P3D aircraft in MSFS 2020

[dave2013 1,123]

Does anyone know for certain if all or most P3D aircraft will be compatible with MSFS 2020? 

For example, I have a lot of freeware planes with FSX/P3D models and xml gauges, no dlls, and wonder if they can be ported directly over to the new sim or run through a conversion process.

Thanks.

Dave

[adino 263]

Good question, especially the xml gauges...I understand FSX/P3D models are portable to MSFS however there was no word about XML compatibility and as far I know the SDK is currently not available for mere mortals...

[ryanbatc 12,770]

I could not possibly say if I've tried to do that already.  NDA and all....

[Mace 1,896]

1 hour ago, ryanbatcund said:

I could not possibly say if I've tried to do that already.  NDA and all....

Heh.  LO-to-the-L. This I did chuckle at.

Yes there are a few P3D aircraft I wouldn't mind floating around in, in MSFS.   I see some concurrent simming in my future as I don't expect, for example, the Maddog to work right off the bat in the new sim.   Than again, with like 40 aircraft in the new sim I'll have my hands full.

[pmb 5,137]

I think it's high time leaving this and other questions not to public speculation but answer by MS themselves, given it's one month prior to release.

Kind regards, Michael

[ckyliu 1,749]

My understanding is that aircraft which adhered to the FSX SDK and use XML gauges (such as Carenado and Alabeo) will port straight in - indeed to that end MFS includes a "legacy aerodynamics" mode so they fly as they did in FSX. Anything beyond the FSX SDK (so custom .gau files or FS UIPC requirements like most high end addons), and anything which utilises P3D specific features, is not going to be compatible without some conversion work.

However I question if you'd want FSX birds in the new MFS without some rebuilding because otherwise they're going to look so out of place in the new high fidelity world. There was no materials systems in FSX and P3D only just got PBR textures, all that stuff is in the MFS default aircraft out the box.

Edited July 15, 2020 by ckyliu

[Chock 17,769]

17 minutes ago, ckyliu said:

I question if you'd want FSX birds in the new MFS

Since there is no DC-3, nor any helicopters at all, there's two good reasons straight away for slinging some P3D stuff into it. 🙂

[ckyliu 1,749]

To complete the quote "without some rebuilding" because they're going to look jarring and in the case of the heli probably fly terrible too!

I appreciate some folks aren't bothered about graphics, but if you aren't then why wouldn't you just stick with those birds in FSX/P3D?

[Wobbie 937]

Maybe consider MSFs as a brand new sim? Not an update or upgrade to anything else.. That way you will not be disapointed.

[dave2013 1,123]

5 hours ago, pmb said:

I think it's high time leaving this and other questions not to public speculation but answer by MS themselves, given it's one month prior to release.

Kind regards, Michael

I wasn't asking anyone to speculate.

I was hoping that someone in the know could answer my question.

Dave

[dave2013 1,123]

2 hours ago, Wobbie said:

Maybe consider MSFs as a brand new sim? Not an update or upgrade to anything else.. That way you will not be disapointed.

If I can't use any of my freeware planes then I will certainly be disappointed.

It was mentioned many months ago that the new sim would allow backward compatibility for FSX and P3D planes.  I'm simply asking if anyone knows if this is indeed the case.

Dave

[dave2013 1,123]

13 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

I could not possibly say if I've tried to do that already.  NDA and all....

Excellent.  I'm going to assume that they are compatible.

Thanks.

Dave

Edited July 15, 2020 by dave2013

[andyjohnston.net 617]

You have to remember P3D had nothing to do with Microsoft.  If the new sim is built on (vastly upgraded) FSX code, anything P3D shouldn't be expected to work.

[lambourne 211]

16 hours ago, andyjohnston.net said:

You have to remember P3D had nothing to do with Microsoft.  If the new sim is built on (vastly upgraded) FSX code, anything P3D shouldn't be expected to work.

P3D is a licenced extension of the ESP platform. Thinking about it, I'd be surprised if MS didn't have the rights to whatever Lockheed have done to extend and improve it.

[Wobbie 937]

3 minutes ago, lambourne said:

P3D is a licenced extension of the ESP platform. Thinking about it, I'd be surprised if MS didn't have the rights to whatever Lockheed have done to extend and improve it.

I doubt if Microsoft have any rights to whatever LM has done. Unlike the deal they had with Dovetail, where DTG had the licence to slightly modify FSX & market it to gamers/entertainment, They sold the commercial core ESP to LM, expand it for the commercial military & training school market..

So, 2 totally different markets. The contract with DTG has expired, & MS still hold the licencing for FSX.

Just an explanation & a bit of background.