The Current State of Marketplace Partner Approval

Discussion Hub General Discussion
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1

Dear all,

My name is Michael and today I want to talk about an important issue regarding the MSFS Marketplace (both sims).

So, where do I start….

I think in recent months it has become more and more apparent that the marketplace is being flooded with low-quality products on a weekly basis. Whether that be so called “Professional” Aircraft that are just a bought 3D Model from a 3D model store with default avionics, flightplan packs for about 10 USD each, or sceneries that are basically default. Heck, some even use default buildings.

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This pains me and many simmers to see. Especially when you think about the fact that some developers, who spend countless hours making high-quality products, (and even help to develop the sim itself by contributing on a daily on the dev forums to track down bugs), have been waiting to get accepted to sell on the Marketplace for multiple years now. Yes, I have to admit now, I am a dev too who is still waiting to get accepted, but this isn’t about us. This is about all the other devs I know who have been waiting for even longer than we have.

Jörg continuously states on the official dev livestreams that he wants the in-game Marketplace to be more competitive with other 3rd party options. He even once said “please sell your products in the in-game Marketplace”. Jörg, should you read this, we, and many other developers would love to! However, we simply can’t because we have all been waiting to get approved for up to 3 years now while your team releases the aforementioned low-quality money grabs on a weekly basis.

See, I get that when the sim released 5 years ago now that it was probably extremely overwhelming with all the requests that you got. But man, it’s been 5 years now and there are still people waiting who have applied over 3 years ago. I doubt that there are still so many requests that a such a queue time is justified. I mean, even if you only accepted 4 devs per week, and I am sure if one tried it would be possible to approve even more, in those 5 years you could have accepted over 1000 devs if you really wanted to. So, in my opinion, it sounds a bit hypocritical begging for devs to sell on the Marketplace, then let them wait for years, and wonder at the same time why devs and users still don’t like the Marketplace as much as 3rd party options.

Anyways, this is just food for thought. Like I said I know plenty of devs, ourselves included, who would love to help grow the marketplace and sell our products in-game. But with such ridiculous wait times it doesn’t surprise me that people, whether that be devs or customers, still prefer other options. At the end of the day, it is not only devs who lose out on potential revenue, it is also Microsoft themselves losing out on potential commission.

2

Yeah, I definitely agree it’s very, very frustrating…

Make sure you fill this out and take the time to express all of your thoughts/frustrations.

3

Yep thanks! Already did and mentioned exactly what I said in here. Like you said it’s just frustrating and demotivating too to some extent.

4

I know some devs who have waited over 4 years to get a chance to sell their wares via the Marketplace.

I hope this process speeds up so there is a greater choice for the consumer

5

I really feel for developers who try in good faith to make addons for MSFS, especially over the past year - I would not want to be in their shoes. Even as a customer I question how the Marketplace operates, I can see the imbalance and lack of clarity and responsiveness.

I think the Marketplace survey was a good start, probably aimed more at customers… So perhaps it would be worth opening a 2nd survey just for Developers, inviting them to really give valuable feedback on what is needed?

Just a thought.

6

I am and always have been supportive of good developers waiting for their chance in the Marketplace. For some of these people, a spot in the Marketplace is the only real way to ensure their work remains viable — meaning some will eventually just give up, ultimately leaving the sim and its customers worse off.

On the other hand, there is undoubtedly a market for products of ‘lesser quality.’ These products can actually be the encouragement needed to get the next generation of young(er) simmers buying more realistically-functional add-ons. However I think Microsoft needs to separate those who’re only in it for the money grab from those who genuinely intend to stoke the imaginations of novice minds.

I certainly believe those capable of demonstrably delivering consistently solid products should have their cases prioritised. Currently, in this respect, Microsoft, Asobo and the Marketplace are failing us. Developers should be monitored (maybe by the community) for how receptive they are to criticism and suggestions — there’s obviously a difference between a new and inexperienced dev with a passion and one just crudely out to make an easy profit. I don’t have to name and shame here as we all know who the guilty parties are: those who shovel AI-generated products in their tens each week, for which there are rarely any meaningful reviews. Airports using a bunch of default assets — commanding similar prices to the work of the likes of Pyreegue and IniBuilds — are deliberately aimed (by arguably unscrupulous devs) towards inexperienced or gullible simmers, who presumably are not aware that they could bag a much higher-quality version of the same airport for the same money.

It really is about time Microsoft read the room and started to listen to the concerns and wishes of Marketplace customers. The 2024 Marketplace is a mess and I personally find navigating it a rather unpleasant experience. With the exception of the odd sale item, it’s typically the most expensive store; yet has the worst customer service, the worst vetting programme, no rewards scheme, and an inability to deliver updates in a timely manner. Just why would anyone pay a premium for this?!

At one time I really tried my best to buy from the Marketplace, believing it would be good for the sim’s longevity. But after recent experiences, I’m not really willing to support a store that refuses to support me.

7

THREE, FIVE YEARS WAITING? !! :exploding_head::person_facepalming:

AND yes! for the last half year MP has became a trash bin for garbage products.

8

Yes marketplace need more control in both sims !!! And need immediately!!

9

I really wonder how much work and passion actually goes into these products if more than 10 of them release, or are updated, on a weekly basis…

Yet other devs who pour their life and soul into their products have not even been accepted yet…

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11

There is a big problem with the Marketplace when the very best developers have to beg their customers to help them get Microsoft’s attention — while those who churn out soulless, generic shovelware every week are allowed to continue unabated.

The majority of users don’t comment in these forums but I know the shovelware irritates them too. Unless something gives, I feel users are just going to continue to abandon the Marketplace. There’s just zero incentive to shop there these days. Bad UI, no rewards, poor/rude customer service, delayed updates… who in their right mind wants to pay premium prices for this? I mean, if you’re going to charge slightly more than every other store, at least make it an attractive prospect!

12

And if people stopped shopping there, especially the Xbox captive market, Microsoft would change its tune fast. They want that 30%.

13

If they want the 30% it would be smarter to accept devs that actually produce sales instead of releasing 10 products a week that don’t sell anyways.

14

Realistically, they probably sell better than they should.

15

Anything will sell if your captive audience is large enough. I hesitate to use the phrase “a fool and his money are soon parted” because there may be people who find this shovelware useful, or are young, inexperienced and easily sold a dud. Does MS prioritise sales above reputation? Certainly debatable, given what we’re seeing.

I actually want to shop at the Marketplace, because it finances R&D and should be beneficial for the sim’s longevity. But they’re making it increasingly hard to buy in good faith due to the bureaucracy and oppressive, customer-unfriendly policies.

We, the customers, are between a rock and a hard place: if sales slump, sim development slows or, worse, ceases; while if we continue to buy, they’ll continue to treat us like dirt. Bit of a stalemate, methinks, because I’m certain MS won’t change.

16

Well considering hardly any of them have any reviews I doubt that they sell “well”. But yes, I definitely agree with better than they should.

17

The lack of reviews is down to lack of incentive to review them, as an xbox user i give a rating to every MP purchase I make, but many of my friends didnt even know they could even give a star rating.
Also yes the volume of shovel ware is hugely annoying especially when we know good products are delayed due to the regular MP backlogs. But these VA System packs are a vital resource to many of the console based Virtual Airline communities and do sell quite well. But the other copy and paste flight model products are beginning to flood the market and give little informed choice to the newer 2024 player intake. Many buy these as a first purchase and because of the misleading descriptions are hugely disappointed and dont buy anything more from the marketplace.
This is also having adverse effects on the likes of the YT reviewer community as they have very little to show off and review. Many well respected content creators are now shutting down because of this knock on effect.
Im all for greater product choice in the marketplace and faster track to getting new developers on board for both formats and every catagory.

18

Todays release has brought another flurry of airliners from - you know who! Each one with a 5 star rating no less from 1 person! The same person?? Uugh

I wonder what MScenery are going to fill the marketplace with when they run out of airliners?

Since this is an invisible company on the net, I wonder who does approve all of this tat? Do they rate this in a picture before pasting in MP? Since they are an invisible company and there is no way anyone can give verbal feedback about this shovel ware, surely MS/Asobo need to start having a minimum spec criteria before they allow it to falsely advertise the “pleasing functionality” of these.

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19

There should at the least be some contact info available if you have something on the marketplace.

A Star system doesn’t provide any details on why it’s good or bad or who gave the stars. Could it be possible that those 5 stars are from 3 different people? Maybe, but I doubt that very much.

There is zero accountability for these ‘companies’ and the refund system s***s, you can only refund a few times.

20

Marketplace vetting system appears to be complete and utter extremely “biased buddy buddy” garbage. Shame on whoever is in charge! Really sucks to hear developers with actual quality products being stuck in the “approval loop” for so long without any status updates nor feedback.

21

It need a thing like second page on marketplace for like this ultra low quality add-ons MS,CS and ect.

Is better to be in separate marketplace with another different ultra low quality add-ons .

Most simmers dont want to see and dont want to buy Mcscenery , Captain Sim or Bredok3d ultra,mega,giga low quality spam planes everywhere !