Some interesting things here.  

-Max not on the fast track for MSFS.  Probably good news for iFly

-744 further along than I expected.  Great news

-77F projected to release Mid Oct.  

-77L expected by year end

-200ER seems not close at all. 

-Secret project hint.  Referred to as "BIG X FACTOR" by RSR.  I would guess that hint means 777X

-737NG updates inbound also

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/330077-04oct24-so-what-is-going-at-pmdg

And, I'm pretty sure the teased altimeter is from a 747-200.
Pretty strong clue for the retro jet they were teasing before.

 

4 minutes ago, Georgleboui said:

And, I'm pretty sure the teased altimeter is from a 747-200.
Pretty strong clue for the retro jet they were teasing before.

 

perhaps.  Somebody suggested it could also be the DC-10.  Either way whatever it is, it doesn't seem anywhere close.  

Bringing Existing Products into MSFS 2024 (PMDG DC-6, PMDG 737 and PMDG 777):
While we have no actual hands-on experience with the platform, we anticipate from public marketing materials related to MSFS that our existing product lines will require some amount of updating in order for them to be used within MSFS24. Once MSFS24 and the associated SDK is in our hands, this work will begin in earnest- as we want you to be flying within the sim with your favorite aircraft just as quickly as possible. We do not know what changes will be required, nor do we know what work this will entail, but we will work through all three product lines methodically with the singular goal to "make them work" and to sort out the many hurdles that may need to be cleared in order to get them to you in a working format.

This does come with some distribution hurdles that we need to clear, but unfortunately we cannot really plan for those just yet because we don't know what the distribution mechanisms will look like, how they will differ from the existing mechanisms, or what we might need to do in order to maintain independent channels of development for MSFS 2020 and MSFS2024 product lines. We will be "learning on the fly" so to speak, and once we have access to the platform I suspect we will be able to answer those questions more thoroughly.

15 minutes ago, micstatic said:

perhaps.  Somebody suggested it could also be the DC-10.  Either way whatever it is, it doesn't seem anywhere close.  

I’d love a DC-10 but I can’t google up a single cockpit shot with that same altimeter style. Lots of results for the -200 though. Having said that, I could be wrong and it’s something else entirely.

I would say though is that if they are technically showing parts of cockpit and texturing, maybe it’s not that far off? No LNAV/VNAV, no fancy systems. Just slap a CIVA in there and we’re sorted.
 

Wishful thinking, I know.

Edited October 4, 20241 yr by Georgleboui

Summary from FSElite: https://fselite.net/content/pmdg-development-update-and-msfs-2024-projects/

They will (rightly) first focus on getting aircraft working as-is in 2024 (hopefully this phase won't be too difficult), and then focus on taking advantage of new features:

Adding New MSFS24 Game-play Features and Enhancements to Existing Product Lines (PMDG DC-6, PMDG 737 and PMDG 777):
We have been deliberately failing to answer questions about things such as "walk-around" and "career mode" and other exciting new features in the MSFS platform because we do not have any information about them at this juncture. We have not seen the new platform, and all of the information we have available to us comes from official marketing channels. Our goal will be to evaluate these features for each of the existing three product lines and to then determine what must be done in order to make the existing product lines forward compatible with the new game-play features. We currently believe this will be possible in most cases- but I want to stress that this is pure conjecture on our part right now, and an economic/development-cost assessment will be made once we actually have the platform in hand and can evaluate what changes must be made on a case-by-case basis.

Please understand that our primary focus in the beginning will be to get the existing products functioning well in MSFS24 first and then we will begin to look toward leveraging the new enhancements and features. Please understand that we will not have much to say on the topic until after we have the platform in our hands and have had time to evaluate and research the work required- so your patience is appreciated. The reason why we will not offer conjecture is that we do not want to offer assurances or promises based only upon marketing data or good intentions. We need to conduct an evaluation to see what the work will look like.

PMDG 747 for MSFS:
This project has been underway since January and is coming along just beautifully. With each product we have released for MSFS, we have found new ways to embrace even high levels of detail and quality and the 747 is going to continue that upward trend. We *might* see a first software build of this iconic airplane (and long-time-PMDG-Flagship!) before MSFS24 releases and that will be a huge milestone for us to then begin animating the flight deck, working through the software logic and getting her ready for internal testing.

This is the first project we have built with fully customized 3D scanning from inside and outside of the aircraft, along with high detail images taken of all of the aircraft's exterior surfaces using drone technology. This is leading to incredibly well sculpted models that accurately capture even the really hard-to-model spots where compound curves can look different from all angles.

You can see how the detail scanning techniques capture the area around the exterior of the cockpit windows, and how we are even modeling the framework of the aircraft in order to ensure accuracy of the shape and in anticipation of some of the new gameplay features of MSFS24

We do not currently have a projected release date for the 747, as it will be heavily impacted by how smoothly (or not) the transition to MSFS 2024 progresses. We will keep you posted as to progress, and we will be bringing you more in-development updates on this project than we traditionally have in the past, as those seem to be pretty popular with you all.
 

Edited October 4, 20241 yr by lwt1971

2 hours ago, micstatic said:

-744 further along than I expected.  Great news

Unfortunately that means nothing in PMDG terms though. It's entirely possible that we won't see it before 2026.

Big X Factor...X=10 in Roman numerals. So, DC-10 ? VC-10 even ?😉

20 minutes ago, Paul K said:

Big X Factor...X=10 in Roman numerals. So, DC-10 ? VC-10 even ?😉

a good point 

Reading the change log, the fact they are using the sound file for the 737 fuel pump on the 777 and the fix was to turn down the volume so you can’t hear it is peak PMDG. My how lazy and how far they’ve fallen behind other dev’s since MSFS release. 

Not real happy hearing that the MAX went from basically complete and will drop during the 777 release schedule to being kicked down field so far it's probably never.  

It's a real word salad but reading between the lines the MAX is basically vaporware at this point.  If it does infact get released the competition will be so far ahead we won't want it anyway.

You know what I think?  PMDG never actually made the MAX.  They never released any progress photos that I am aware of other than the plane being parked off in the distance during one of the NG photo releases.  Who would not bother to properly market your upcoming project?

They claim they have some sort of commercial client for it and it's release is behind a firewall.  Until someone other that PMDG mentions it's existence it does not.  It's sure nice to be sold out and alienate the very people who made you successful.

Robert at PMDG has no credibility at this point and take his word salads with a grain of salt.  I say bring on the competition and I hope iFly now plans to expand it's MAX project and eventually the NG's!

21 minutes ago, longhaul747 said:

Not real happy hearing that the MAX went from basically complete and will drop during the 777 release schedule to being kicked down field so far it's probably never.  

I've already moved the Max into the GFO category. 

IFly giving PMDG competition and have to admit it looks good. 

 

No Tuskin38 this cockpit photo relates to the 744, but check this link to confirm that this altimeter is identical:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124142799397

That is a Boeing 747-200 in the making, and I'll be the first on the line to buy.. when it's released, provided it does not take for ever!

Edited October 4, 20241 yr by Bernard Ducret