Microsoft has announced a data gathering process and many people have installed it on their computers - to track actual FS usage - not reported usage.That seems to be late in the development process to me if we are expecting a new version in the next 12 months.My theory is that about 4-6 months before the release date - Microsoft will announce the name of FS10 and a short feature list.Right about the time it completes the first month of work with the beta test team.The marketing hype and screen shot and feature descriptions will begin and grow over the period between announcement and release.For Christmas 2005 release - we should hear something official in July or August. Summer 2006 - nothing until after next January.That will be a shame because you will not be able to read any FS forums worldwide because of all the "When will FS2006 be released" threads.Though Microsoft has announced that they will make a presentation at IFS in the UK in July ?????

What's this about, "Microsoft will make a presentation at IFS in the UK in July ?????"?RH

>What's this about, "Microsoft will make a presentation at IFS>in the UK in July ?????"?>>RHThis has already been pointed out several times already but for some reason doesn't appear to have been picked up on with any significance.I'd like to think they will say something about a new FS edition (not because I may necessarily want it but because I'm interested in how the FS have been getting on). However, I'll retain a healthy sceptiscm until the 11th July!

Why would microsoft mention anything about a new version of FS at IFC and not at E3, doesnt sound very logical to me. At E3 they can get the word out to every gamer in the world and build up hype, i doubt more than a few hundred people know what IFC is.OHN

>Why would microsoft mention anything about a new version of>FS at IFC and not at E3, doesnt sound very logical to me. >At E3 they can get the word out to every gamer in the world, i>doubt many people even know what IFC is.>>OHNPerhaps Microsoft have realised that the UK is the new hub of virtual aviation!:-lol

"It would be nice if they let us know that there's not going to be an FS200X in the near future. What do they have to lose?".....I think they did when we were invited to participate in that recent survey. Quite a neat way of letting us know without breaking any NDAs, don't you think?Mike

Exactly, Mike.Exactly.But it perhaps also tells us that either the new version is more or less finished, or hardly begun. Otherwise what was the point of asking, when they did?Allcott

The addon publishers probably asked for some more time until the next version is released because they need more time in order to produce an enjoyable sim ;) *cough* RealAir - working VC *cough*Plus the customers are less ###### because they can use their expensive addons for a bit longer until it

The more I think about it, the more I can see Xbox-live doing a VATSIM on the Xbox360 with a subscription model for "gold" level service. Then they get that continuing revenue stream. But it still seems like a Combat Flight Sim would be a better fit in Xbox.After all, the MS survey asked about consoles and other non-sim games. All the more logical to get an Xbox360 into the hands of the early adopters and get their feedback on FS in the Xbox. Since Xbox360 has 2 USB ports on it, there is your yoke/throttle/rudder support.scott s..

Well I hope they will put an end to the rumors at that time and give us an answer.RH