Good anecdote and hopefully you're closer to the rule than exception!

1 hour ago, Noel said:

   If it's somewhat clear already that the console port isn't really generating enough $$

It`s the opposite Game Pass brings in millions of dollars a Month, dropping Millions on a title and taking the risk you will get a return can backfire, this is why when MS offered the Flight Sim commercial licence over 10 years ago no takers and AeroSoft was one of them, some of the biggest game studios would not buy it.     

13 minutes ago, G-RFRY said:

It`s the opposite Game Pass brings in millions of dollars a Month

Begs the question:  what % of game pass sales can be effectively attributed to MSFS?

11 minutes ago, Rob_Ainscough said:

Also why it was a huge blow to PMDG that they had to remove their DC6 for XBOX due to Asobo/MS "technical difficulties"

Sounds terrible from PMDG's POV.  Do you know what those difficulties were by chance?  Do we know if that pull is temporary?

15 minutes ago, Noel said:

Begs the question:  what % of game pass sales can be effectively attributed to MSFS?

Game Pass is not about a single game title if you read the Phil Spencer head of game studio interviews, in order to get funds from MS they must be developed for Game Pass console and MS see that as the future, due to the Large upfront cost of developing big game titles. much the same as Netflix who have been buying up film studios to make films for them now worth billions world wide.   

14 minutes ago, G-RFRY said:

Game Pass is not about a single game title

But still--some single game titles will be far more attractive to would-be users than others, which again begs questions about value as a franchise to continue to maintain.  So I wonder, will M$ look at it and decide circa 2024 they're going to close down MSFS because the data shows it is not drawing in new users nor maintaining existing Game Pass users at a sufficient rate to justify continuing the franchise.  Do we not think M$ uses this kind of data analytics on everything they are in on for Game Pass?

On 12/24/2021 at 12:30 AM, RXP said:

These are professional rendering engines meant to be used as image generators for simulators, like Prepar3D or X-Plane. There are many other similar products on the market today as well.

Just to have an idea: what would be the cost to add that level of visual immersion to X-Plane11 (or 12 I imagine) or to P3D5?

8 minutes ago, ADamiani said:

Just to have an idea: what would be the cost to add that level of visual immersion to X-Plane11 (or 12 I imagine) or to P3D5?

No amount of money could do that, not going to happen. 

10 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

No amount of money could do that, not going to happen. 

I bet a billion $$ would get a seat at the table, no?

1 hour ago, Noel said:

But still--some single game titles will be far more attractive to would-be users than others, which again begs questions about value as a franchise to continue to maintain.  So I wonder, will M$ look at it and decide circa 2024 they're going to close down MSFS because the data shows it is not drawing in new users nor maintaining existing Game Pass users at a sufficient rate to justify continuing the franchise.  Do we not think M$ uses this kind of data analytics on everything they are in on for Game Pass?

No they don`t care how many users for a title as MS said it`s not numbers for any title it`s the Game Pass catalogue they want 200+ games on the Game Pass. And Asobo studio will be funded for the full development and they mentioned 10 years. they also make other games for the XBOX. Game Pass streaming is not available world wide at the moment. 

1 hour ago, Noel said:

Sounds terrible from PMDG's POV.  Do you know what those difficulties were by chance?  Do we know if that pull is temporary?

The problem is there is some kind of difference in the way MSFS works on the development kit PMDG were able to use (& that MSFS were able to use for testing) and real Xboxes.

MSFS have said they have identified the cause of the problem but that it will take some time to create a fix and test it properly which is why they offered refunds on DC-6 purchases on the Marketplace.

Edited December 26, 20214 yr by Matchstick

On 12/24/2021 at 12:47 PM, MSFLYER5856 said:

I agree with Bob on this. Gamepass users don't have to pay to try MSFS, its part of their netflix like subscription. There is no risk in trying it out and its practically totally free to try out and use.  So the stat is misleading.

Now the big question is : Are X-Box users purchasing more addons than the PC users ? That would be a stat to keep an eye on.

My guess (and it's nothing more than that) is that they may be buying more add-ons on the Marketplace.

 Fortnite ....  Warzone ... LOL ... Valorant... and many more are Free to play.. unlimited..  You can Pay to buy Skins and "packs" but many are not "PAY to WIN"...  Yet the money they make is insane....  100% on Console it is all about DLCs and what they will make off it.....  

Just for fun look how CS "embraced" the new world and was not exactly hart broken about the hardcore sim user backlash for releasing those "skins"..... Even worse as the Updates roll out planes and items that are not compatible are done... and there is no refund...  

11 hours ago, Matchstick said:

My guess (and it's nothing more than that) is that they may be buying more add-ons on the Marketplace.

Its not a surprise that we still only have like 1 'study level' dc6(I cant stand this term but everyone uses it) and 2 decent airliners FBW A32N and the CRJ7/9/10 series. Most gamers dont care about realism, they wanna do loops and crash into stuff and buzz buildings and are not really gonna pay 80+ USD for a study level AC.  Like I mentioned before , we the niche market got our shiny new platform but it came at the price of letting the herd in and catering to them to PAY the bills w cashgrab AC releases.  Im pretty sure most devs are putting resources into the cashgrabs sadly so they can quickly profit and recoup costs. 

2 hours ago, wiler said:

Its not a surprise that we still only have like 1 'study level' dc6(I cant stand this term but everyone uses it) and 2 decent airliners FBW A32N and the CRJ7/9/10 series. Most gamers dont care about realism, they wanna do loops and crash into stuff and buzz buildings and are not really gonna pay 80+ USD for a study level AC.  Like I mentioned before , we the niche market got our shiny new platform but it came at the price of letting the herd in and catering to them to PAY the bills w cashgrab AC releases.  Im pretty sure most devs are putting resources into the cashgrabs sadly so they can quickly profit and recoup costs. 

I would add the Kodiak 100 to the DC6 as far as a great flying aircraft. ( study level is nonsense in my opinion) and more to come.