[30APR25] PMDG 777-200ER is Go for Launch!

Today, 19:35

 

Captains,

We have just concluded our final review and the team would like me to confirm for you that we are moving ahead with release of the PMDG 777-200ER on 01MAY25!

Release Schedule:
The release will happen between the hours of 1600Z-2359Z/01MAY. We allow ourselves a window in order to absorb any of the usual last minute items that need to be addressed in all of the various systems that support a product release such as this.

What Can You Do To Be Prepared?:
If you haven't already, go here and download the PMDG Operations Center 3.

Install the app and get your credentials set up. No need to wait for the release, just get that done now and you'll be a step ahead!

This Release Will Be a Bit Different:
Previous releases (going back to 1999) came packaged using Installshield installers. This required you to go through a 2FA process to gain access to your download and then run the installer and enter your activation key. With 200ER we are rolling out new technology that will "bring us up the the present" in terms of user experience. Purchase your 777-200ER at PMDG.com, then, after receiving your transaction confirmation, simply launch the PMDG Operations Center and you will see your new 200ER ready for installation. We'll handle the authentication stuff for you in the background and leave you to tap your fingers impatiently as your 777 installs from the cloud.

Within minutes you'll be off and flying!

PRO-TIP: You will get a download link from your purchase, but professionals will already have OC3 installed and won't need to use it. OC3 does it for you! (Eventually that will go away, but we have to get all of our products into OC3 before the download links vanish entirely as well!)

Lets Talk About Sounds:
I want to speak really clearly on the topic of the sound upgrades we are making across our entire product spectrum.

(TL;wr? We have run a full pass quality improvement over all sounds EXCEPT the engines- which are being replaced with entirely new recordings over the coming two months.)

With the release of 77W back in June 2024, we heard your feedback that we needed to put some focus on improving the soundscape in our product lines. This has been the focus of significant capital investment during the past year. We have built a team around the sound production process and armed them with new equipment and the budget line items necessary to entirely replace our stock of sounds for the 777 airplane. This includes new, high quality recordings of the entire scope of the 777 soundscape from engines to latches and beyond.

For release of the 200ER, they have focused initially on non-engine sounds by upgrading nearly every sound you hear within the package, adding new layers of sound, adapting the triggers that play a sound or adjust the sound volume, etc. You will notice an enormous improvement in the overall sound quality of the 777 as a result of these efforts.

In the process, they have done a quality improvement pass over the existing engine sounds, bringing out their tonality and layering it with the improved non-engine sounds elsewhere in the airplane.

The above paragraphs describes what is already accomplished in this release cycle.

What has not yet been accomplished yet, is to include the entirely NEW engine sound recordings that we have made for the GE90-115B, GE90-94B, PW4090 and Rolls Royce Trent 892 engines.

Using our industry contacts and resources we have been able to update our stock of recordings so that we can fully replace all of the engine sounds in all phases of flight. This work is ongoing, and has been ongoing for some time- but it is brutally complicated and time consuming work. It isn't simply a matter of dropping a new recording into place, but instead every other sound in the package needs to be removed until the engine sounds are layered in properly, then each sound must be brought back and adapted so as to relate correctly to the volume levels established by the engines and other sounds that create the full package. It is extremely complex work and involves a significant amount of expertise in both sound engineering and in understanding what the soundscape should actually sound like to a pilot sitting on the flight deck, or a person wandering around the cabin.

We will be layering in the NEW engine recordings in dedicated updates after the initial release of 200ER across a process that will take between 1 and 2 months to complete. I expect we will replace each engine type individually, and we will let you know when an update carries the fully replaced engine sounds into your product- even though we are certain you will notice the improvement immediately.

TL;dr? We have run a full pass quality improvement over all sounds EXCEPT the engines- which are being replaced with entirely new recordings over the coming two months.

Other Fun Stuff About the Pending 777-200ER Release:
We have put quite a bit of focus on getting the simBrief integration up to where we want it- and we are really happy with the state of play starting with 200ER. You can now import your flight data, as well as loading data, winds, forecasts, etc. We build a set of 777-200ER profiles for Navigraph and sent them over for inclusion in SimBrief as well. Take note that there are two weight variants for each engine type- so you'll be able to choose the one that applies to your flight planning.

With all of this the new weight and balance application in the tablet is stellar! You can create your w/b manually or you can import the data from SimBrief and see it work within the envelope. All of that integrates with the FMS to allow you to directly import your performance data as well. The integration of these various systems has become much more seamless and tight.

Once things calm down a bit, I'll begin sharing pieces of that lengthy test flight. We are working up a version of it that you can fly yourself as well- as we think some of these tests and maneuvers will be interesting technology displays to show you just how deeply your PMDG 777-200ER is simulated.

The beauty of the 777 is that it is an incredibly easy airplane to operate for beginners, but because it is a PMDG product it is very deeply simulated for those who really enjoy getting down into the fine details. It doesn't matter if you are a casual simmer or a die-hard who has been with us for decades- the 777 is your airplane.

What Happens Next?:
Over the horizon a bit we have the 777F and 777-300ER to get through their 2024 conversions and beta testing. That will take some time.

DC-6 is about 10 days or so from entering beta testing for those of you who (like me!) love some radial engine work.

We are starting to shift resources to 737NG now- and we are hopeful that our experience bringing a batch of 777s through conversion/upgrade into 2024 will make that a smoother process as well.

All of that clattering and riveting you hear in the background is heavy assembly going on in the 747 hangar....

Those fellows down the hall deep in meetings are talking about the features we want to add to our fleet that will expand the gameplay opportunities for all of our products...

It is an exciting time to be part of the PMDG team. I dare say, with our products beginning to flow into MSFS 2024, it is almost fun. It hasn't been fun for some time- so that is a really positive development!


 

Edited April 30, 20251 yr by YukonPete

Of course it would not be PMDG without mentioning the price until release day. I'm guessing $77.72.

Edited April 30, 20251 yr by Wise87

I said I won't be purchasing anymore PMDG aircraft, however I think i will buy this tomorrow as I am loving 2024.

Won't be purhasing anything more from them unless they do a 787. A350 and the A330 is all I need. I'll go back to the 300ER when they fix the sounds.

Edited April 30, 20251 yr by MikeH99

Whatever happened to the 772LR?  I am getting vibes that one is not happening!

They won't be leaving that money on the table😉

Looks up to the sky and hopes hopelessly for will power.... 😉

1 hour ago, MikeH99 said:

Won't be purhasing anything more from them unless they do a 787. A350 and the A330 is all I need. I'll go back to the 300ER when they fix the sounds.

I will purchase, anything for 2024, I'm all in. CC is a waiting.

1 hour ago, Wise87 said:

I'm guessing $77.72.

After what iniBuilds pulled off, I am hoping the 777 is only 77.72.

1 hour ago, longhaul747 said:

Whatever happened to the 772LR?  I am getting vibes that one is not happening!

What gave you that idea?

1 hour ago, longhaul747 said:

Whatever happened to the 772LR?  I am getting vibes that one is not happening!

This is the aircraft i was hoping for 😢 

I’m a bit surprised to read the disclaimer about the engine sounds.  The sounds I hear in the previews seemed great, and a nice improvement over the 300ER sounds.  If there’s even better to come, that’s great.

Engine sounds still a month or two away. Of course. 

Edited May 1, 20251 yr by B777ER

1 hour ago, regis9 said:

I’m a bit surprised to read the disclaimer about the engine sounds.  The sounds I hear in the previews seemed great, and a nice improvement over the 300ER sounds.  If there’s even better to come, that’s great.

They sound exactly as they did on the P3D version of the 200ER. They definitely need work. 

4 hours ago, longhaul747 said:

Whatever happened to the 772LR?  I am getting vibes that one is not happening!

PMDG published the release schedule below on 4/12/25.  As of today's release announcement for the B777-200ER, no changes have been made to these time frames.  This is the latest official release date for the B777-200LR.

 - PMDG 777-200ER (16APR-29APR)
- PMDG 777F (~Mid-to-late May)
- PMDG 777-300ER (~Mid-to-late-May)
- PMDG DC-6 (~Early May)
- PMDG 777-200LR (~Late May-to-Early June?)
- PMDG 737NGs (TBA)