A new SU3 Beta v1.5.18.0 escaped Asobo's labs.

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/sim-update-3-beta-1-5-18-0-release-notes-july-18th-2025/730324

Stability & Performance

• Fixed screen size calculation for objects coming from MSFS 2020 packages. In particular, it is now properly enforced to 1000% when entering the bounding sphere.
• Deactivated new LOD curve in VR (performance hit is too high with additional vertices & foveated rendering)

 

DevMode

General

• Added texture renormalization (square back normal and AO) in VFS Projector

 

Edited July 18, 2025Jul 18 by vbazillio

And Simconnect broken again for FSLabs.
I honestly have 0 clue why they would update the sim on a Friday.

Edited July 18, 2025Jul 18 by sultanofswing

8 minutes ago, sultanofswing said:

I honestly have 0 clue why they would update the sim on a Friday.

Hello @sultanofswing,

We don't release production builds (i.e. regular, non-beta Sim Updates) on a Friday, but for pre-release test builds, it's very helpful for the dev team to have two additional weekend days of player feedback and telemetry data to analyze, especially since people typically have more time to spend in the sim over the weekend. Arbitrarily holding back a new test build that is ready to release until Monday doesn't help the devs since the previous test build (1.5.17.0) is already outdated, and they need feedback for .18 now. 

If you're concerned that using a new beta build might break something and negatively impact your enjoyment of MSFS 2024 over the weekend, we encourage you to stay with the regular SU2 release build instead of opting into the pre-release beta test.

Thanks,

SeedyL, MSFS Community Manager 

30 minutes ago, SeedyL said:

Hello @sultanofswing,

We don't release production builds (i.e. regular, non-beta Sim Updates) on a Friday, but for pre-release test builds, it's very helpful for the dev team to have two additional weekend days of player feedback and telemetry data to analyze, especially since people typically have more time to spend in the sim over the weekend. Arbitrarily holding back a new test build that is ready to release until Monday doesn't help the devs since the previous test build (1.5.17.0) is already outdated, and they need feedback for .18 now. 

If you're concerned that using a new beta build might break something and negatively impact your enjoyment of MSFS 2024 over the weekend, we encourage you to stay with the regular SU2 release build instead of opting into the pre-release beta test.

Thanks,

SeedyL, MSFS Community Manager 

This would be great if we had a way of choosing to update or not, I got home from work and fired up msfs and it auto updated and this was before the new beta was announced or any release notes were posted.

"People have more time on the weekend to spend on the sim"
Not this guy, My only plan was to fly a specific aircraft this weekend.  Now I will not be spending any time in the sim at all this weekend, I can go do other things.

10 minutes ago, sultanofswing said:

This would be great if we had a way of choosing to update or not, I got home from work and fired up msfs and it auto updated and this was before the new beta was announced or any release notes were posted.

"People have more time on the weekend to spend on the sim"
Not this guy, My only plan was to fly a specific aircraft this weekend.  Now I will not be spending any time in the sim at all this weekend, I can go do other things.

IT IS A BETA. YOU HAVE A CHOICE.

13 minutes ago, sultanofswing said:

This would be great if we had a way of choosing to update or not,

You do, it's called opting out of the beta.

"To beta or not to beta, that is the question"

Shakespeare

28 minutes ago, chapstick said:

IT IS A BETA. YOU HAVE A CHOICE.

Incredible it still needs to be said.

28 minutes ago, scotchegg said:

Incredible it still needs to be said.

It is also so easy to do - I've jumped in and out of SU3 a few times.

What is with the directive on the Community folder?  It provides the pure essence of the experience per their design.  Are we now to embrace the sim without addons?

2 hours ago, SeedyL said:

Hello @sultanofswing,

We don't release production builds (i.e. regular, non-beta Sim Updates) on a Friday, but for pre-release test builds, it's very helpful for the dev team to have two additional weekend days of player feedback and telemetry data to analyze, especially since people typically have more time to spend in the sim over the weekend. Arbitrarily holding back a new test build that is ready to release until Monday doesn't help the devs since the previous test build (1.5.17.0) is already outdated, and they need feedback for .18 now. 

If you're concerned that using a new beta build might break something and negatively impact your enjoyment of MSFS 2024 over the weekend, we encourage you to stay with the regular SU2 release build instead of opting into the pre-release beta test.

Thanks,

SeedyL, MSFS Community Manager 

SeedyL is on FIRE! Love it, nice to see you in this wild and passionate forum. 

Flying the Asobo Max with new build, KDAL/KHIO.  Things I notice.  Max sound sets are some of the best I’ve heard in 2024.  Aircraft is quite refined now, system opp wise.  It works splendidly with WINWING, Mobiflight and SimApp Pro in any combo needed.  It might be my imagination but I don’t think so. Sepia seems to be gone replaced with white/whiteish lighting and to me, more convincing and more TTL, based upon my SELVFR PPL night flying albeit some 45 years ago.

Frames and fluidity very good for me.

Blue Skies,

-B

Edited July 19, 2025Jul 19 by btacon

1 hour ago, btacon said:

Sepia seems to be gone replaced with white lighting

That’s a big one if so. Should be in the notes.

Sepia mask is definitely still there. From what I know night lighting upgrades will be made in su4.

But based on the research I've done, the sepia mask is SUPPOSED to be there. Its more a question of whether or not it is implemented well, I think.