Agreed. But none the less, such availability should be noted during announcements.
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For sure, it would seem an obvious point to state.
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It says it is a work in progress for 2020 and 2024.
Hard to fathom them not going for the Marketplace and Xbox if they want to restore the good brand name.
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And how many A320s and 787s, while many other planes are still neglected. For some reason in MSFS developers have become fixated in making the same plane over and over again.
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It’ll be hard to do it accurately on the Xbox, though, due to the policy against “kinetic environments” on the Marketplace. I guess they could do like the Doolittle Raiders did and put broomsticks in the turrets. 
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True. But rather have a limited version than none at all.
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I played this game back when it came out and I remember it had an Easter Egg where if you sat in the NavCom station you would receive a message in Morse Code that gave you specific co ordinates. When you went to this location there was an object located on the beach and when you flew low and slow over the location it turned out to be two “Grey” Aliens sitting in deck chairs drinking cocktails, believe it or not.
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From their FAQ Channel on Discord, also including an answer to my own wish:
Which version of the B-17 are you making?
It’s a late B-17G.
Will you make a B-17F?
It is possible, but we are making no promises at this time.
Will this come to the Xbox?
That’s the plan, with some limitations since it is not possible to sell aircraft with weapons through the marketplace. We are looking into ways to make it happen.
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Thanks for sharing. Discord is a pain imo.
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I wish they’d redo Red Storm Rising. Still one of my all-time favorite games. I’ll take the B-17, though…
F-117A on three 5.25 floppys on my brand new Zeos 386-20. Still play it on that same exact rig now almost 38 years later. I think it’s the sounds on my AdLib card that make the game.
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aside from the new, under development Pacific theater WWII flight sim coming called : Combat Pilot
I like MP’s tactic of releasing an aircraft of theirs for MSFS so their competitive flight sim can be discussed here. Rise of Flight did the same thing when they released their Fokker DR1 into FSX - outstanding publicity for their then upcoming flight sim.
In THIS instance it has the added benefit of getting around the ‘code of conduct’ on the competitors website.
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Maybe its not as competitive as you think, could we be looking at a future collaboration?
Revamping some of the older Microprose titles for a new generation in partnership with MS to bring them to console too would be a very smart move.
I know B17 has had a reboot and could just imagine a modernised GUNSHIP 2000, imagine that in VR. 
Also maybe a hint at an upcoming redux of Combat Flight sim? Who knows? But I have a strong feeling that its not just a happy coincidence
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Aeroplane Heaven makes aircraft of a specific type that some people love but not my cup of tea. They look good but lack depth and fidelity. I doubt their B-17 will be any different from their other planes but maybe they will surprise me. Kind of harsh (sorry AH) but I doubt I’d be interested in anything AH would be making otherwise if they weren’t working on a B-17.
I am very confident Flying Iron’s version will be a good one based on their other aircraft. They make good planes. Microprose is somewhat of an unknown right now but their B-17 may also be good or it may be more like the AH offerings.
All these decisions to move forward with a B-17 were likely made before anyone knew of anyone else’s efforts. There is a big hole right now for good WWII bombers and first one to market will likely see a windfall - deserved or not.
It’s still a two horse race as far as I’m concerned. I know I’ll be on board with Flying Iron’s version. Might get Microprose’s too if it’s good and different enough. If they aim low, though, they could become just another house that makes unimpressive stuff. Time will tell.
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Where did Aeroplane Heaven state they are developing a B-17? Genuinely curious as I haven’t seen this.
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I don’t think they are , they did a B17 for FSX AND p3d but ive heard nothing for MSFS 2020
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Was just searching the web for any news and so far my google-fu is disappointing.
Time will tell but with the experience from P3D and FSX, they certainly could leverage existing work and research.
Interview with a Microprose staff member on the B-17 here:
A few notable points:
-they are aiming for “the higher level of fidelity”
-it will have some optional modern avionics
-it will release for both MSFS2020 and MSFS2024
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I’m glad the modern avionics will be optional. I only want a steam gauge option.
I like glass cockpits, but for me the appeal of warbirds is to feel like I’m flying in their era.
I’d say there is zero chance even the optional modern stuff means a glass cockpit.
You can look at what’s in the cockpits of the remaining flying B-17’s (an alarmingly diminishing number after the stupidity of the last few years) and they’ve basically got the same type of Garmin/autopilot/radio stack suite you’d expect to see in a 40 year old Cessna or Beech crammed into the middle of the panel and everything else is steam gauges.
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