in a reddit article.
Google Earth Decoder. Now user-friendly (reddit)
Google Earth Decoder (reddit)
Please note that a warning screen may appear indicating that virus scanning is not possible. Select "Download" regardless.
Download Google Earth Decoder update
Google Earth Decoder has not been maintained since 2020 and is not compatible with the latest Google Earth. A module to update this has been published by Mr./Mrs. Thalixte on flightsim.to .
Then you can download a file such as "Google Earth Decoder_xxxxx.zip". This file is approximately 25KB in size and can be downloaded instantly.
For information on how to log in and use flightsim.to, please see Install free add-ons to MSFS, add airplanes, airports, and scenery How to use flightsim.to .
Google Earth Decoder update (flightsim.to)
Install free add-ons to MSFS, add airplanes, airports, and scenery How to use flightsim.to
This update module is updated frequently. Please check back from time to time and download the latest version again when it is released.
How to install Google Earth Decoder Optimization Tools
Mr./Mrs. Thalixte, who developed Google Earth Decoder update, has released a useful plug-in for Blender (2.83 or later). You can use this to generate a scenery project folder for the MSFS SDK, and to optimize the textures, Lods, and CTDs of 3D model data saved in that project. You can also combine textures in your project to reduce the number of files, Also adds Asobo extension tags to manage collisions, road traffic, and lightning generation. Furthermore, it has many correction and update functions for 3D model data generated with Google Earth Decoder.You can read the explanation by the tool's developer in the article below.
New optimisation tool for Google Earth Decoder MSFS sceneries (reddit)
Download the Google Earth Decoder Optimization Tools plugin
Google Earth Decoder Optimization Tools is distributed on Github.
Thalixte (Github)
You can also scroll this page to read a detailed description about this tool.
Google Earth Decoder Optimization Tools (Github)
There is a download link in the “Assets” column. Click “Google-Earth-Decoder-Optimization-Tools.zip” to download the plugin. Save this in any folder. The size of this file is approximately 250MB, and the download will be completed in a few tens of seconds to a few minutes.
Google Earth Decoder Optimization Tools Releases (Github)
Google Earth Decoder Optimization Tools (flightsim.to)
Installing the Google Earth Decoder Optimization Tools plugin
In other words, start Blender, select [Edit]-[Preferences] from the menu, open the [Add-ons] screen, and click [Install an add-on]. The name of the plugin will then be displayed on the right side of the screen. Then click the checkbox to the left of the plugin's name.
How to install Lily Texture Packer plugin
The Blender plug-in "Lily Texture Packer" developed by Élie Michel is a tool that combines textures pasted to polygons into a single file. Simply select all the polygons that make up the tiles generated by Google Earth Decoder, and then click [Objects] - [Lily Texture Packer] from the Blender menu.Also, by installing this plug-in and using the "2. Optimize an existing Msfs scenery project" menu in Google Earth Decoder Optimization Tools, you can combine a large number of texture files into a single file. Textures are combined into one texture for each LOD of each tile that makes up the ground surface. Since the number of file accesses is drastically reduced, the performance (FPS value) when flying in 3D space generated from Google Earth with MSFS can be improved.
Please note that Lily Texture Packer is shareware that requires a minimum donation of USD5.00.
Lily Texture Packer (Gumroad)
You can also download past versions all at once by clicking the "Download All" button above. You can download the file "Old_Releases.zip".
In other words, start Blender, select [Edit]-[Preferences] from the menu, open the [Add-ons] screen, and click [Install an add-on]. Activate this plugin by clicking the checkbox to the left of the plugin's name.