MARCH 17TH, 2022 DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

Posted by: Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

Screenshot by Filippo20032222 (Forum)

We are very excited for the release of World Update VIII: Iberia next week, launching on March 22 at 2:00am PDT (0900Z)! To go along with the next World Update, we are also launching a new plane for both PC and Xbox, Local Legend III: Dornier Do J Wal.

We also invite you to join us for the next Dev Q&A livestream on our Twitch channel on March 23 at 10:30am PDT (1730Z).

– MSFS TEAM –

 

DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP

Click here for the web-friendly version.

 

FEEDBACK SNAPSHOT

The feedback snapshot will return next week.

 

SDK UPDATE

• General:
  • We are currently preparing an update of the SDK (due, among other things, to the SimVarWatcher changes that were not part of Sim Update 8 while being mentioned in the Release Notes).
• DevMode:
  • Scenery Editor:
    • We fixed the fact that airports were not updated after hiding them.
    • We now automatically unhide the parent when one of its children is unhidden.
•  SDK:
  • SimConnect:
    • We fixed ClientID/SendID issues in server (https://devsupport.flightsimulator.com/questions/6093/simconnect-illegal-operation-exception-received-by.html).

 

3RD PARTY UPDATE

• As of 03/11, we have now approved 241 (+0) third parties into the in-sim marketplace and – so far 136 (+0) have released 960 products on PC (+12) and 666 on Xbox (+12).
• In total, 1,943 products (+17) have already been released in 3rd party stores and the in-sim marketplace. Beyond that, another 538 products (+0) from 3rd party developers are in production (290 announced, 248 unannounced). In total, over 2,481 3rd party products (+17) are either released or are in development.
• Airports:
  • 1412 airports (+11) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 1178 airports (+11) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 654 airports (+7) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 118 airports (+0) beyond the released airports have been announced.
    • 116 airports (+0) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an airport is in production.
• Aircraft:
  • 339 aircraft (+1) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 108 aircraft (+1) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 73 aircraft (+1) have been released in the in-sim PC marketplace.
    • 48 aircraft (+1) have been released in the in-sim Xbox marketplace.
    • 157 aircraft (+0) beyond the released aircraft have been announced.
    • 74 aircraft (+0) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an aircraft is in production.
• Scenery:
  • 650 sceneries (+5) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 579 sceneries (+5) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 142 sceneries (+4) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 15 sceneries (+0) beyond the released scenery have been announced.
    • 56 sceneries (-1) 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 (+0) have been released in the in-sim marketplace. 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.

There are 26 new and 25 updated products in the Marketplace today. Marketplace updates generally go live on Thursdays between the release of this blog post and 5pm PT.

26 NEW PRODUCTS: 14 ON PC, 12 ON XBOX
New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅
New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC ✅
New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC ✅
New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅
New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC ✅

25 UPDATED PRODUCTS: 14 ON PC, 11 ON XBOX
Updated on PC and Xbox ✅	Updated on PC ✅	Updated on PC and Xbox ✅
Updated on PC and Xbox ✅	Updated on PC and Xbox ✅	Updated on PC and Xbox ✅
Updated on PC and Xbox ✅	Updated on PC ✅	Updated on PC and Xbox ✅
Updated on PC and Xbox ✅	Updated on PC and Xbox ✅	Updated on PC and Xbox ✅
Updated on PC and Xbox ✅		Updated on PC ✅

TWITCH UPDATE

We stream weekly on Twitch.tv/MSFSOfficial! Thursday, March 17 is Saint Patrick’s Day, a celebration of Irish culture not only in Ireland itself but also by people of Irish heritage around the world. To mark the occasion (albeit one day late), we are pleased to welcome back Twotonemurphy to the channel to co-host the livestream as we tour the Emerald Isle in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Click here for flight details. All players on PC, Xbox, and Xbox Cloud Gaming are welcome to participate!

Also next week, on Wednesday at 2:00pm PDT (1900Z), Senior Community Manager Jayne will be continuing her virtual flying lessons with community member ForderLearnToFly. The upcoming lesson will cover Slow Flight. Please see this forum thread for the details.

 

COMMUNITY VIDEO

Have you attempted any of Microsoft Flight Simulator’s landing challenges yet? Want some tips to improve your score? Check out the video below from YouTuber Into the Blue Simulations as he achieves a top 40 result on the leaderboard for the Bugalaga landing challenge. In the video, he guides you through the flying techniques he used to achieve a smooth, on-target landing at one of the most challenging airstrips in the world.

 

SCREENSHOT CHALLENGE

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

This past week our Screenshot Challenge was “These Canyons are gorges!“. Here are our runner ups this week:

Screenshot by Acegard5503 (Forum)

Screenshot by canuck695 (Forum)

Screenshot by HolmesCZ6127 (Forum)

Screenshot by isaiahnparadise (Twitter)

Screenshot by pommes_l (Twitter)

Screenshot by Stanty16 (Forum)

Screenshot by tsujiKa_air (Twitter)

Screenshot by UnspokenKhan355 (Forum)

Screenshot by VT_Hornbill (Twitter)

Screenshot by ZILLNIAZI17 (Forum)

NEXT DEVELOPMENT BLOG UPDATE – March 24th, 2022

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

Edited March 17, 20224 yr by ChaoticBeauty

Thanks @ChaoticBeauty, i never realised we are so close to another WU, and good to see Iberia is getting upgraded.

I really must try to make a Community Fly-in for the first time, seeing as it's in Ireland. The last time my other half and I were there was a couple of days before Covid turned people's lives upside down. We're itching to get back when we can actually manage it.

Please tell me they hot-fixed the disant engine sounds bug in this update.

Do we know if the canaries and balearic islands, Madeira and Azores are also covered by this update ?

6 hours ago, Waldo Pepper said:

Please tell me they hot-fixed the disant engine sounds bug in this update.

It's a world update, so it doesn't cover bug fixing.

Can't wait to fly my glider over WU VIII !!! Flies like word not allowed ( even the best addons I am using ) but the looks are simply astounding !

MFS it's a phenomenon for me. I would have trashed it long ago just after a session in any of the default aircraft., and specially any of the gliders because it really leaves a LOT to be desired, but the graphics, the smoothness, the scenery, even the weather look so great that I have my "uninstall finger" blocked...

I dream of what Sebastien has mentioned in the last Q&A regarding flight dynamics updates with "CFD" and Prop physics to get into live in a future Sim Update, the sooner the better !

Portugal and Spain will bring the ideal scenery for me. Even my FBW flights ( the only airliner I use with MFS ) are 90% over the Iberian Peninsula, and it's the area I fly IRL, so, next step I am looking forward into is the updated weather for soaring, also mentioned by Sebastien, namely their algorithm for "thermals" / "convection"... 

What a sim !  What a roller coaster of emotions...

2 hours ago, RTK1972 said:

Do we know if the canaries and balearic islands, Madeira and Azores are also covered by this update ?

I want to know this too. Great islands for flying in and out of. 

26 minutes ago, Donka said:

I want to know this too. Great islands for flying in and out of. 

Doesn't look like so, at least Madeira and Azores are well appart from the Iberian Peninsula. The "Baleares" could make their way into it though...

8 hours ago, 109Sqn said:

I really must try to make a Community Fly-in for the first time

It is a great experience, just make sure to keep the stream in a second monitor/device or at least in a minimised tab in the background while flying, so you can listen to the hosts giving out important instructions and see where the pack is. Often they bring in people familiar with the area for a nice guided tour as well.

3 hours ago, RTK1972 said:

Do we know if the canaries and balearic islands, Madeira and Azores are also covered by this update ?

47 minutes ago, Donka said:

I want to know this too. Great islands for flying in and out of. 

23 minutes ago, jcomm said:

Doesn't look like so, at least Madeira and Azores are well appart from the Iberian Peninsula. The "Baleares" could make their way into it though...

SeedyL has confirmed that this World Update will cover Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar. Don't think we have more specific information than that sadly.

8 hours ago, Waldo Pepper said:

Please tell me they hot-fixed the disant engine sounds bug in this update.

I thought this, too, as it's really nasty. But there's always a chance all AI planes will turn into Followmes or disappear altogether at the same time... so they better don't touch that.

Kind regards, Michael

4 hours ago, RTK1972 said:

Do we know if the canaries and balearic islands, Madeira and Azores are also covered by this update ?

I’ll be amazed is Madeira is done. And the Azores. Both places I’ve visited and love. 

These weekly updates are getting worse, seems as if MS can't be bothered to put any effort into them whatsoever.

have they said what airports will be hand crafted?. as they removed Malaga Airport from the alpha version of the sim and it was outstanding so i am hoping they will include it in this world update, 

Edited March 18, 20224 yr by steve 86

Well, look who I bumped into during the Community Fly-In.😉

@Tuskin38

A lovely evening's flight it was too: