Hello everyone,

so I've been thinking about the multiplayer in the new sim for a bit, and I figured that I would share my insights so far.

We've all seen the feature discovery video. Like any other MSFS video, it looks quite awesome.

Here is what I like (with the scope of that I know how current FS multiplayer works):

• Smooth aircraft movement - now this is a major thing because I can't stress enough the frustration of looking at stuttering, lagging aircraft. This opens up a lot of new possibilites!
• Real life traffic - this is simply awesome as I've always been trying to replicate real life flights and be a part of the real world aviation
• Live players X All players - great idea to distinguish between die hard simmers and casual players
• Closed groups/sessions - endless possibilities there!

Questions:

• It looks like that the other players' aircraft are modeled to the same detail as mine. But what if someone doesn't have the plane of another player in their library? What will they see?
• What about liveries?
• Can I disable a certain real life flight? If I want to replicate one, I certainly don't want AI to duplicate it...
• Will there be GA planes within the real life traffic? Representing the real ones?
• How do we prevent trolls and newbies from entering the "Live players" mode?
• They said in the video that we can choose servers based on the ping (Europe, North America and so on). Does this mean that if I choose the European server, I will not see pilots connected to another server? That would be quite a bummer because anyone can fly all over the world.
• VATSIM integration? If so, how would P3D users look to MSFS users?

Suggestions:

• ATC will be real people within the MSFS graphic interface. They would be inside the airport tower with monitors showing radars and they would be responsible for comms configuration so they are heard properly. This would definitely require a certificate similar to VATSIM. Most importantly, they'd visually see everything that's going on at the airport (aircraft and personnel movements)
• MSFS should create their own AI plane database and models, including liveries, so everyone sees what they're supposed to

Possibilities:
There are so many in comparison to what's been possible to date. But here's what I've thought of so far:

• Around the world trips with friends (smooth experience, landing at a dodgy strip, refueling, hiding the plane in a hangar from the rain...)
• Formation flying (performing shows, even with the colored smoke)
• Combat (yes, there could be 3rd party planes with missile/gun shooting technology integrated within the sim)

 

So that's it from my brain for now. I'll be thrilled if you guys have any other thoughts and inputs 🙂 Look forward to reading them! 🙂

Those are all great suggestions.  Really, if they will just have native shared cockpit support, I will be very happy.  I want to share the cockpit with my little brother.

I would like shared cockpit too so that I can show a girl I like what Im doing, she could view the whole thing from her mobile phone and actually use the phone gyrscope for her view so that she can see my cockpit and hear me, and appreciate my manouvres. 

Regarding your questions, as an aircraft designer I hope there will be some sort of possibility to upload models and liveries so that other people can see any planes even if they dont have them.

I dont think it will be possible to disable any real or a.i flight but maybe you can study about them and try to follow them.

Regarding griefing in live mode, time will tell, i guess that if there are many griefers out there you can still create private groups.

If you choose the Euro server I dont think you will see the Americans naturally.

Maybe ATC will be a mixture of A.I and real simmers, I dont think any certificate would be required.

 

 

Multiplayer may be one of the things that may require Game Pass, I suspect we will find out in June-July. 

50 minutes ago, G-RFRY said:

Multiplayer may be one of the things that may require Game Pass, I suspect we will find out in June-July. 

Why again this speculation? Asobo clearly present, that every functions will be available with game pass or one-time purchase.

2 hours ago, G-RFRY said:

Multiplayer may be one of the things that may require Game Pass, I suspect we will find out in June-July. 

This is almost certainly true for the Xbox console edition as this has been a requirement for years there,  but none of Microsoft's PC games require an Xbox Live Gold account for online multiplayer. Note that the requirement for Xbox multiplayer is an Xbox Live Gold account, which is available in the Game Pass as well as separately.

https://www.xbox.com/en-CA/live/gold

Edited April 23, 20206 yr by goates

10 hours ago, goates said:

This is almost certainly true for the Xbox console edition as this has been a requirement for years there,  but none of Microsoft's PC games require an Xbox Live Gold account for online multiplayer. Note that the requirement for Xbox multiplayer is an Xbox Live Gold account, which is available in the Game Pass as well as separately.

https://www.xbox.com/en-CA/live/gold

We will find out I'm not talking gold game pass, PC game pass is 4.99, Asobo will not have the say in how it will be delivered that`s Microsoft`s job, and they have just pulled there catalogue off Nvidia Platform I suspect getting it ready for their own platform, remember PC game pass is Bata at the moment.

Edited April 23, 20206 yr by G-RFRY

  

13 hours ago, G-RFRY said:

Multiplayer may be one of the things that may require Game Pass, I suspect we will find out in June-July. 

 

No games on Game Pass requires it to play multiplayer, and you're not locked out of anything in the games on that service if you don't have Game Pass and have bought the game individually.

Game Pass is essentially Netflix for video games on Microsoft's platforms. It's nothing like you're suggesting in your posts.

Also Microsoft is expanding their library to other platforms now, more games from them are being added to Steam.

Speaking of Steam, the FSX Beta Branch updated a few hours ago, hm.

Edited April 23, 20206 yr by Tuskin38

1 hour ago, G-RFRY said:

We will find out I'm not talking gold game pass, PC game pass is 4.99, Asobo will not have the say in how it will be delivered that`s Microsoft`s job, and they have just pulled there catalogue off Nvidia Platform I suspect getting it ready for their own platform, remember PC game pass is Bata at the moment.

The MS PC "game pass" is nothing else, than "PC games rental". Game is still completely identical with identical functions, include on-line functions. Only different is in buying method. You can pay once time full price with permanent licence or regularly a small ammount for time limited acces for as long as you want.

Edited April 23, 20206 yr by ludekbrno

1 hour ago, G-RFRY said:

We will find out I'm not talking gold game pass, PC game pass is 4.99, Asobo will not have the say in how it will be delivered that`s Microsoft`s job, and they have just pulled there catalogue off Nvidia Platform I suspect getting it ready for their own platform, remember PC game pass is Bata at the moment.

I know you said Game Pass, which is what I responded too. Game Pass is just about getting access to a library of games, much like Netflix. And like Netflix, all of the titles included in Game Pass are available for standalone purchase, which is what Microsoft has indicated will happen with MSFS. They have already done this with their flagship Halo and Gears of War series. These are also available through Steam, which is a good possibility for the new sim too.

The most recent Microsoft published game released on Steam was ‘Ori and the Will of the Whisps’ on March 11th, so yeah they’re still doing it.

Some of the big studio games are not on steam C.O.D for one, and I don't expect MSFS to be on steam for a Year at least if comes to steam. Steam is losing some studio`s due to the new streaming platforms coming this year.

https://www.guru3d.com/news-story/nvidia-geforce-now-game-streaming-service-loses-xbox-game-studios-and-warner-brothers.html

https://www.guru3d.com/news-story/microsoft-rumored-to-reelase-an-xbox-series-s-in-may-as-well.html

Edited April 23, 20206 yr by G-RFRY

1 hour ago, G-RFRY said:

Some of the big studio games are not on steam C.O.D for one,

That's just because of Activation being Greedy.

Microsoft was also releasing games exclusively on the Windows Store as well before 2019, their decision to come to Steam happened last year. So it's a recent thing.

Halo The Master Chief Collection came to Steam on day one of its PC release. Yes technically it had been on XB1 for a few years before then, but on PC it released on Steam at the same time as the Windows Store version.

The 5 latest games published by Microsoft released on Steam all released at the same time as their Windows Store counterparts.

State of Decay 2 Juggernaut Edition - March 13th 
Ori and the Will of the Wisps - March 11th
Halo: The Master Chief Collection - December 3rd
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition - November 14th
Gears 5 - September 9th
 

1 hour ago, G-RFRY said:

Steam is losing some studio`s due to the new streaming platforms coming this year.

https://www.guru3d.com/news-story/nvidia-geforce-now-game-streaming-service-loses-xbox-game-studios-and-warner-brothers.html

https://www.guru3d.com/news-story/microsoft-rumored-to-reelase-an-xbox-series-s-in-may-as-well.html

The first link says Nvidia's streaming service is losing studios, not Steam.

The second second link says nothing about streaming or Steam.

Edited April 23, 20206 yr by Tuskin38

1 hour ago, G-RFRY said:

Steam is losing some studio`s due to the new streaming platforms coming this year.

Not sure what your links have to do with Steam as they are talking about Nvidia's game streaming platform, not Steam's online storefront. And C.O.D. is somewhat irrelevant as it isn't a Microsoft first party title like Halo is, which has long been one of their flagship series.

Back to the initial topic, I would add to the list of desirable features an AI crew member (F/O or captain). That's considering the fact that most of the modern liners are certified for a 2-member crew. I remember that PMDG implemented something similar with their "Artificial Flight Engineer" on the DC-6.