MARCH 3RD, 2022 DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

Posted by: Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

Screenshot by ZILLNIAZI17 (Forum)

On Tuesday, we announced the launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Cloud Gaming. Users can now enjoy the sim on Xbox One and on other supported devices via Xbox Cloud Gaming, powered by custom Xbox Series X hardware. For more information, check out this Xbox Wire post.

We also released the first aircraft in our Famous Flyer series: the Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing. Click here to learn about this aircraft and check out the trailer below:

Thank you for everyone who joined us for yesterday’s monthly Dev Q&A. You can find click here to watch the replay, look out for a text version dropping soon.

– MSFS TEAM –

 

DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP

Click here for the web-friendly version.

 

FEEDBACK SNAPSHOT

Click here for the web-friendly version. To learn more about Accessibility in Microsoft Flight Simulator, click here.

 

SDK UPDATE

• General:
  • As announced, alongside Sim Update 8 we shipped a series of 3 Audio tutorials on our YouTube channel. You can find them here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln0yX13BGU4.
  • The new dark mode on the Documentation website will be available very soon, as well as the first part of the “How to make an Aircraft” tutorial.
• DevMode:
  • Material Editor:
    • We fixed the Delete button that did not work properly.
  • Project Editor:
    • We fixed a bug that used to empty the package name when using the Clean button.
  • Scenery Editor:
    • We added a series of useful shortcuts to the Scenery Editor! The list will be available in the documentation.
    • We fixed a crash when one-click placing parking gates.
    • We added the “use low resolution altitude” for scenery objects.
    • We fixed a crash in the world map that could occur after opening a project.
  • Aircraft Editor:
    • We finished reworking the parsing system. We are fixing minor bugs like typos on Geometry/Wings and min/max_design_mp parameters that were expressed in the wrong unit.
  • Visual Effects Editor:
    • We fixed a bug where the Template/instances debug window did not show spawned effects anymore.
    • We now sort nodes into categories and added a filter to search for nodes by name. This will make it easier to find the node you need for your effects!
    • We also sort node names alphabetically inside the menu categories.
• SDK:
  • The Aircraft Selector does not allow users to select corrupted planes anymore (they will appear grayed out).
  • We fixed error/warning/message buttons when the console is spammed.

 

3RD PARTY UPDATE

• >As of 02/25, we have now approved 240 (+5) third parties into the in-sim marketplace and – so far 136 (+0) have released 944 products on PC (+17) and 645 on Xbox (+17).
• In total, 1,916 products (+36) have already been released in 3rd party stores and the in-sim marketplace. Beyond that, another 531 products (-5) from 3rd party developers are in production (292 announced, 239 unannounced). In total, over 2,447 3rd party products (+31) are either released or are in development.
• Airports:
  • 1387 airports (+7) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 1161 airports (+18) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 646 airports (+6) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 118 airports (-8) beyond the released airports have been announced.
    • 108 airports (-3) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an airport is in production.
• Aircraft:
  • 337 aircraft (+10) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 106 aircraft (+1) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 72 aircraft (+0) have been released in the in-sim PC marketplace.
    • 47 aircraft (+1) have been released in the in-sim Xbox marketplace.
    • 159 aircraft (-1) beyond the released aircraft have been announced.
    • 72 aircraft (+10) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an aircraft is in production.
• Scenery:
  • 643 sceneries (+14) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 571 sceneries (+17) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 137 sceneries (+9) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 15 sceneries (-1) beyond the released scenery have been announced.
    • 57 sceneries (-2) are not announced, but the dev let us know that scenery is in production.
• Mission Packs:
  • 80 mission packs (+0) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 78 mission packs (+0) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 9 mission packs (+1) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 0 mission packs (+0) beyond the released missions have been announced.
    • 2 mission packs (+0) are not announced, but the dev let us know that they are in production.

 

MARKETPLACE UPDATE

Click here for a web-friendly version.

The Marketplace release has been delayed until tomorrow. We apologize for the inconvenience. This post will be updated along with an announcement on the forums tomorrow when released.

 

AIRSHOW INVITATION

We are excited to partner with community members from the Flight Simulator Thunderbirds to host the Wings over the Web Virtual Airshow on Twitch!

Join us live on May 22 as performers from around the world display breathtaking stunts and precision formation flying in the virtual skies. Featuring performances by the Flight Simulator Thunderbirds and RAAFv Roulettes, this virtual airshow will be an event you won’t want to miss.

Right now there is an open call for airshow acts. If you are interested in performing, whether as a solo act or with a group of simmers, click here to learn more and sign up!

 

TWITCH UPDATE

We stream weekly on Twitch.tv/MSFSOfficial!

Join us on March 4th for our weekly community fly-in as we celebrate International Women’s Day. To mark this event, we are inviting several women sim pilots from our community to host our Friday Community Fly-In: Alyson Johnson, beMint, and FactualGull! Also joining them in the skies will be our Senior Community Manager Jummivana. For this week’s event, our guests have recommended a scenic flight over the beautiful lakes and mountains of the Italian Alps departing from Milan. 

Click here for more details. All are welcome to participate! 

Yesterday’s Dev Q&A:

 

COMMUNITY VIDEO

Sim Update 8 released earlier this week. In addition to a large number of bug fixes, this patch also introduced a new aerodynamics and propeller simulation model for three aircraft: the Cessna 152, Cessna 208 Grand Caravan, and Beechcraft King Air (additional planes will be migrated to the new model in future Sim Updates). YouTuber Virtual Flight Research posted a video showcasing the new prop model and providing his thoughts on the changes in Sim Update 8 while flying the King Air over the Australian Outback.

 

SCREENSHOT CHALLENGE

You can now submit your screenshot via Twitter with #MSFSchallenge or the Weekly Forum Post! This week’s screenshot challenge: Silhouettes

This past week our Screenshot Challenge was “Color Series – Green“. Here are our runner ups this week:

Screenshot by Hester40MT (Forum)

Screenshot by MihamaBlend (Twitter)

Screenshot by pommes_l (Twitter)

Screenshot by Elevatorisbest (Forum)

Screenshot by DaveBGaming (Forum)

Screenshot by isaiahnparadise (Twitter)

Screenshot by gopensgo291 (Forum)

Screenshot by kasper5614 (Forum)

Screenshot by fytylm (Twitter)

Screenshot by ArcanePython931 (Forum)

NEXT DEVELOPMENT BLOG UPDATE – March 10th, 2022

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

Edited March 3, 20224 yr by ChaoticBeauty

Like clockwork, the dev update appears at Avsim.

Edit: and I didn't even say thanks - moving to the dunce corner of the room now.

Edited March 3, 20224 yr by irocx

Where is that fort shown in the pic by MihamaBlend, above?

Wow! almost no mention of SU9.  Not none.  Just almost none.  Looks like it is totally focused on CTDs and correcting issues with VR.  And both of those have been "ongoing".  Oh my, I first mistyped that as "ongong"!

Edited March 4, 20224 yr by fppilot

🌲🌲

So, implement weather API is still under investigation, that's a bummer 

9 hours ago, Mace said:

Where is that fort shown in the pic by MihamaBlend, above?

It is Fort Bourtange!

Thanks as always, @ChaoticBeauty Somehow I didn't get a note about a new  AVSIM topic this time. And as @fppilot observes, not much about SU9... not even a date. 

Kind regards, Michael

runner ups 🙄

14 hours ago, bendead said:

So, implement weather API is still under investigation, that's a bummer 

It should be seen as a positive. It means they're investigating the various ways, and ultimately the best way, it can be achieved. It's effectively the planning stage before development.

Isn't Implement Weather and Terrain APIs (Under Investigation) and Open Up The Weather System To 3rd Party Devs (Not Planned) "conflicting" things? I mean, what's the idea of creating a weather API, if it isn't available to 3rd party devs?!

Am I missing something obvious here?

12 minutes ago, anden145 said:

Isn't Implement Weather and Terrain APIs (Under Investigation) and Open Up The Weather System To 3rd Party Devs (Not Planned) "conflicting" things? I mean, what's the idea of creating a weather API, if it isn't available to 3rd party devs?!

Am I missing something obvious here?

I suppose the difference is that the weather API is for the weather radar while the weather system is the whole thing that would allow a company such as REX or Hi-Fi to inject their weather depiction via their products. Maybe someone else with more knowledge will chime in.

1 hour ago, anden145 said:

Isn't Implement Weather and Terrain APIs (Under Investigation) and Open Up The Weather System To 3rd Party Devs (Not Planned) "conflicting" things? I mean, what's the idea of creating a weather API, if it isn't available to 3rd party devs?!

Am I missing something obvious here?

Yes to add to what @evaamo mentions...my understanding is that the API will allow 3rd party add-ons to "read" (and *maybe* write? to some extent) weather data Asobo decides to expose.  This says to me, radar development.

I think the "write" part for all the variables is what would be needed for a comprehensive WX add-on.  REX SkyForce is already injecting in a way though, it does not appear to be writing outside the local area of  the aircraft.   

I think by definition the Weather API will allow more 3rd party weather add-ons...but my take could be wrong too.  The above is my understanding at this point.

5 hours ago, andyjohnston.net said:

runner ups 🙄

Assuming you're talking about the grammar rather than the content, I believe this is one of the examples of American English allowing both "runners up" and "runner ups" whereas proper English😊 only permits the former.

4 hours ago, 109Sqn said:

I believe this is one of the examples of American English allowing both "runners up" and "runner ups"

Yes and no.  😁  The correct form is hyphenated ("runner-up" / "runners-up").   The MW dictionary does allow "runner-ups" as a secondary form, but "runners-up" is preferred, and is by far the most common form, as indicated by the Google ngram viewer.   I don't see any real indication as to a difference between US and UK usage on this, though.