6 hours ago, SayAgain said:

Moving on … seems clear to me what the 737 will be based on this post on PMDG forums:

I’m interested to see what’s inside, sounds like considerable work effort so I’m looking forward to that.

So based on the feature list post here:

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/378570-737-features-part-one-airco-anti-ice-avionics-auto-flight-gear-braked-cabin

I’m sure all of you have access to PMDG forums right? 😉 

Seems like A LOT of work to me.

Then I’ll say again, if it’s more than his repeated “no more than a couple cups of coffee”, RSR gaslighted the whole community. Yet people will contort themselves to justify and defend it. Thursday will be interesting.

Edited December 17, 2025Dec 17 by B777ER

30 minutes ago, B777ER said:

You don’t get it. It’s the principle of the fact that RSR said on numerous occasions that the upgrade for MS2020 owners would’ve a “small fee”, “a couple cups of coffee”. Whatever mental gymnastics you want to do trying to spread PMDG justification falls on deaf ears due to their own CEO’s words. People expect him to stand by it. 

It’s called Scope Creep. 

I run into the same thing with my clients all the time. 

their infrastructure is okay-ish, but aging and doesn’t support their current / planned needs. 

we come in, assess, and deliver an estimate. 

then, many times, we find out they’re still dependent on certain aspects of the old stuff, or we can’t upgrade around it without significant extra time & money spent. 

so the client ultimately gets to choose: stick with the old stuff and the limitations it has, or accept the reality that it’s more expensive to improve things than anyone thought it would be. 

the “principle” is that no one should be expected to work for free, and in PMDG’s case, especially when all the 777’s have been delivered with dual-platform compatibility for free. 

You bought an addon for 2020, and it still works great there. ENJOY!

Edited December 17, 2025Dec 17 by UrgentSiesta

All of the wording in Randazzo's post tells me we are going to be shocked on Thursday in a bad way.

They play up the idea that this is essentally a new product and they play up how much work they put into it and how much has changed.

They say that owners of the airplane purchased for MSFS2020 will get a "substantial discount."  As I have learned that means probably less than 30%, I have never seen them give better than a 30% discount.  Their last sale was 28% off.   

So given 30% I'm guessing something ridculous like $49.99 to $54.99 to upgrade from the -800 for 2020. If that is the case I'll be going without the -700 and -900.  I paid $210 just 3 years ago for all 3. And I'm guessing it's going to be another $100-150 to get the -800 -900 and -700.  I hope I'm wrong. $39.99 is the absolute max I'm willing to pay for the-800.  It's not that I can't afford it, it's the principle of paying so much for something that was promised to be compatible from Microsoft.  And....when we ported it over we all found out a few things didn't work but 95% of the jet did actually work in 2024. Many of us were expecting a patch to fix some minor issues for a year.  And then we get the news 5 months ago they are doing a significant upgrade to the jet to make it compatible.... oh great. 

It feels disingenuous like, oh here is a golden opportunity to make a ton of money. "Oh, sorry guys the the jet dosen't work in 2024, instead of a compatibility patch we can use all the great new tools the new sim gives us to make some small erhm... I mean MAJOR upgrades and then charge 50 bucks all over again, we'll just be really vague about pricing. I mean We just could not make a patch there was just simply so much wrong. WE want you give you a QUALITY product.  Our biggest supporters will gladly plunk down 40-50 bucks and everyone else will eventually give in because they want the jet.  But.. we really have to play up how much we remodeled and changed on the jet and get real pilot buy in on the new features.  

So I am prepared to be mad but not surprised.  Thursday. Also, I haven't flown the PMDG 737 NG so long I don't honestly remember if much is different from the MAX other than the display screen setup.  Some of you want the the freight and BBJ version, but I have never flown them more than once so those mean nothing to me. 

 

Edited December 17, 2025Dec 17 by aniiran
all speculation

17 minutes ago, aniiran said:

All of the wording in Randazzo's post tells me we are going to be shocked on Thursday in a bad way.

They play up the idea that this is essentally a new product and they play up how much work they put into it and how much has changed.

They say that owners of the airplane purchased for MSFS2020 will get a "substantial discount."  As I have learned that means probably less than 30%, I have never seen them give better than a 30% discount.  Their last sale was 28% off.   

So given 30% I'm guessing something ridculous like $49.99 to $54.99 to upgrade from the -800 for 2020. If that is the case I'll be going without the -700 and -900.  I paid $210 just 3 years ago for all 3. And I'm guessing it's going to be another $100-150 to get the -800 -900 and -700.  I hope I'm wrong. $39.99 is the absolute max I'm willing to pay for the-800.  It's not that I can't afford it, it's the principle of paying so much for something that was promised to be compatible from Microsoft.  And....when we ported it over we all found out a few things didn't work but 95% of the jet did actually work in 2024. Many of us were expecting a patch to fix some minor issues for a year.  And then we get the news 5 months ago they are doing a significant upgrade to the jet to make it compatible.... oh great. 

It feels disingenuous like, oh here is a golden opportunity to make a ton of money. "Oh, sorry guys the the jet dosen't work in 2024, instead of a compatibility patch we can use all the great new tools the new sim gives us to make some small erhm... I mean MAJOR upgrades and then charge 50 bucks all over again, we'll just be really vague about pricing. I mean We just could not make a patch there was just simply so much wrong. WE want you give you a QUALITY product.  Our biggest supporters will gladly plunk down 40-50 bucks and everyone else will eventually give in because they want the jet.  But.. we really have to play up how much we remodeled and changed on the jet and get real pilot buy in on the new features.  

So I am prepared to be mad but not surprised.  Thursday. Also, I haven't flown the PMDG 737 NG so long I don't honestly remember if much is different from the MAX other than the display screen setup.  Some of you want the the freight and BBJ version, but I have never flown them more than once so those mean nothing to me. 

 

If a few cups of coffee cost over $40, why shouldn't I just go buy iFly's MAX 8? It's not like my 2020 737 purchase wasn't already wasted anyway—and honestly, I barely flew it. My favorites have always been the A321 and the MD-80. iFly is a developer that seriously focuses on high-quality aircraft models without playing marketing games.

1 hour ago, B777ER said:

Thursday will be interesting.

Indeed. Half of the internet will be going ga-ga-goo-ga...😂

 

 

Aniiran hit it on the head.  It is not 1 upgrade fee to use your 737 in FS24.  It is an upgrade fee for each type you purchased in FS20.  If you bought multiple types you've already paid well over the cost of FS20 and FS24 combined to utilize planes from PMDG!!  PMDG continually monetizes each rehash and then to use it in FS24 it is another fee.  I would much prefer models I bought in FS20 to work as with all my other aircraft.  If you made significant improvements and I want those added features then give me the option to purchase those upgrades.  No other company forced users to pay an additional fee to use their aircraft purchases in FS24.

11 hours ago, MaGer1965 said:

 Regarding the old man's statement in the screenshot: Well, then I'll believe that tale too. 🙄

It's not that he's got somewhat of a chequered past or reputation.....

If I can get a high fidelity B737 for 50 quid, happy days. It'll cost me pennies per hour the amount of use I'll get out of it.

7 hours ago, MayuyuYukirin said:

If a few cups of coffee cost over $40, why shouldn't I just go buy iFly's MAX 8? It's not like my 2020 737 purchase wasn't already wasted anyway—and honestly, I barely flew it. My favorites have always been the A321 and the MD-80. iFly is a developer that seriously focuses on high-quality aircraft models without playing marketing games.

So do it then - noones holding a gun to your head forcing you to buy the PMDG version so what's the problem?

Whether or not the 2024 version is worth whatever PMDG will be charging is in the mind (and the wallet) of the beholder. It will undoubtedly be a huge success but also a huge disappointment for those who've already decided such. If I had a dime for every thread complaining about PMDG as a new product draws near to release...I'd have a lot of dimes. The confirmation bias is strong on both sides of the PMDG aisle. 

1 hour ago, Starlifter60 said:

Whether or not the 2024 version is worth whatever PMDG will be charging is in the mind (and the wallet) of the beholder.

I think this is the important point and I would add that whatever PMDG feels its labor is worth and what an acceptable rate of return is something it has to determine and stand by. And after that it can basically be left to the market, for each person to decide if they want the aircraft at the price being charged. Some here have clearly said that they are happy to pay that price and others are far less certain, but that certainly depends a lot on how much you want an NG in the hanger. 

We all have different priorities and interests. I am quite grateful to PMDG for giving me these aircraft over the past 15 years that I have gotten a great deal of enjoyment from. But I also found the 737 in 2020 to be a pretty lackluster product and claims that things would be improved did not all materialize. Even though I bought three of the variants I was never that happy with the product and flew them less and less as other and in my mind better aircraft emerged that I enjoyed. But I recognize that these are just my preferences, my tastes and likes and dislikes. For some people the fact that you could not open the cabin door likely matters little, for me it was a little irritating each flight. It is not unlike how many people here seem to be quite agitated by disappearing landing gear on AI aircraft whereas I do not think I could care less. In the end I think it very highly unlikely I will pick up the NG in 2024, I cannot see the upgrade fee being worth it unless it is very very low, but I hope those who really enjoy the airframe are excited and that it meets expectations.

 

So, to summarise where the discussion is at the moment;

Some point out that it's "not just an update, it's a whole new build" and therefore a significant purchase price is justified.

However others make the point that they didn't want a new build, they wanted the cost-effective opportunity to have the 2020 737 working properly in 2024, as is.

Matthijs Kok's reponse to that post on the PMDG forum, I think, makes it very clear that the notion that the upgrade will cost the same as "a couple of coffees" is effectively dead.

Is it ok for the owner of PMDG to make a comment like that, and for the reality to end up being not even close to the cost of a few coffees?  If this is the case, should PMDG be publically stating "Look, I know we said it was going to be the cost of a couple of coffees, but it wound up being a lot more work and we decided to add many more features. We're sorry that we indicated that it would be the cost of a couple of coffees, when that is no longer the case"?     Would that degree of reflection, acknowledgement and honesty appease any of us?

Many draw comparisons with other developers, such as Just Flight, who recently offered native 2024 versions of their products, free of charge.  But it's difficult to draw credible comparisons when each company uses quite different pricing models.   

All interesting points, that I thought I would summate, for no particular reason 😄

Hopefully ALL will be revealed, in around 24 hours!

How many ”manyears” did it take them to sell us a incomplete 2020 version? 

Comments seem to go this way for just about every thread that includes topic of upgrade or new release product … people trying to suggest what it should cost and/or it should be free.  

This one is at 14 pages now and still going on about price … wouldn’t it be fun to go to a BMW dealership and say, your 2026 model looks the same as your 2025 model, so I’ll trade my 2025 BMW for your 2026 BMW for free!

 Every time I try to get my free BMW upgrade, they usually call for ambulance, go figure!  🙂 

 

Edited December 17, 2025Dec 17 by SayAgain

4 minutes ago, SayAgain said:

Comments seem to go this way for just about every thread that includes topic of upgrade or new release product … people trying to suggest what it should cost and/or it should be free.  

This one is at 14 pages now and still going on about price … wouldn’t it be fun to go to a BMW dealership and say, your 2026 model looks the same as your 2025 model, so I’ll trade my 2025 BMW for your 2026 BMW for free!

 Every time I try to get my free BMW upgrade, they usually call for ambulance, go figure!  🙂 

 

It’s not a car the thread is about. A car has nothing to do with the thread 

8 minutes ago, KaptenEk said:

It’s not a car the thread is about. A car has nothing to do with the thread 

Agreed.

An analogy that compares software with physical goods will always be on shaky ground.  

For one, cars depreciate - software does not and isn't resaleable. Neither is software subject to wear and tear* nor entropy!

*A2A excepted 😄