So with the MSFS 2024 presentation, Jorg went into depth how they are using AI and satellite/photogrammetry data, to render the entire world even in more detail in MSFS 2024, with more accurate biomes and vegetation, rock placement, etc. It's obvious the goal of Microsoft is to make a global engine that can render the entire world in 3D, in high detail.  The problem with using the MSFS 2020 global engine as it is right now, is that things are very rough, not detailed, and can look poor at the ground level. If Microsoft can improve on this, which they appear to be doing in MSFS 2024, I can see so many uses of this global 3D engine. 

For example, I think any game companies that are making a game that takes place in modern times, could use such a global 3D engine, or at least the 3D data from it. Assume for a moment that in a future MSFS, maybe MSFS 2028 or MSFS 2032, New York is rendered in very high quality at ground level, and it's good enough to be used in a video game.  Well, here are the list of video games that take place in New York: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_games_set_in_New_York_City.  Now how many of those games take place in modern times? That could be a lot of games, that take place in New York in modern times, that could use Microsoft's global 3D engine or at least use the data from it, to generate a 3D version of New York City.  You may also be familiar with the Yakuza series of games, and they take place in various cities and areas in Japan, such as Kabukicho in Tokyo. In one of the recent Yakuza games, it took place in Honolulu. In general, the Yakuza team try to make Kabukicho in Tokyo, Honolulu, etc, as accurate as possible.  There is no doubt that if Yakuza takes place in a new location that the team has never rendered before, they could totally use the 3D data from Microsoft's global 3D engine, to save on a lot of time and money.  For sure, any games that take place outdoors and away from the city, the MSFS global 3D engine may be more suitable for that game at the moment, because it appears in MSFS 2024, in outdoors location away from cities, the quality of the scenery is quite good.

Another application I can think of is train simulator. If the ground and scenery are high quality and high enough detail, Microsoft's global 3D engine could definitely be used for a train simulator.  And the same thing with truck simulator, a truck simulator would definitely benefit from this global 3D engine.  Also, definitely a ship simulator can be made off of this 3D global engine.

I can also see this 3D global engine being used in non gaming applications. For example, maybe an agency that specializes in tours of the Grand Canyon, would like people from around the world to experience what their tour would be like in 3D, before they book a tour with the agency.

All this hinges on making the detail at ground level, high quality, which it is not at the moment in MSFS 2020, but which it is more detailed and higher quality in MSFS 2024. Now I don't know if MSFS 2024 is the threshold where a lot of companies will start clamoring to use Microsoft's global 3D engine, because the quality and detail at ground level in MSFS 2024 might not be ready yet for other companies to use it.  But as technology in that area continues to improve, I can see one day, perhaps with MSFS 2028, MSFS 2032, etc, that the technology will get there, and there will be a high quality 3D global model of the entire world, and I think the demand to use this 3D global engine (or at least the 3D data from it) will be very high. 

 

Edited June 24, 20241 yr by abrams_tank

Just as ESP was used by commercial/professional simulators.

I've thought of being able to use MSFS scenery with X-plane running the flight dynamics, but with the attention to detail that appears to come with 2024, even in the aerodynamics area, it's probably not worth the effort and MSFS 2024 will do the job standalone.

Another old dream of mine is what you mention in your post - flight simulation integration - being able to use the same base platform and add specific simulations like train, car, boats,..., adventures... Just not War... Puleeeeeze! We'll have enough of that (already) IRL...

Edited June 24, 20241 yr by jcomm

4 hours ago, jcomm said:

Another old dream of mine is what you mention in your post - flight simulation integration - being able to use the same base platform and add specific simulations like train, car, boats,..., adventures... Just not War... Puleeeeeze! We'll have enough of that (already) IRL...

If MSFS 2024 manages to model docks and piers very well, that 3D data can definitely be used for a ship simulator.  Like even if you are a game company and you don't like the MSFS rendering engine, but you can license the 3D global data from Microsoft, you can pretty much build your own ship simulator with your own custom rendering engine (ie. use Unreal Engine 5 as the rendering engine instead). I would think Microsoft is smart enough, to make that 3D data as something that can be separately sold, and can be plugged into another rendering engine like Unreal Engine 5. If that is possible, it's definitely something a game company who wants to make a ship simulator, can use.

I believe that blackshark.ai is behind some of the technology and/or data that the MSFS 3D world is built upon, so there could be license restrictions preventing Microsoft to just sell any kind of data to 3rd parties. But that's just my guess - perhaps someone with better insight can chime in?

1 hour ago, JacquesBrel said:

I believe that blackshark.ai is behind some of the technology and/or data that the MSFS 3D world is built upon, so there could be license restrictions preventing Microsoft to just sell any kind of data to 3rd parties. But that's just my guess - perhaps someone with better insight can chime in?

I thought that Blackshark was using the Bing data to generate the 3D world, so that data belongs to Microsoft.  The technology of course, belongs to Blackshark, but the generated output, likely belongs to Microsoft, because it is using Bing data. I would be surprised if Microsoft does not have the full rights to the generated output, although that is possible.

I just don't see Microsoft spending this amount of money to create a 3D earth, without the rights to use it in other applications and sell it to others. 

I've always thought that leveraging this world they've created into a Train Simulator would be a natural progression.  I'm sure someone like blackshark could create a decent base world that could allow running trains anywhere with basic/generic/photogrammetry scenery, and providing a canvas for enhanced routes etc.  Microsft has some (distant) history with Microsoft Train Simulator...

World Truck Simulator incoming

I think the applications go far beyond simulations for gaming. Jorg frequently refers to the complete global environment as a "digital twin". It could be eventually used in climate visualisations, town and city planing, scientific visualisations etc.

 

The detail could be useful for driving directions, with a 3D visualization of where to turn ahead.  There are infinite possibilities for a digital twin of the earth.  Real-estate being another one.  But there is a lot of work ahead to make it a reality.  MSFS is just scratching the surface but certainly illustrating the potential.

21 hours ago, regis9 said:

I've always thought that leveraging this world they've created into a Train Simulator would be a natural progression.

Especially if it had accurate terrain elevation, that would allow users to construct their own real-life or imaginary routes.