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August 12, 2025
Orbx YBBN Brisbane International Airport v2 – Better Than iniBuilds?
The Battle for Brisbane Heats Up in MSFS
of YBBN Brisbane International Airport v2 for Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS). Following closely behind iniBuilds’ premium YBBN scenery (which only supports the upcoming MSFS 2024), Orbx has countered with an impressive overhaul of their original YBBN release.
And here’s the twist—it’s not just a version number bump. This update brings some major improvements, and for many flight simmers (myself included), it might just be the best Brisbane Airport scenery currently available for MSFS.
What's New in Orbx YBBN v2?
- Updated Layout (June 2024) – Fully accurate to the latest real-world airport layout.
- New Terminal & Control Tower Models – Highly detailed with generic interiors for both terminals and the tower.
- Expanded Scenery Coverage – Includes more airside buildings, nearby infrastructure, aprons, and support areas.
- Improved Ground Polygons – New ground markings, higher-resolution textures, and realistic detailing throughout.
- Realistic Lighting – Smooth transitions between day/night with immersive lighting placement.
- Enhanced Airside Clutter – Includes service vehicles, equipment, and realistic ramp detail.
- Animated Monorail – Adds life and dynamic movement to the airport environment.
This new version is a huge step forward for Australian airports in MSFS, and for anyone flying in and out of Brisbane International (YBBN)—it’s a real treat.
Orbx vs iniBuilds: Which YBBN is Better?
Also worth noting: Orbx’s improved ground textures look fantastic. Ground decals and runway markings are clear and well-placed—a huge improvement over v1.
Let’s talk comparisons. While iniBuilds’ YBBN was praised for its detailed international terminal, it fell short for domestic flyers. Orbx, however, delivers both terminals—and that’s a game-changer if you fly domestically from YBBN (like I often do). The domestic terminal is fully modeled and explorable, and the terminal interiors are accurate and true-to-life.
MSFS 2024 iniBuilds YBBN Brisbane Released
Where Orbx YBBN Still Needs Work
Despite its strengths, Orbx YBBN v2 does have a few areas that could be polished:
- Window Reflections Bug – A major issue right now is how windows reflect and behave. From inside the terminal during the day, the view out is almost impossible to see due to sky reflections. At night, it’s better—but still unrealistic. This could be caused by reversed normals or missing backface culling, and it seriously affects immersion.
- Low-Quality Ground CGL Textures – Some CGL textures near service roads and taxiway transitions look muddy or unfinished. A few areas use generic dirt/gravel effects instead of high-resolution decals or models, which breaks realism at ground level.
Final Thoughts: A Solid Comeback for Orbx
Despite its flaws, Orbx YBBN v2 is a fantastic upgrade and a bold statement that Orbx is serious about making top-tier Australian scenery for MSFS once again. It feels like a return to form for the team that helped shape the early MSFS landscape.
If you’re already an owner of Orbx YBBN v1, the upgrade will only set you back around $10 AUD—and in my opinion, it’s well worth it.
Whether you’re a casual simmer flying QantasLink to Sydney or a hardcore VATSIM pilot doing long hauls to LAX, this version of Brisbane is a must-have.
6 Comments
Much better than V1 although its still not quite as good as inibuilds yet
Finally something that works well in MSFS 2020! iniBuilds dropped the ball by only supporting 2024. Glad Orbx stepped up.
Taxiway alignment is a lot better than in V1. Still some work to go but at least the performance is smooth now.
iniBuilds looked gorgeous but tanked my frames. Orbx might not be as pretty but it runs so much better on my mid-range PC.
Big improvement over their first release. Love the animated jetways and updated terminal glass — finally feels next-gen.
People forget that Orbx is actually supporting MSFS 2020 here. That alone makes it the better buy if you’re not upgrading to 2024 yet.