Trees not forming properly in forested areas - WU11: Canada degrades scenery quality (perhaps other WU countries affected too)

[FieldGunner]

ISSUE DESCRIPTION

Description of the issue:
I’m reporting this as a bug in the sense it’s a clear regression compared to the detail in 2020. Even if working as designed, and not technically a bug, I doubt it was anyone’s intent to have things looking worse in 2024 under otherwise the same conditions. So, at the very least, please consider this bug report to be meant as constructive feedback.

I noticed many of the trees in the forested areas around my usual & favorite flying grounds are not forming and looking like trees but rather looking like green pyramids / pointy triangular objects. Initially I thought this may have been due to the early content delivery issues but I feel that has stabilized - especially given the ground textures look as good or better than they did in 2020 in the same area. I also initially thought it might be a hardware issue on my end but no longer believe that’s the case especially after seeing the expected results in 2020 where the trees look quite good.

I see improvements in other details in the same area such as the inland water elevation issue in 2020 being fixed in 2024. Much appreciated and that is also making me think the issues with the trees are not intended.

I’ve done a comparison between 2020 and 2024 using the same settings, aircraft, flight elevation, and time of day for consistency.

The issue seems to be more prevalent in areas of denser forested areas as opposed to rows of trees / hedgerows.

ICAO, coordinates, or specific location:
Flying south from CYYJ

[PC Only] Did you remove all your community mods/add-ons? If yes, are you still experiencing the issue?
Yes

FREQUENCY OF ISSUE

How often does this occur for you (Example: Just once, every time on sim load, intermittently)?
Every time.

REPRODUCTION STEPS

Please list clear steps you took in order to help our test team reproduce the same issue:

1. Configure settings in both 2020 and 2024 to be the same.
2. Select the same aircraft (C172 in my tests) in both sims.
3. Set time of day to Noon.
4. Set weather to clear skies.
5. Fly south from CYYJ, climb to 2000’, set the auto-pilot, go to the external view and angle your view down towards the ground in the more immediate flight path (you can see the issue when looking out the window of the cockpit too but it’s just easier to see in the external view).

YOUR SETTINGS

If the issue still occurs with no mods and add-ons, please continue to report your issue. If not, please move this post to the User Support Hub.

What peripherals are you using, if relevant:
N/A

[PC Only] Are you using Developer Mode or have you made any changes to it?
Both on and off (on to double check frame rates only; otherwise off).

[PC, MSFS 2020 Only] Are you using DX11 or DX12?
DX11 when comparing in 2020.

[PC Only] What GPU (Graphics Card) do you use?
NVIDIA GTX 3070 Ti 8GB

[PC Only] What other relevant PC specs can you share?
Using NVIDIA DLSS w/DLAA
Vsync On
NVIDIA low latency off
Monitor refresh rate 100% (monitor is set to 120Hz
Global settings High-End (generally 40+ fps in this area in 2024)
64GB of memory
Intel Core i7-12700K @ 3.60GHz
1 gb wired internet connection (latency 40ms or below)

MEDIA

2020 screen captures:

2024 screen captures:

[END OF FIRST USER REPORT]

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For anyone who wants to contribute on this issue, Click on the button below to use this template:

Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it?
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Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue:
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If relevant, provide additional screenshots/video:
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[FieldGunner]

Another comparison from the same area which makes the issue more obvious.

2020:

2024:

[RATTMAN]

I am on PC. I also reinstalled MSFS 2024. 4090 I9-3K Ultra settings. 1Gig internet.
Same I see what looks like CLAY Trees and Forests all over the place. Even in NYC but more so in places that have larger forests. When I get a chance, I will add screen shots.

[moxiejeff]

Are you on xbox? PC?

I am not seeing this from a trees standpoint… currently flying over Colorado in career mode.

[moxiejeff]

What locations were your 2024 pics taken?

I am not experiencing this issue at all currently flying over CO.

[FieldGunner]

I’m flying over Vancouver Island in BC (CYYJ). I actually see the issue in your screenshots as well. If you fly about 2000’ AGL you’ll probably see it too. For scenery flying in GA aircraft, which is what I like to do, it’s a big step back from 2020.

EDIT: Forgot to reply to your other question. I’m on a PC.

[RATTMAN]

You do not need to load into the flight to see the Issue. It is visible in the planning screen.
This is Just North of Manhattan.

[RATTMAN]

Load into LSZF Airport. You can see the issue before loading in. Almost all the trees are messed up.

[RATTMAN]

It is location dependent. Areas can be completely fine while other areas look like a Gumby Episode gone wrong. .

[moxiejeff]

I don’t see a single ‘melted’ tree anywhere in my screenshot, nor have I seen them anywhere in the last 2 days. That’s what I’m trying to say – not sure where you see them in my screenshot above?

[moxiejeff]

Yes, yours definitely look melted/blocky – I am not seeing that on mine though.

[FieldGunner]

@moxiejeff

not sure where you see them in my screenshot above?

I thought I was seeing them here (circled in red):

but after downloading your image and bringing up to 100% I don’t see it. However, the difference I see between 2020 and 2024 in the location I’m testing is night and day (2024 being a bad experience).

Some questions for you:

• what location are you flying (I’m at CYYJ)?
• what elevation above ground level (I’m flying at 2000’ AGL)?
• what are your global graphics settings (I’m on High)?

[FieldGunner]

So, while trying something related to the stutters at airports introduced with the 1.2.7.0 update, I discovered disabling World Update XI: Canada fixed the malformed trees around CYYJ. Here are new screenshots with the WU disabled and the trees look like they did before in 2020:

So that really does explain why some of us are seeing the blobby trees and others aren’t. It’s also confirms something is broken in the 2024 implementation of WU11 at a minimum and perhaps people who are seeing poorly formed trees in other areas are also being affected by one of the WU packages.

[FieldGunner]

@Moderators: I’ll edit the title of the bug report due to the new information.

[RATTMAN]

Have you tried the location I showed? LSZF Airport is the second one and should be easy to spot. It is not a sim wide problem, and I do not see the issue everywhere.

[TabbyBee8115301]

I also see this issue. I’m flying around Vancouver Canada area/suburbs. Doesn’t matter which altitude