MARCH 2ND, 2023 DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

Posted by: Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

Screenshot by zkdos (Forum)

Over the last week, we released World Update 12: New Zealand, Local Legend VIII: De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou, and Famous Flyer IV: Antonov An-225 Mriya. We are thrilled with the community’s reaction to all three releases, and the team is carefully monitoring your feedback and bug reports.

Public testing for our next major release, Sim Update 12, continues. We released two new test builds to beta participants over the past few days. In case you missed it, you can read the release notes for these builds here (1.31.19.0) and here (1.31.20.20). If you would like to join the pre-release beta test, you can find instructions here.

Lastly, this week’s Development Update blog includes a Feedback Snapshot that can be found below. We apologize for its absence in recent weeks.

MSFS Team

 

FEEDBACK SNAPSHOT

Click here for the web-friendly version of the Feedback Snapshot.

DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP

Click here for the web-friendly version of the Development Roadmap.

 

MARKETPLACE UPDATE

Click here for the web-friendly version of the Marketplace Update.

There are 35 new and 38 updated products in the Marketplace today, and 1 new item released earlier this week.. Marketplace updates generally go live on Thursdays between the release of this blog post and 5pm PT.

RELEASED EARLIER THIS WEEK:

New on PC (Coming to Xbox in late March)

 

35 NEW PRODUCTS: 17 ON PC, 18 ON XBOX
New on Xbox	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 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 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 and Xbox	New on PC and Xbox

 

38 UPDATED PRODUCTS: 21 ON PC, 17 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 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	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

SDK UPDATE

ASOBO

• SimConnect
  • We fixed a crash while inspecting Data Definition with no unit or a wrong unit entry (using SimConnect Inspector).
• Aircraft Editor
  • We updated the aircraft template names.
  • We added default and min value for static_compression of contact points to avoid division by 0 later.
  • We added new Glider parameters.
  • We fixed a data loss when there is optional data in struct added in the Aircraft Editor.
  • We fixed a crash caused by the Aircraft wizard. Now the aircraft .cfg files are automatically saved when opening the Aircraft Editor after using the Wizard.
  • We updated template aircraft contact points.
  • We fixed the parsing of n1_and_mach_on_thrust_table in the Aircraft Editor, which would break the A320 and probably other jet aircraft.

 

SDK UPDATE

WORKING TITLE / MSFS AVIONICS FRAMEWORK

• MSFS Avionics Framework
  • We are still working to finalize the framework update for AAU_01 content, including plug-in documentation – stay tuned.
  • Remember you can find the MSFS Avionics Framework on GitHub here.
  • Upcoming framework updates:
    • Expanded ADC (Air Data Computer) SDK data publisher to include air density. (AAU_02)
    • Expanded NumberUnit/UnitType utility to support air density units and conversions. (AAU_02)
    • Expanded VNAV Path Calculator to support idle descent prediction and planning. (AAU_02)
    • Continued work on a framework autopilot update adding more configurability to the directors and standardizing common logic. (AAU_02)

• Avionics Framework Feature Highlight: Components and Refs
  • What are Components:
    • At the core of the Avionics Framework is the DisplayComponent class. Aptly named, DisplayComponents are used to render content to the actual display on your instrument. Within the framework, any time you want to actually render something on the display you use a DisplayComponent. DisplayComponents are essentially smart divs and are incredibly flexible; you can use as many as you like and they can be nested.
  • What are Refs:
    • Refs are simply code references to these display components; if you create a DisplayComponent and assign it a Ref, then you can reference that display component from outside the component (by passing the ref wherever it is needed) and, thus, be able to update, show, hide or otherwise manipulate your DisplayComponent from anywhere on your instrument.
  • Why use Components and Refs:
    • DisplayComponents and their Refs simplify the exercise of creating and manipulating rendered content on the instrument – by using refs, your logic code can reach inside the component and change anything about it, such as CSS styles or classes, rendered text, rendered SVGs and more. You can also pass a DisplayComponent a Subject or have your component subscribe to events from the Event Bus, in order to update itself based on one or more input data types. DisplayComponents are very flexible – they can be “smart” and contain their own logic and event subscriptions to be entirely autonomous, or they can be “dumb” and rely exclusively on an outside logic/controller class to reach into the component to make changes when appropriate – they are suitably flexible to support a variety of different development styles and purposes.
  • Simple example:
    • Imagine you wanted to display an altimeter with a moving (or scrolling) altitude bar as is common on many glass PFDs. You would create your DisplayComponent and assign it a ref. Within your DisplayComponent, you would use the render method to define the HTML/DIV structure of the component, as well as assign CSS classes to your HTML. You might then create your update methods inside the component – those that translate the scrolling altimeter bar (via CSS) and change the displayed altitude numbers by updating the displayed digits (text content). Then, within your component, you can create two ConsumerSubjects (discussed last week) – one for the altimeter setting and one for the indicated altitude, and tie those subjects to their respective EventBus events so they stay constantly updated. Now that your display component has all the data it needs to render what you want it to render, we just need to create a subscription inside the DisplayComponent to those two ConsumerSubjects, and when either of these values change, you call your update method and the component will update itself.

• Read more about Components and Refs here.

 

THIRD PARTY UPDATE

• As of 02/24, we have now approved 209 (+0) third parties into the in-sim marketplace and – so far 184 (+5) have released 1,720 products on PC (+15) and 1,434 on Xbox (+17).
• In total, 2,673 products (+15) have already been released in 3^rd party stores and the in-sim marketplace. Beyond that, another 739 products (+12) from 3^rd party developers are in production (349 announced, 390 unannounced). In total, over 3,412 3^rd party products (+27) have either been released or are in development.
• Airports:
  • 1,837 airports (+12) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 1,571 airports (+7) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 986 airports (+4) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 120 airports (+2) beyond the released airports have been announced.
    • 146 airports (+3) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an airport is in production.
• Aircraft:
  • 555 aircraft (+5) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 204 aircraft (+2) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 149 aircraft (+2) have been released in the in-sim PC marketplace.
    • 119 aircraft (+2) have been released in the in-sim Xbox marketplace.
    • 208 aircraft (+5) beyond the released aircraft have been announced.
    • 143 aircraft (-2) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an aircraft is in production.
• Scenery:
  • 867 scenery packs (+2) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 766 sceneries (+2) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 283 sceneries (+2) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 21 sceneries (+0) beyond the released scenery have been announced.
    • 80 sceneries (+0) are not announced, but the dev let us know that scenery is in production.
• Mission Packs:
  • 153 mission packs (+8) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 132 mission packs (+4) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 62 mission packs (+13) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 0 mission packs (+0) beyond the released missions have been announced.
    • 21 mission packs (+4) are not announced, but the dev let us know that they are in production.

 

 

COMMUNITY FLY-IN

March 8 is International Women’s Day. March 8 is also the anniversary of Raymonde de Laroche of France becoming the first woman in the world to earn a pilot’s license. Every year, this anniversary is recognized as part of Women of Aviation Week 3, a time to celebrate the accomplishments of female pilots and encourage more women and girls to get involved in flight. For this week’s Fly-In, we will be flying across the French countryside to the town of Chalons. In 1909, Laroche flew her first flight at Chalons, the first known instance of a woman pilot flying an airplane.

Event details are available here. All are welcome to participate!

COMMUNITY VIDEO

Long-time Microsoft Flight Simulator fans may remember this classic trailer for 2006’s FSX. Recently, YouTuber That Flight Sim Guy remade the trailer using all-new footage from the current version of MSFS. Looking for a wave of nostalgia? Then check out the video below!

 

SCREENSHOT CHALLENGE

You can submit your screenshot via Twitter with #MSFSchallenge or the Weekly Forum Post! This week’s screenshot challenge: Color Series – Purple

This past week’s Screenshot Challenge was “New Zealand“

Screenshot by YusufWardana (Forum)

Screenshot by vp_sim (Twitter)

Screenshot by ukaka5656 (Twitter)

Screenshot by tsujiKa_air (Twitter)

Screenshot by PerkyWhisper578 (Forum)

Screenshot by MihamaBlend (Twitter)

Screenshot by mbraortns (Forum)

Screenshot by JohnStarp (Forum)

Screenshot by dlh747 (Forum)

Screenshot by AlphaSierra5534 (Forum)

 

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NEXT DEVELOPMENT BLOG UPDATE – March 9th, 2023

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

Edited March 2, 20233 yr by David Mills

pinned

Highest voted for Bug not yet dealt with = Not Planned 😄😄😄Meanwhile a bug with ZERO votes has got fixed in the beta, you couldn't make it up, such an appalling voting system 🤣

1 hour ago, MarcG said:

Highest voted for Bug not yet dealt with = Not Planned 😄😄😄Meanwhile a bug with ZERO votes has got fixed in the beta, you couldn't make it up, such an appalling voting system 🤣

Which one?  (not planned)

16 minutes ago, bobcat999 said:

Which one?  (not planned)

Horizon Line which they claim is "too deep in the code" to fix...

1 hour ago, MarcG said:

Horizon Line which they claim is "too deep in the code" to fix...

Oh yes.  I really don't think they will ever get around to this.

It's amazing now CS still managed to get a 3.3 score on its mega-overpriced 767-400. Comparing it to the An-225 it's an absolute joke.

</rant>

1 hour ago, bobcat999 said:

Oh yes.  I really don't think they will ever get around to this.

That's bad. Luckily, this annoying horizon line it is not always visible. I have (see) it only in mountainous regions under certain weather conditions.

59 minutes ago, Nemo said:

..Luckily, this annoying horizon line it is not always visible. I have (see) it only in mountainous regions under certain weather conditions.

Yes, that is the only time I see it.  I tend to tune it out now and just consider it an optical effect, like the lens flare in the sim etc.

Crossing my fingers and throwing a pinch of salt over my shoulder but I have never seen this line.

5 hours ago, MarcG said:

Horizon Line which they claim is "too deep in the code" to fix...

Well, I would assume the developers of the sim know what they are talking about with this particular “claim”. It has been discussed before in more than one dev Q&A. They have said that they would have  to redesign the entire core rendering system to address it.

1 hour ago, JRBarrett said:

...They have said that they would have  to redesign the entire core rendering system to address it.

That's right.  But it is a bit strange.  I thought the rendering was one of the things that they did completely redesign based on how it looks and the performance (compared to FSX etc.), but then again, if this horizon line was present in FSX / P3D, I suppose that proves it is a core rendering system remnant.

Edited March 3, 20233 yr by bobcat999

My memory may be lacking, but I don't recall having ever seen that line in FSX / P3D nor do I recall discussions about it from that time.

I suppose it was introduced during rewriting of the rending engine. 

Kind regards, Michael

The community video was a nice blast from the past. I wonder when it will be possible to replicate the ATC part in MSFS?

17 hours ago, Dominique_K said:

Crossing my fingers and throwing a pinch of salt over my shoulder but I have never seen this line.

Me neither.