During SDK Dev update, they mentioned that SDK will be released 21 Oct as ALPHA version.

Now they are asking users to sign up for tech ALPHA test version.

we have merely 40 days to official release date, is this time enough to test ALPHA, then BETA then RC and finally a final release version with in this short time?

Am I missing something?

3 minutes ago, penta_a said:

During SDK Dev update, they mentioned that SDK will be released 21 Oct as ALPHA version.

Now they are asking users to sign up for tech ALPHA test version.

we have merely 40 days to official release date, is this time enough to test ALPHA, then BETA then RC and finally a final release version with in this short time?

Am I missing something?

I doubt there will be an open public beta test like we have with the typical Sim Updates. Looks like this alpha test will be it.  They may release it to live streamers a week or a few days before November 19th, like they did with MSFS 2020, but that's not a given this time around.

Edited October 10, 20241 yr by abrams_tank

I'd call it a RELEASE CANDIDATE not Alpha or Beta. That fits better with the SU versions designation from 2020. After each major update you get a new version of it (RC 1/2/3-SU 1/2/3). I think locked down apps and games with no updates or fixes planned are a thing of the past now. 

Microsoft is calling it a technical alpha. Either their phraseology is very badly chosen or MSFS2024 is still in alpha, in which case I'd rather wait for another year.

The one from the preview event at Grand Canyon was an ALPHA. Bad fps, frequent crashes. I was pretty shocked actually.  After everything that was said about multi threading and performance gains, we saw a buggy version with stutters etc.   And it's all going live two months later?  Feels like FS2020 again.

1 hour ago, penta_a said:

During SDK Dev update, they mentioned that SDK will be released 21 Oct as ALPHA version.

Now they are asking users to sign up for tech ALPHA test version.

we have merely 40 days to official release date, is this time enough to test ALPHA, then BETA then RC and finally a final release version with in this short time?

Am I missing something?

No. It's a AAA release.

Since the preview build they are allowing for sign ups is a technical alpha I would say release is a beta. They are not going to call it that of course but ai feel that will describe it far better.

I assume they're calling the Technical Alpha an alpha because it purposely doesn't contain the full set of content that will be in the release, and because they're only testing specific aspects (mainly the servers). I don't think it follows from this that MSFS 2024 as a whole is currently only "alpha quality".

Neither, of course, does it follow that it will be bulletproof at release -- we will just have to see. But I think people are reading way too much into the name "Technical Alpha".

3 hours ago, penta_a said:

During SDK Dev update, they mentioned that SDK will be released 21 Oct as ALPHA version.

Now they are asking users to sign up for tech ALPHA test version.

we have merely 40 days to official release date, is this time enough to test ALPHA, then BETA then RC and finally a final release version with in this short time?

Am I missing something?

The simple answer is that no one on this forum will be able to give you the answer to your question.

Only the developers have a roadmap and will definitely not share it here!

They did give a release date and the product will most likely release on that date.

Will it have bugs? Probably.

2 hours ago, Greazer said:

The one from the preview event at Grand Canyon was an ALPHA. Bad fps, frequent crashes. I was pretty shocked actually.  After everything that was said about multi threading and performance gains, we saw a buggy version with stutters etc.   And it's all going live two months later?  Feels like FS2020 again.

How could it be anything else? Same team. 

2 minutes ago, tpete61 said:

The simple answer is that no one on this forum will be able to give you the answer to your question.

Only the developers have a roadmap and will definitely not share it here!

They did give a release date and the product will most likely release on that date.

Will it have bugs? Probably. Absolutely.

FIFY

My God people read a neurotic amount into absolutely everything around here 😅

 

Just because they call it an alpha anything, has absolutely NOTHING to do with the primary branch of development, has nothing to do with where they are in development or even if that alpha moniker is correct for its state. Also, they aren't giving you a recent build most likely. Alpha and beta builds aren't compiled constantly, you sometimes compile a build and that becomes a test bed for months and months, meaning it can be 6 or 12+ months out of date compared to what's in the primary branch code. The upcoming alpha is meant to test servers, not bugs, nor internal code, so age of the build means little.

Branding a software product with a year (i.e. 2024) is a practice that i thought was abandoned by Microsoft in the past because it reduced flexibility when it comes to releases. Microsoft and Asobo are now locked into releasing it in 2024 regardless of its state of readiness, or they have to release a 2024 product in 2025. Calling it Microsoft Flight Simulator 12, 13, etc. would have been a lot smarter imo. In any case it will eventually be a solid product. Just not on release. Expecting a shocking amount of problems but i am still buying it when released. But 2020 isn’t being uninstalled anytime soon. 

What they call it is the least important thing. Only Asobo and I guess some partner or influencer will really know but after the history of patches with problems in 2020 I wouldn't expect a very stable release.

Just now, Aglos77 said:

What they call it is the least important thing. Only Asobo and I guess some partner or influencer will really know but after the history of patches with problems in 2020 I wouldn't expect a very stable release.

It does tend to force a release date on a product, ready or not. Much easier to just number it sequentially and have no link to a year. This is software. Everyone should know this by now.