I think there is a lot of areas where we all believe XP could be improved to get that simulated flight experience, as we know the solutions are not common nor is the software. For ever everyone wanted high level scenery fidelity, then online gamers changed the visual equation and the market (absolutely huge) - the MS solution to get some of that market was Petabytes of streamed data and great graphics for the models. After all most gamers are online and very interactive not so stand alone. P3D was always a different market all together - professional simulators and aircrew training - that means systems complexity and compatibility - so that you can basically use the software to run what are high level motion simulators (Home cockpit builders go some way with XP but there are lots of issues - networking etc etc. Of them all for sheer entertainment and general accurate fidelity of flight and good graphics with multi-operating system operability (Mac and Linux) XP is the clear winner. The roads diverged some time ago which is why I do not bother with useless comparisons on which is better - they are all good for what they do but for me XP12 was the game changer for decent visuals, accurate flight and pretty word not allowed good graphics - it is just the developers who need to catch up not XP.

Yes there are some things that would be nice to see but since I moved to XP from P3D some time ago I have seen nothing but continuous improvement and nothing about the sim as a form of fun and flight exploration has diminished at all. I have high quality flight models or aeroplanes, I have good choice, the basic scenery is not that bad, the airports are generally to a very very high standard and the weather simulation is now outstanding as is the light management. 

Back to P3D probably not over to MS not ever. I am trying to back out of the MS business model not get more emeshed in it!

Also landing lights not illuminate cloud.

Just to add my 2 cents, the oceans/seas could indeed be improved a bit, although they massively improved the waves when looking from close in XP12 compared to before. But I wouldn’t put it on a high-priority. Just nice to have one day in my opinion. MSFS has it very well modelled.

6 hours ago, C2615 said:

Also landing lights not illuminate cloud.

+1

I thought the Zibo landing lights used to illuminate the clouds but maybe I'm misremembering.

Edited September 26, 2025Sep 26 by FPVSteve

Quote

There's only one thing remaining...

 

I'm not falling for that again! 😁

Edited September 26, 2025Sep 26 by DeltaWho

1 hour ago, FPVSteve said:

I thought the Zibo landing lights used to illuminate the clouds but maybe I'm misremembering.

They still do.