APRIL 20TH, 2023 DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

Posted by: Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

This week’s Screenshot Challenge winner is Twitter user pommes_l, featuring Schwerin Castle in Germany. If you’re interested in participating in our weekly Screenshot Challenges, check out the details in the Community section below!

The team is currently hard at work preparing for the imminent launch of World Update XIII: Oceania and Expert Series I: ATR 42-600 / 72-600. Both are targeted for release next week on Tuesday, April 25.

Earlier today, we released an updated PDF manual for Famous Flyer IV: Antonov An-225 Mriya. You can find this document (along with manuals for several other aircraft) on our website here.

Finally, our next Developer Livestream is scheduled for Wednesday, May 3 at 10:30am PT (1730 UTC). As always, the panel of Jorg, Seb, Martial, and special guests will be discussing future development plans, updating the roadmap, and answering viewer questions from the player community. Be sure to follow our official Twitch channel and set notifications on to be alerted when the stream starts!

– 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 27 new and 36 updated products in the Marketplace this week. Thursday’s Marketplace update generally goes live between the release of this blog post and 5pm PT.

27 NEW PRODUCTS: 14 ON PC, 13 ON 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 and 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 Xbox	New on PC and Xbox

38 UPDATED PRODUCTS: 18 ON PC, 18 ON 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 and Xbox
Updated on PC and Xbox	Updated on PC and Xbox	Updated on PC and Xbox
Updated on PC and Xbox	Updated on Xbox	Updated on 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

MARKETPLACE BACKLOG

Current Backlog: 1,041 Total

Marketplace submissions are assigned a priority (P1-P4, with P1 being the top priority) based on defined internal processes and metrics. We review and update the priority system regularly to ensure it is best serving both our players and 3rd Party Developers.

BACKLOG: NEW PRODUCTS

CONTENT TYPE	P1	P2	P3	P4	Total
Aircraft	4	7	24	24	59
Mission	0	2	60	0	62
Scenery	0	0	34	250	284
Livery	2	10	84	40	136
Airport	2	11	152	134	299
Other	0	1	25	6	32
Total	8	31	379	454	872

 

BACKLOG: UPDATED PRODUCTS

CONTENT TYPE	P1	P2	P3	P4	Total
Aircraft	7	2	19	0	28
Mission	0	0	20	8	28
Scenery	2	0	14	34	50
Livery	0	4	2	16	22
Airport	0	2	11	25	38
Other	0	2	1	0	3
Total	9	10	67	83	169

SDK UPDATE

ASOBO

• No Update this week.

WORKING TITLE / MSFS AVIONICS FRAMEWORK

• MSFS Avionics Framework
  • Check out MSFS Avionics Source Code Mirror to access the latest Avionics Framework source code.
  • Find documentation about the avionics framework here: MSFS Avionics Frameworks and Instruments.
  • Upcoming framework updates:
    • Updating BacklightLevelController to take horizon angle into account when computing auto-brightness. (AAU_02)Optimizing GNSSPublisher and adding support for inertial systems/data. (AAU_02)
    • Deprecating (but retaining backwards compatibility) NavProcSimVarPublisher and adding new NavComSimVarPublisher to simplify and aggregate all nav/com related data on the event bus. (AAU_02)
    • Improving SimVarPublisher to support custom valid index ranges and default index for indexed simvars. (AAU_02)
    • Improving performance of AbstractSubscribable, AbstractSubscribableArray, and AbstractSubscribableSet. (AAU_02)
    • Improving AbstractAutothrottle to support new options setting a threshold for changing speed target, overspeed limit, and underspeed limit values to ignore the contribution to the PID derivative term from the changing target value. This helps to prevent the autothrottle from commanding sudden changes in throttle lever position in response to instantaneous changes in speed targets. (AAU_02)
    • Adding FUELSYSTEM TANK QUANTITY to FuelSystemData publisher. (AAU_02)

 

THIRD PARTY UPDATE

• As of 04/16, we have now approved 209 (+0) third parties into the in-sim marketplace and – so far 188 (+3) have released 1,831 products on PC (+28) and 1,540 on Xbox (+27).
• In total, 2,945 products (+49) have already been released in 3^rd party stores and the in-sim marketplace. Beyond that, another 882 products (+4) from 3^rd party developers are in production (351 announced, 531 unannounced). In total, over 3,827 3^rd party products (+53) have either been released or are in development. This week, we added livery packs and ships/watercraft as both categories have been popular with simmers.
• Airports:
  • 1,915 airports (+3) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 1,642 airports (+23) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 1,040 airports (+28) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 123 airports (-2) beyond the released airports have been announced.
    • 150 airports (+5) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an airport is in production.
• Aircraft:
  • 598 aircraft (+7) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 231 aircraft (+4) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 170 aircraft (+5) have been released in the in-sim PC marketplace.
    • 146 aircraft (+6) have been released in the in-sim Xbox marketplace.
    • 207 aircraft (-1) beyond the released aircraft have been announced.
    • 160 aircraft (+4) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an aircraft is in production.
• Scenery:
  • 899 scenery packs (+15) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 776 scenery packs (+6) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 295 scenery packs (+5) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 20 scenery packs (+0) beyond the released scenery have been announced.
    • 103 scenery packs (+9) are not announced but the dev let us know that scenery is in production
• Mission Packs:
  • 174mission packs (+4) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 148mission packs (+6) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 87mission packs (+6) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 0mission packs (+0) beyond the released missions have been announced.
    • 26mission packs (-2) are not announced, but the dev let us know that they are in production.
• Livery Packs:
  • 208 livery packs (+1) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 124 livery packs (+10) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 119 livery packs (+10) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 1 livery pack (+1) beyond the released scenery has been announced.
    • 83 livery packs (-9) are not announced, but the dev let us know that scenery is in production.
• Ships & Watercraft:
  • 33 ships & watercraft (+0) are either released or are in various stages of development.
    • 24 ships & watercraft (+0) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
    • 11 ships & watercraft (+0) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
    • 0 ships & watercraft (+0) beyond the released scenery have been announced.
    • 9 ships & watercraft (+0) are not announced, but dev let us know that scenery is in production.

 

 

COMMUNITY FLY-IN

In January 1969, there was a major oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. Images of marine wildlife coated in black oil dominated the television airways, and this led to an increased interest in environmental issues in the United States. Later that year, at a UNESCO conference in San Francisco, activist John McConnell proposed a new global holiday to celebrate Earth’s life and beauty. McConnell’s proposal eventually become known as Earth Day, celebrated around the world every year on April 22.

For this week’s Community Fly-In, we will be visiting Santa Barbara and San Francisco, two cities with direct links to the origin of Earth Day, and then continue onwards to Yosemite National Park to take in the beautiful natural scenery.

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

COMMUNITY VIDEO

The Microsoft Flight Simulator team is immensely proud of the accuracy and realism of our global scenery, but what if you’re looking for a change of pace from flying over real locations and famous landmarks and want to experience something more out-of-this-world?

YouTuber ObsidianAnt recently posted a video showcasing the “Mega Monaco” freeware addon from developer Fly2. Mega Monaco is a futuristic science fiction scenery pack featuring buildings taller than Mount Everest! Check it out!

 

 

SCREENSHOT CHALLENGE

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

This past week’s Screenshot Challenge was “Bottom-Up“!

Weekly Screenshot Challenge Winner: pommes_l (Twitter)

Screenshot by CpuGeta486 (Twitter)

Screenshot by DaveBGaming (Forum)

Screenshot by EejayX (Forum)

Screenshot by HolmesCZ6127 (Forum)

Screenshot by IronWings_VP (Twitter)

Screenshot by KotetuP (Twitter)

Screenshot by mattgt933 (Forum)

Screenshot by mk89ns (Forum)

Screenshot by nin_aoironinja (Twitter)

Screenshot by tsujiKa_air (Twitter)

 

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NEXT DEVELOPMENT BLOG UPDATE – April 27th, 2023

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

Edited April 20, 20233 yr by David Mills

🌲’d.

"As always, the panel of Jorg, Seb, Martial, and special guests will be discussing future development plans, updating the roadmap, and ignoring viewer questions from the VR community"

4 hours ago, MarcG said:

"As always, the panel of Jorg, Seb, Martial, and special guests will be discussing future development plans, updating the roadmap, and ignoring viewer questions from the VR community"

You always need to remember that these are advertising and PR events - answering meaningful and/or difficult questions would be entirely counter to the purpose.

"Expert Series I: ATR 42-600 / 72-600. ......  targeted for release next week on Tuesday, April 25."

OMG!   OMG!  OMG!!!!!!!! 😍

6 minutes ago, Matt Webb said:

"Expert Series I: ATR 42-600 / 72-600. ......  targeted for release next week on Tuesday, April 25."

OMG!   OMG!  OMG!!!!!!!! 😍

I am interested to see what the price might be.

2 hours ago, Matchstick said:

You always need to remember that these are advertising and PR events - answering meaningful and/or difficult questions would be entirely counter to the purpose.

Yes I know, my post was sarcasm 😉

Can’t wait for the ATR…so many interesting regional flights coming up!  I’ll be spending a ton of time puddle jumping around Ireland, New Zealand and northern Canada.   

4 hours ago, Matchstick said:

You always need to remember that these are advertising and PR events - answering meaningful and/or difficult questions would be entirely counter to the purpose.

Well, no doubt part of their intentions with the dev Q&A sessions is PR/advertising, but it's also undoubtedly useful in dispensing info about upcoming changes/features, deep dives on certain topics, and answering users' questions. At least for me there have been many instances where they have answered "meaningful and/or difficult" questions. Apart from the videos, they also transcribe all the sessions here https://forums.flightsimulator.com/tag/dev-stream-recap where it's plain to see it's not all PR/advertising. No sim developer has even come close to this level and frequency of transparency and sharing of information with the user base. If one's pet issues are not being looked at closely enough as others, well that's tough and it is what it is, since those pet issues are obviously not as high on the priority list as other issues more widespread in terms of the user base 🤷‍♂️

 

The last update, SU12 (March 2023), broke mistercoffee1's waterfixes posted in flightsim.to eg. Water fix - San Diego County, California, USA for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS  

Did this release fixed (unbroke) them?

On 4/21/2023 at 3:46 PM, lwt1971 said:

Well, no doubt part of their intentions with the dev Q&A sessions is PR/advertising, but it's also undoubtedly useful in dispensing info about upcoming changes/features, deep dives on certain topics, and answering users' questions. At least for me there have been many instances where they have answered "meaningful and/or difficult" questions. Apart from the videos, they also transcribe all the sessions here https://forums.flightsimulator.com/tag/dev-stream-recap where it's plain to see it's not all PR/advertising. No sim developer has even come close to this level and frequency of transparency and sharing of information with the user base. If one's pet issues are not being looked at closely enough as others, well that's tough and it is what it is, since those pet issues are obviously not as high on the priority list as other issues more widespread in terms of the user base 🤷‍♂️

 

If you actually want to give information there are infinitely better more concise, and more useful ways to do it.

These are pure puff pieces.

On 4/21/2023 at 6:31 PM, Matchstick said:

You always need to remember that these are advertising and PR events - answering meaningful and/or difficult questions would be entirely counter to the purpose.

Many of the questions I asked were answered. The first step to getting your question asked and answered is to get it to the top most voted question in the official MSFS forum designated for the Twitch Q&A.  It's pretty rare when the top 3 voted questions are not asked at the Twitch Q&A.  Beyond the top 3 questions, usually the top #4 and top #5 question is typically asked too at the Twitch Q&A.

And if you are hanging around the Twitch chat during the Q&A, sometimes if you ask a good question and the timing is right, Jane will ask it. I have gotten various questions asked and answered just by posting in the Twitch chat (without going through the usual voting process above) at the live Twitch Q&A.

Maybe you have been unsuccessful at asking questions at the Twitch Q&A. But not for me. I got plenty of questions asked and answered over the last 2.5 years.

 

 

 

9 minutes ago, abrams_tank said:

Maybe you have been unsuccessful at asking questions at the Twitch Q&A. But not for me. I got plenty of questions asked and answered over the last 2.5 years.

Maybe, because you asked questions they liked to answer while others asked questions they didn't like?

Kind regards, Michael

24 minutes ago, pmb said:

Maybe, because you asked questions they liked to answer while others asked questions they didn't like?

Kind regards, Michael

This is why its important to get the questions upvoted in the forum prior to the Q&A. I can't recall specific questions since some of the past Twitch Q&As were a long time ago, but a lot of "uncomfortable" questions were voted to the top of the forum, and were subsequently asked at the Twitch Q&A.

So questions that are not liked by the MSFS team are still asked, if you can get it upvoted to the top in the MSFS forum before the Twitch Q&A.

Edited April 24, 20233 yr by abrams_tank