Hi guys,
I’ve noticed that this topic mostly concerns the visual aspects but I’m more interesting in the heart of Xenviro 2020 so that I re-post my question in case of someone has already tested the product deeply.
I’m not at home so I’d like to know if Xenviro 2020 provides convective, dangerous updraft/downdraft in TS (thunderstorm) as it does on Xplane 11 ?
(I own Xenviro/Xplane 11 by the way)
Thank you 
XE2020 only adds cloud layers, wind layers, and precipitation to the original MSFS weather architecture, and does not have any weather systems, weather trends and airflow changes.
Turn off your adblocker. Worked for me after I did that.
You’re right but on the other hand as you can see there’s a slider about turbulence (same on XP11) so that they also add turbulence, as it is mentioned on the Xenviro 2020 list and as it was noticed by Q8 Pilot in his last live streaming. This is why I asked about CB/TS but also knowing that apparently the MSFS2020 SDK is still locked for external Engine Weather.
I will check it out with my discount by purchasing the product and I’ll see once I get back home!
Also a long time X-Plane user here and did exactly as you. My conclusions are the same. I rewatched the weather feature video from Microsoft and no doubt default weather is already rather complex.
As much as I like to support xEnviro I am not really sure it is worth the money for MSFS 2020.
I believe a selling point would be to bring their own cloud textures and sky colors. However, this would be nearly impossible to implement, especially with the Weather API closed to third-party developers.
$42 for a mere METAR injector is expensive. Especially since REX already exists, which does the exact same thing for half the price. Aside from a few issues, I don’t have much to complain about the default live weather and I don’t intend to spend a dime on these weather engines.
When Threshold owner Magnus Lorvik says ‘This is an urgent project that will hopefully fix the economic difficulties for the development team’, it’s basically a confession that this add-on was rushed and by definition is a cash grab.
It’s not illegal, but it raises serious doubts about the project’s continuity with these financial difficulties and even the devs’ willingness to improve it, if they’re just releasing it to make easy money. They had a big blow recently with Laminar Research turning them down in their efforts to bring xEnviro into X-Plane 12, making it nearly impossible for it to be brought into the new XP version.
Somehow I feel kind of bad for all these third party developers of weather addons since both the major sims have locked their gates on weather systems. Hifi simulation, Rex, Xenviro, FS Global etc. are just some major names that I’ve used since FSX days and they could have really come up with some brilliant products given the technological prowess and hardware capabilities of present day.
As a customer, even I feel kind of limited since these built-in weather systems lack a lot of elements that should have been there for a truly immersive experience. Not having options is a lose-lose situation both for these developers and users like us.
No offense but you do realize that the cloud rendering in MSFS is not based on texture map right? As for the sky color, I doubt they can do much either.
Total waste of money. Asosbo said they will not open the weather to SDK/API. Its a complex process of creating METAR and MeteoBlue data. It is getting better with each sim update. Why forcing another weather injector which can break with every update? The days of volume cloud plug ins is over. And they are looking for money because on Xplane they have life long free upgrades on Xenviro so they look for new simulators. Was a waste of money on Xplane and useless in MSFS
m2c
Point proven, I have REX Weather Force and while it did help me out when the weather server was having a tantrum and kept me flying, now that I am using Beta 11, it no longer works. The program boots up and runs fine but when it goes through its stages to inject weather, nothing changes in the sim. It says completed and injected and shows what the weather is in the sim, but the sim doesn’t have any injection. Every build forward requires everything else to be moved up. I’m internally laughing at the fact that even though we all knew another SU is coming in now roughly two weeks, that these folks who bought Xenviro2020 will undoubtedly be stuck with waiting for an updated compatibility build for SU11. Kudos to those guys. The desire to have things fixed in an instant prevails again.
I don’t feel bad for any as they have been nickle and dime milking us for years in prior sim platforms.
I love that there isn’t a need to run 2-3 texture/sky memory hungry programs just for a decent cloud/sky experience in MSFS, that you constantly have reinstall to keep updated via the dev’s wonky download/package install server system. While the developer continues to sell you totally separate applications for just a couple new features that should have been added to the program you’ve already purchased. Good riddance!
Yes, I am seeing a lot of comments here which echo my own thoughts.
It’s expensive, not atm massively effective imo, maybe not even needed since the free Asobo one has compared pretty well (to me) on YT streams and limited given that Asobo weather is currently locked down. Even a key selling point, Historical Weather, is of limited use atm since I believe it only starts from 16 October 2022.
XEnviro 2020 needs to offer a lot more than it does currently to even get me interested let alone for me to be a potential purchaser. That said, I will probably still keep a ‘not too hopeful’ eye on it.
Do you know which was the first weather system to really get rid of billboard textures and implement truly volumetric clouds? Do you know when we first saw realistic atmospheric haze with light scattering? Also do you know which weather system actually gives an in-cloud wing fade effect? All these have been given to us by some or the other third party addon program. Going by your logic, why even have any third party aircraft which could have a similar business model and often bog down the sim performance? I agree there are good and bad apples, but getting stuck without options is not good for the creative prowess which we could have otherwise seen. I’m not saying default weather system in MSFS is bad but it certainly lacks on many aspects. Customer is the king only as long as there is a healthy competition. Without that, you’re really at the mercy of sim developer and there’s not much incentive for them to work in a way you want.
Good points Falcon.
“Money grab or no”, the fact that this product allows me to land in crosswinds and then remain on the runway is worth supporting this pioneering team with. I’m blessed to be able to afford to test out such offerings, and I too think that competition is a good thing–the latest X Plane version of xEnviro has me back flying in that sim in the Q400 and my vintage aircraft (747-200, DC-8, B720, etc), which is also a reason to continue to support this development team.
Buyer beware in all things, but there are good reasons (especially if you are eligible for the discount) to support this team.
Thanks buddy. Just to be clear, I’m not advocating for xE20 since I haven’t tested it myself yet. My limited point was to express my disappointment with these locked weather systems in both XP12 and MSFS, effectively leaving us with half baked systems. I mean, okay, transitions are kind of smooth but there’s so much more to weather both visually and functionally which is just not there and that’s where these third party systems could have given an edge if the weather system was unlocked.
P.S. +1 for you comment on xEnviro for XP11. It’s the sole reason why I still keep hopping back to XP11 and not 12.
Same here cant even get it to activate bought it 4 days ago there support said to creat ticket still no word or repsone to ticket. I think i have lost 42 bucks. I feel like a sucker for buying it after all negative post. I have learned my lesson. No support but take syour money fast.
David Hawley
I feel as though the SDK/API should be opened up even partially to at least allow weather radar and such like that. It feels so limited without it in aircraft.
Well this fizzled out fast? Barely 2 weeks since announcing and I guess the general consensus is what? False hopes and a $$ grab or decent placeholder until further developments to weather come out?
Xenviro launches on mine then crashes. This was the second load after putting the key in. Su10