[BLOG] August 26th, 2021 Development Update

Jummivana · August 26, 2021, 5:02pm

Plane leaving the runway with a logbook in the bottom right-hand corner

Screenshot by Red4Pushback

On Tuesday at gamescom, we announced four major updates coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator later this fall: on September 7th we are releasing World Update VI featuring Austria, Germany & Switzerland and alongside it, we are introducing a new payware series called “Local Legends” that celebrate the region of the current World Update; for World Update VI, we selected the German Junkers JU-52 which will be released September 9th.

For later this fall, we announced the first major expansion to the sim, featuring the Reno Air Races, which introduces competitive multiplayer and more. And finally, we have a fascinating new aircraft, (electric vertical take-off and landing) air taxi for urban flights called “VoloCity”, which will also be released soon. If you missed it click here to read more about it or check out the trailers below:

**- The MSFS team

DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP

We are currently working on the updated Development Roadmap and will share it in next week’s Dev Update.

FEEDBACK SNAPSHOT

To learn more about Accessibility in Microsoft Flight Simulator, click here.

KEY

SU = Sim Update (3, 4, etc.) WU = World Update
ASAP = As Soon as Possible TBD =To Be Determined
Several Releases = Fixes will come over a series of updates
Ongoing Fixes = An item we will continually be working on
Planned = Scheduled to be worked on
Under Investigation = The team is currently looking into this issue
Not Planned = We will likely not work on this
Not Started = We have not begun investigation on this yet
Started = Development work as started on this item

SDK UPDATE

General
- Three months after the launch of the DevSupport platform, we would like to thank you for all your posts (already 400 of them!). We are doing our best to provide answers to each topic, even though some of the topics require a lot of time to investigate, discuss, etc. But this platform is also meant for you as a community so please feel free to provide your own answers and solutions if you encounter something you can provide insight into!
Dev Mode
- We’re preparing a new pop-up to display important information when you launch the game with the DevMode enabled. This will allow us to communicate more efficiency when a major change is coming.
- We also fixed the missing content info thumbnail on our simple aircraft sample.
- Aircraft Editor
  - We fixed the corruption that could occur within CFG files when saving your project.
  - We are also working on a refactoring of the CFG file parsing, since the way the editor currently works, it removes all comments and adds spaces, additional zeros, etc.
  - We fixed a crash that could occur when reloading the current aircraft after changing its contact points.

3RD PARTY UPDATE

As of 08/22, we have now approved 215 (+9) third parties into the in-sim marketplace and – so far 115 (+0) have released 520 products on PC (+2) and 73 on Xbox (+0).
In total, 1,262 products (+21) have already been released in 3rd party stores and the in-sim marketplace. Beyond that, another 363 products (-4) from 3rd party developers are in production (229 announced, 134 unannounced). In total, over 1,625 3rd party products (+21) are either released or are in development.
Airports:
- 1022 airports (+9) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 805 airports (+9) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 426 airports (+1) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 106 airports (+0) beyond the released airports have been announced.
  - 111 airports (+0) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an airport is in production.
Aircraft:
- 195 aircraft (+5) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 63 aircraft (+5) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 37 aircraft (+0) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 109 aircraft (+0) beyond the released aircraft have been announced.
  - 23 aircraft (+0) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an aircraft is in production.
Scenery:
- 368 sceneries (+6) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 354 sceneries (+6) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 35 sceneries (+0) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 14 sceneries (+0) beyond the released scenery have been announced.
Mission Packs:
- 40 mission packs (+1) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 40 mission packs (+1) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 4 mission packs (+0) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 0 mission packs (+0) beyond the released missions have been announced.

MARKETPLACE UPDATES

We are currently working on our next batch of updates and new products for the Marketplace to be released in the coming days. Here is what we are targeting for release:
Update on PC (8):

CT182T Skylane
MB-339
Model 61 Long-EZ
PA28R Arrow III
PA34T Seneca V
Seattle Landmarks
MMGL Guadalajara International Airport
SAWH Ushuaia Airport

Update on Xbox (0): None

New on PC (2):

ENSG Sogndal Haukåsen Airport
KHAF Half Moon Bay Airport

New on Xbox (9):

CT182T Skylane
MB-339
Model 61 Long-EZ
PA28R Arrow III
PA34T Seneca V
Hong Kong City Times
Seattle Landmarks
LEBL Barcelona Airport
SAWH Ushuaia Airport

Last Monday, 12 products were updated and 10 new products (2 on PC and 8 on Xbox) were released.

12 UPDATED PRODUCTS: 11 ON PC, 1 ON XBOX

Available on PC Xbox , Updated on PC Xbox
Available on PC Xbox , Updated on PC Xbox
Available on PC Xbox , Updated on PC Xbox
Available on PC Xbox , Updated on PC Xbox
Available on PC Xbox , Updated on PC Xbox
Available on PC Xbox , Updated on PC Xbox
Available on PC Xbox , Updated on PC Xbox
Available on PC Xbox , Updated on PC Xbox
Available on PC Xbox , Updated on PC Xbox
Available on PC Xbox , Updated on PC Xbox
Available on PC Xbox , Updated on PC Xbox

10 NEW PRODUCTS: 2 ON PC, 8 ON XBOX

Already on PC Xbox , New on PC Xbox
Already on PC Xbox , New on PC Xbox
Already on PC Xbox , New on PC Xbox
Already on PC Xbox , New on PC Xbox
Already on PC Xbox , New on PC Xbox
Already on PC Xbox , New on PC Xbox
Already on PC Xbox , New on PC Xbox
Already on PC Xbox , New on PC Xbox

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

The teams at Microsoft and Asobo were very touched to read this story from Reddit user Mookattacks. A few months ago, she posted in the Microsoft Flight Simulator subreddit that her father, a pilot, was terminally ill and was no longer medically cleared to fly. Mookattacks didn’t know much about flight simming, so she asked for help from the community to get her dad set up with everything he needed for virtual flying. Many members of the subreddit provided tech advice, and some even generously offered to donate hardware. Thanks to the support of the community, he was able to enjoy the thrill of flight once again. Last week, Mookattacks posted an update that her father sadly passed on July 14. We offer Mookattacks our most sincere condolences for her loss. From the teams at Asobo and Microsoft, it heartens us to hear that our simulator was able to bring someone peace, comfort, and joy during their final days.

Older man at his computer playing Microsoft Flight Simulator

Image credit: Mookattacks (https://reddit.com/u/Mookattacks) - “A month ago I asked for your help to get my dad to ‘fly’ again, and you did. I just want to say thank you all. He managed to fly a few more times before he passed on 7/14/21”

TWITCH UPDATE

We stream weekly on Twitch.tv/MSFSOfficial!

Join us for a community fly-in to around the French Riviera! All PC and Xbox players of every skill level is welcome to participate. Click here for more details.

COMMUNITY VIDEO

For about seven months during 1963, John F. Kennedy and Lester B. Pearson simultaneously held the offices of President of the United States and Prime Minister of Canada, respectively. That’s not all they had in common: both world leaders have an airport serving their country’s largest city named after them. This video from Thyago Ludwig features a timelapse of an Airbus A320 flying between New York Kennedy International (KJFK) and Toronto Pearson International (CYYZ).

FEATURED FREEWARE MOD

In 1996, legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan created the Model 202 Boomerang, an asymmetric twin engine plane featuring forward-swept wings. Only one was ever built, but now anyone can fly this unique design in Microsoft Flight Simulator thanks to modder Technotech. You can download the freeware Rutan Boomerang addon here.

Rutan Model 202 Boomerang

SCREENSHOTS

This past week our Screenshot Challenge was Your First Flight! Would you like to see your screenshot featured? Join us in this week’s Screenshot Challenge: Color Series - Blue.