Thank you all for the replies. I honestly didn’t expect this post to gain traction this quickly.

Even though I’m almost certain it wouldn’t be difficult at all for PMDG to simply keep the import/export PTP functionality, it now feels like they just no longer care now that they aren’t making money from the P3D userbase, which is genuinely disappointing to see despite their great products.

What also really bothers me is the reasoning some PMDG staff have given regarding the addons' “shelf life,” as if removing the our ability to even install liveries is somehow reasonable because we're on an older platform. I might be wrong, but I've never seen any developer do something like this, ever. 

At this point, I think unfortunately, we have no choice but to archive current liveries and install ones currently available on the internet before the cutoff date. Maybe if we can keep the pressure up they may reconsider their decision but until then, we'll have to do that.

1 hour ago, lucker931 said:

it now feels like they just no longer care now that they aren’t making money from the P3D userbase

There, I edited it for you

One guy created a thread asking for this particular item (make OC2 be able to install local PTP files, with no online capabilities). In typical PMDG fashion, the thread was locked (although I admit some of the comments were overboard), and posts in other threads were quickly derailed.

Edited May 12May 12 by Luis Hernandez

4 hours ago, Luis Hernandez said:

In typical PMDG fashion, the thread was locked (although I admit some of the comments were overboard), and posts in other threads were quickly derailed.

Disappointing but not surprised. As said, I hope they reverse course but I am not optimistic. 

UPDATE:

They moved the date forward to the 26th of May, seems like they're pretty impatient to get this done. I think we have no choice but to mass download liveries in the time we have left.

Pretty petty IMHO.

I wound up mass installing everything into P4 and 5 and backing everything up to a backup drive.

I still use 4 and 5 on a pretty regular basis.

Edited May 16May 16 by Daveo

Are there some high-quality third-party repaints we should download and unpack to be safe?

I have downloaded all of John Tavendale's stuff (for the 738, 777 and 744). Also Matt Tank's.

Might look at the inibulds collection, but will only download for 738, 777 and 744 as that's all I have and I don't have infinite storage.

Also remember to get the update files you need for the 777 (and NGX if you still use the old NGX) from AppData\Roaming\PMDG\PMDG Operations Center\Updater

Given up on this dinosaur, going to steam

Unfortunately with Windows 11/Nvidia updates impacting P3d negatively its becoming a struggle

Would you mind elaborating. (I don't have any major problems, especially with Nvidia).

Isn't the biggest issue that we wont be able to download the latest version of the aircrafts? Since the installer versions are not the latest versions.... If someone has time, please ask them a question about this.

I asked PMDG support about this. They said they'd ask Robert to update the installers (for the 777). Fingers crossed they'll do that. NGX is probably too ancient to worry about. I still strongly recommend everyone backs up their appdata folder for the PMDG OC2 (which has the updates in folders there).

Cheers,
Rudy

Edited May 20May 20 by VHOJT

Would you mind elaborating. (I don't have any major problems, especially with Nvidia).

Occasionally for me, updating my NVIDIA drivers results in CTDs but this is easily solvable by rolling back the driver. So far I haven't experienced a crash in months.

Don't want to sidetrack thread, but the way Nvidia drivers are lately, I tend to think if it aint broke, don't update their drivers.

Don't want to sidetrack thread, but the way Nvidia drivers are lately, I tend to think if it aint broke, don't update their drivers.

Agreed. I haven’t updated mine this year.

Brought forward until 26 May? I'm about to leave for a holiday until then!

I can fully appreciate the costs of keeping the ops-centre running - but I hope there would at least be an alternative method for obtaining liveries - otherwise this smacks overly of forced obsolescence...

In the absence of such then I presume that PMDG will have no objections to said liveries being rehosted elswhere so they can continue to be enjoyed by their paying customers (presumably in non-ptp form if that is being disabled for good).

Edited May 21May 21 by SimeonWilbury

I would not count on PMDG letting anyone host the repaints.

Everything I have seen from PMDG is that they are a petty and vindictive little men.

Occasionally for me, updating my NVIDIA drivers results in CTDs but this is easily solvable by rolling back the driver. So far I haven't experienced a crash in months.

I always update my 2 PCs with the newest Nvidia (Driver only) and no problems with:

WIN11, XP11, XP12, P3D4.5.14, P3D5.4.9, P3D6.1.11, MSFS2020 and FSX (Steam).