https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/266647-07oct23-calm-before-the-storm-perhaps

 

Captains,

Happy Saturday, Everyone!

The Old Timers™ around the PMDG forum have likely taken note of the fact that we have gone quiet of late- and that usually portends good news. Our silence in September was a mix of being head-down, but also of catching the last few days of summer for a few key members of the team- but everyone is now back at in the work cycle and things are beginning to get exciting. We have been exceedingly busy of late- and all of it speaks toward an increasingly busy update and release cycle.

I have been hinting throughout 2023 that this year marks the most dramatic cycle of growth and change in PMDG's history. While we are perennially quiet about how things work behind the scenes- we are beginning to see the benefits of the sees planted in the spring, and I think it is best said that the fruit trees are now in bloom. It won't be long before you will notice that long-stuck projects and updates begin to appear- and that will result from the positive momentum we have been building throughout this year. Don't wander too far off- as things are about to begin getting interesting- and we will have plenty to share.

4Q23 and 1Q24 are going to be quite a bit of fun, I think!

With that being said, I have some long-awaited good news:

PMDG Universal Flight Tablet:
The tablet is finally coming to the 737! During our weekly meeting a release date was set and we have begun the process of preparing the update cycle that will make the tablet live for you in the 737 series. We are working on some preview material, which will precede the update release cycle- so be looking for that to appear shortly. We will share the release date with you concurrent with the preview release so please don't feel you need to hit the F5 continually- you will know the arrival date and time well in advance.

For PMDG.com customers, you will get the tablet as a free micro-update. For MS Marketplace users- it will also come as a free update, but we have to feed that update through the entire MS Marketplace intake process- so expect it to be 2 to 3 weeks after the public release for PMDG.com users. This timeline is about what we normally expect from MS Marketplace intake- but it isn't guaranteed. We'll do the best we can to make it happen quickly!


PMDG 777 for MSFS:
We haven't gone to beta testing just yet. We thought we would be in testing by end September, but Supply Chain Issues have caused that schedule to slip. Okay, perhaps not supply chain issues, but every other industry is using that term of late- so I thought I should slide it in there in order to remain current. Truth is that our 777 dev team got decimated by a combination of illness and family emergencies and we still aren't quite back up to full speed- but things are improving.

We are incredibly pleased with how this product is coming together, and our fly-by-wire system has proven the match for MSFS with this magnificently capable airliner. The handling characteristics and feel of flying the 777 is unmatched by any other airliner- and we have that replicated to perfection in the MSFS environment. We cannot wait for you to finally have a true, high fidelity long-hauler in your PMDG hangar.

Product details and previews are very much anticipated- we understand that. But we are keeping the whole thing in close right now because it has some surprises and we want to be sure you get to enjoy the wow-factor of the first previews- so we are holding them back for now.

I will keep you posted as to how we progress in getting the airplane into beta testing. That is our #1 agenda item for the 777 team right now. Well... getting the team back to full strength and speed is #1, but crossing into beta testing is the #2 item for certain!

PMDG 737 Updates Pending:
On the PC side, we have been holding off further micro-updates to the 737 because the next public update series will carry the tablet into the airplane for you. On the MS Marketplace side, we have had the 3.00.0072 update cycle stuck in holding there for more than two months. The MS Marketplace intake process had been running really smoothly for us for some time and then it just... didn't.

Once we get those updates un-stuck- they'll roll out for Marketplace users. We hope very soon?

The 3.00.0072 update includes mostly memory use efficiencies for Xbox platform users- in case anyone forgot. That was the whole point of pushing them in the first place!

PMDG DC-6 for MSFS Update Pending:
We are about to begin testing an update for the DC-6 that is targeted toward addressing the occasional reports we get about the airplane simply failing to adhere to gyropilot tracking. This has been a long-standing intermittent issue and while we aren't 100% certain we have found the cause, some collaboration with our friends over at Working Title shone a light on some possible unexpected negative interactions that can take place on the platform side that we need to capture and cure to prevent problems for the user. We are testing this now and if it shows promise we will roll it out as an update just as soon as it is ready.


This is all the news I have for you today! If I haven't touched on a topic that is of interest to you- it simply means there is no news additional/new news since the last update cycle- and perhaps I'll have changing information for you at a later date.

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend!

 

Great to hear that the EFB is finally going to be released 🙂

But as always for me the 777 holds the most interest, these tidbits are very interesting for RSR to go out of his way to say:
- Our fly-by-wire system has proven the match for MSFS with this magnificently capable airliner.
- The handling characteristics and feel of flying the 777 is unmatched by any other airliner- and we have that replicated to perfection in the MSFS environment
- But we are keeping the whole thing in close right now because it has some surprises and we want to be sure you get to enjoy the wow-factor of the first previews

I suppose there's still a chance it could get released before end-of-year but very likely 1Q24, and hopefully the earlier part of that quarter.

Edited October 7, 20232 yr by lwt1971

I hope they aren't going to abandon the 747 just because it's not flown as much anymore. That was my favorite PMDG product in P3d.

 

18 minutes ago, lwt1971 said:

Great to hear that the EFB is finally going to be released 🙂

But as always for me the 777 holds the most interest, these tidbits are very interesting for RSR to go out of his way to say:
- Our fly-by-wire system has proven the match for MSFS with this magnificently capable airliner.
- The handling characteristics and feel of flying the 777 is unmatched by any other airliner- and we have that replicated to perfection in the MSFS environment
- But we are keeping the whole thing in close right now because it has some surprises and we want to be sure you get to enjoy the wow-factor of the first previews

I suppose there's still a chance it could get released before end-of-year but very likely 1Q24, and hopefully the earlier part of that quarter.

And the DC6 might be flyable again. 

Still no mention of LNAV / navdata fixes for the 737.  Only thing I really care about.

12 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

And the DC6 might be flyable again. 

she'll fly again, til the next update. Anyway they met their WT friends, finally.

Just now, Claudius_ said:

she'll fly again, til the next update. Anyway they met their WT friends, finally.

Mine is on blocks in the hangar missing the Gyropilot and GPS units which are in the avionics shop, parts on back order. 

16 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

Mine is on blocks in the hangar missing the Gyropilot and GPS units which are in the avionics shop, parts on back order. 

Must be those supply chain issues RSR mentioned...

43 minutes ago, eslader said:

I hope they aren't going to abandon the 747 just because it's not flown as much anymore. That was my favorite PMDG product in P3d.

 

Who can say for sure these days with the 2024 version looming ahead. But I haven't heard or read anything to suggest we won't see it in MSFS 2020. I didn't fly it all that often in P3D but it's an absolute must-have. Release the beast!

If were going to copy and paste the PMDG announcements, at least make the wall of text exciting to read, 😄

 

Edited October 7, 20232 yr by Wise87

Honestly. I appreciate these updates but by now count me in to the group who just cannot hear anymore that they are „just about to release xyz“. Hearing this since how long, a year? I enjoy my Fenix and FBW and yes, also the 737 but I honestly stopped caring about its updates. It’s done once it’s done. Any FBW has more content in terms what they really implemented vs these walls of words what’s about to come. Sorry. No flaming. Love you and them all. Happy to hear there is a release date for the EFB now

16 minutes ago, Wise87 said:

If were going to copy and paste the PMDG announcements, at least make the wall of text exciting, 😄

 

That really cracked me up. Well-done.

Yeah, while I like my PMDG planes, and am waiting eagerly for the 777, these updates are worse than useless. Every single one is "AMAZING STUFF COMING REAL SOON NOW", with no real information or data or dates or anything, really. 

I'd really prefer it if they kept quiet and then came out with an update that actually meant something beyond a wall of text that can be boiled down to "we're working hard, have nothing else to say"

It stings extra bad, because my TM Airbus throttle quadrant is totally borked since this last MS update,with the 737, works on the Fenix tho.......

3 hours ago, eslader said:

I hope they aren't going to abandon the 747 just because it's not flown as much anymore. That was my favorite PMDG product in P3d.

 

Can't see them abandoning the 747 it will make them money no matter what. People will want for cargo operations.

Edited October 8, 20232 yr by carlanthony24