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Updates for 777, 737, DC-6, J-41 on P3D Platform:
Given that the vast majority of our development resources are currently focused on the 737 in MSFS, we are not currently at work on any updates in this category. We have a number of items planned and on the agenda such as LNAV, Navdata and Flight Director updates for the 777 and 737, a platforming update for J-41 and DC-6 and some harmonization between P3D DC-6 functionality and MSFS DC-6 but we are not actively moving on any of those items and due to the workload currently being experienced by the team there is no new information or timeline to give you.

Source: https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/154537-08dec21-a-quick-round-of-updates-on-various-topics-across-pmdg-p3d-msfs-dc-6-737

I cannot help but feel disregarded by PMDG. From the comment above, it appears to be the case that they already have my money, I'm now just a cost to them (as another 3rd party developer might say).
I bought the -200 expansion pack based upon the notion that we may have been given a significant update round about now (as suggested at release). To me, the lack of any images to showcase the work undertaken (if any), gives the impression that P3D users can be taken for granted.

Prioritising their next MSFS product is obviously going to be financially beneficial to them. However, their resource allocation is heavily skewed to developing on what is tantamount to a moving target, without knowing whether the changes required from Asobo (that PMDG considers critical) will actually be implemented or not. That's a risky course of action to take, and it is one that has jeopardised future sales with this customer.


In somewhat good news if you're a 747 user, the planned LNAV and FD updates have gone into beta testing. Possible bad news is that if they don't work properly, there is no timeline for them to get fixed and released.

Very disappointing update, especially for P3D users, but also for MSFS ones (who may have to wait indefinitely for the NG3, which may comprise even less features).

PMDG have made themselves completeley dependent on Asobo. Whether they will be able (or willing!) to deliver is far from clear, and also in what time frame.

At the same time, they choose to neglect and postpone projects for a stable, well-working platform suited for sophisticated studylevel airliner simulation (P3D V5). Doesn't seem like a good business move at all to me.

(But it's great to see they have added even more functionality to their GFO, which is (was) supposed to go live in 2021 after all, all the while it's still unknown what the base functions really comprise! 🤣)

Seems clear now why they are having such a massive, unprecedented sale. While I was tempted at first I'm holding back all spending on their products for the time being, since it's far from clear when these will be updated or upgraded.

If I was them, I would put all resources on the projects that they can actually complete without being dependent on other parties. At the moment, nobody seems really happy with the way things are going.

PMDG are renowed for it regardless of the product or platform and even within their own business. Nothing in this post from 2018 is here yet including the product in development from 2014. Goal post shifting company who make promises that take years to deliver if ever.

 

To be honest, it took me by no surprise at all.

May I say emphatic ditto to every post above!!!!

1 hour ago, F737NG said:

I bought the -200 expansion pack based upon the notion that we may have been given a significant update round about now (as suggested at release). 

If there's one thing I've learned in this hobby, it's that you get the features that are present at released. Nothing is guaranteed in terms of upgrades or new features or even compatibility with future versions of the simulator. Market conditions change and production sometimes takes much longer than expected. 

17 minutes ago, Rob_Ainscough said:

P3D just isn't their priority right now, gotta go where the money is.

And just to add to Rob's point: what's going to bring you more money: a new product in a sim that currently doesn't have a study level 737, or an update to an existing line of products?

Sure, we all want updates to the 777 and 747, but it makes perfect sense that PMDG is pushing the MSFS products as hard as possible to get those sales. 

14 minutes ago, Rob_Ainscough said:

t would be nice if PMDG gave the VC's full PBR treatment for P3D, but I suspect once the money starts flowing again with MSFS sales, they'll eventually return P3D products inline adding support for some of the latest features in P3D.  P3D just isn't their priority right now, gotta go where the money is.

All true but I wonder if developers may be mining fools' gold by pushing P3D aside or abandoning altogether. If PMDG had used the resources they expended toward a 757/767 or MD11 or some other highly desired aircraft for P3D how close they might be now to a generous revenue producing new product to go to market. Can't help but wonder.

I was heavily criticized on their discord forum for saying their "P3D secret project" airliner was never coming.  I realize that he toyed with a toy 757 a few weeks ago on a stream.  But right now my prediction isn't looking so bad. 

 

I'm disappointed that the 777 is left in the condition it is right now.  Flight deck looks ancient, as do the wings and engine animations.  

But mostly disappointed that ASOBO is not making the needed changes to get us the types of planes we want to see.  

16 minutes ago, Patco Lch said:

All true but I wonder if developers may be mining fools' gold by pushing P3D aside or abandoning altogether.

IMHO I think that most if not all the developers have followed one another down a very deep Rabbit Hole with this whole nasty mess created by MS. I get it they they are all just trying to read the tea leaves and make a living but they are Professionals and all of them have been around long enough to know that MS just simply can not be trusted when it comes to gaming and Flight Sim stuff. Now, they are stuck out there in never never land where quality system add ons will not work with the pretty pictures and it seems that when MS tries to fix that then it breaks the quality add ons. In the mean time most devs stopped working on P3D add ons and so they have nothing to sell to us "crazy old men" who have a couple of bucks in our pocket to spend. 

I'm certainly happy that the 747 improvements are still in the works. I don't own the 777, but have largely held off buying it partly because of the promises made of visual updates when the 200er was released. I certainly won't fault PMDG for what they do eventually produce though, the 744 is my favourite aircraft in the Sim.

Not surprised by the lack of progress in MSFS, but one does wonder (as may be the case with other addon developers) how long this can be kept up before cash-flow starts to be a concern. Certainly I feel that with the moving target MSFS is and has remained, maintaining some limited parallel P3D development would perhaps have been wise on PMDG's part. That promise made at the release of the NGXu of a guranteed MSFS version during the initial sale period following release is one that I get the feeling they may be starting to regret; it seemed pretty gung-ho to me even at the time when I was more optimistic regarding MSFS's more immediate viability in regards to third party aircraft.

2 hours ago, Rafal said:

To be honest, it took me by no surprise at all.

Totally agree. My money is on P3Dv6,

Have MSFS installed for occasional VFR/Scenic flights within Iceland/Norway/Switzerland/Italy/Austria area. Don't see any other purpose in it. 

I

2 minutes ago, Rob_Ainscough said:

I'd argue it's the MSFS buying customers that decided PMDG's path, 2.3 Million users vs. 200,000 (at most) P3D users, visuals sell, games sell, simulators are niche.  It'll be interesting to see how many MSFS users really want a more complex aircraft in their collection.

Cheers, Rob.

I mostly agree with you Rob.  But you gotta admit.  People who buy "games" for visuals usually are only around for a bit until they move to the next thing.  I'm not anti MSFS either.  I own it and enjoy it.  But todays news is not encouraging at all for us airline flyers. 

Edited December 8, 20214 yr by micstatic
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Boeing fans may shift their eyes toward IFly. The new 737NG is certainly a high quality product on par with the NGXu and they have stated their commitment to P3DV5. Let's watch and see what they do in the future.

22 minutes ago, Patco Lch said:

Boeing fans may shift their eyes toward IFly. The new 737NG is certainly a high quality product on par with the NGXu and they have stated their commitment to P3DV5. Let's watch and see what they do in the future.

My curiosity is peaked. Have you tried this? I have the iFly 747 and it was good in its day.

I've lost confidence in MSFS for the time being (they have big code integration issues and I don't see it improving any time soon.) and have largely shifted back to P3D for my tube liner fix. So, I'm in the market, again, for P3D add-ons.