Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020/2024)

Attention MSFS 2020 Development Team: Please make SHIRTS available to us like Lionel and David and all you guys wear in the videos: the dark blue polos with the Microsoft Flight Simulator logo on the left side. I think you'd probably sell a few hundred shirts on this site alone. We'd all be walking, talking billboard advertisement for the new sim!

“Hey, still workin on stuff, gonna be a bit, just sit tight.” We have a number of exciting deliverables planned for November so let’s get right to the updates! TECH ALPHA 1 For those of you that were selected to participate in testing Tech Alpha 1, a quick reminder that you should expect all updates related to Tech Alpha will be sent via email. Expect the next email update on 11.10. BUILD PROGRAM TECH ALPHA 2 RECRUITMENT IS NOW OPEN! If you’re interested in registering for a chance to participate, please go here If you registered for Tech Alpha 1, we’ve automatically registered you for Tech Alpha 2. …

An interesting video posted by @Raymond.Groenendijkwhich has been moved to the video forum shows what FS20 gliding experience could be like. This is something too much overlooked IMO. We focus on the scenery but having a real simulation of air flowing over relief will bring gliding simulation to a new level of realism. Same by the way for very light aircraft like the Cub or vintage oldies of the 20’s. https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/563977-ridge-soaring/

The very best in MSFS is no flight will ever be the same. The lighting being affected by humidity, pollution, clouds, we should expect stunning different views each day, even the night. Here is a thread where you can post the clips showing what you like, and expect to see in MSFS, some cool stuff! 😎

If higher quality airplanes means both longer development times and higher costs (and we don't know that it does but Im assuming it will push things in that direction), I think it'd be good to have some sort of agreed upon return policy so we can more safely invest in the developers workmanship. I've always tried to be careful about which planes I bought but there are several that I really liked that I probably wouldn't have purchased at a higher price. If we do end up with fewer planes that cost more, it would help if there was an easy return policy like Steam has except that I think two hours may not be enough time. Im not really sure how much time would be good but..…

Has been bought by epic games - https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-11-12-megascans-becomes-free-for-unreal-engine-users-following-epics-acquisition-of-quixel?utm_source=eurogamer&utm_medium=internal-links&utm_campaign=2019-11-12-megascans-becomes-free-for-unreal-engine-users-following-epics-acquisition-of-quixel Apparently Asobo have used megascan assets in their games before (plague tale, for example). The main benefit of this acquisition seems to be for UE4 developers, but given that Epic has also ‘slashed’ the price of megascans I wonder if some of them will end up in msfs, perhaps for key landmarks or something?

I hope there will be AI in the new sim, and I hope it will be much better than what we have right now. In another window, I have P3Dv4 open. I'm at LAX waiting for the fuel truck to finally get to me. It's one of the busier airports in the country, IRL. In the sim, I'm the only plane here, there's no one else as far as the eye can see (switched to top down mode and can verify this.) Same thing when I fly into New York, no one else around. So lonely...

Hi, Until now, I thought that virtual flying was more likely to protect the climate than real flying with CO2 emissions. But since the new simulator gets its data from the Internet every time a flight takes place, huge data is transmitted every time. For this reason, there have to be huge halls with servers, hard disks and network facilities on the Microsoft side, if millions of people play the game at the same time, with a huge electricity and Co2 consumption. Maybe a virtual flight will produce just as much CO2 as a real flight? Example for the classic rebound effect, data traffic costs nothing more, so we use it up to the limit... Erik

As many of you know, it's against the law to use insider knowledge to buy or sell stock. For example, a bank president who secretly discovered that his bank was about to fail could not legally sell his shares of company stock just before the price collapsed and the outside public was stuck with the losses. Generally speaking, non-public information cannot be used to buy or sell stock, regardless of whether the non-public information is positive or negative, because this insider knowledge is seen as unfair to the outside investor. Now, this brings me to the issue of us elite, sophisticated, and extraordinarily brilliant and good-looking recipients of the Microsoft Fli…

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/25608-07nov19-pmdg-product-trajectory-alignment-what-to-expect-in-the-coming-weeks-months-hours-etc

One of the problems I keep running into is having a strong desire to fly, but not knowing where to fly to or from. I think some type of online community flight/job board that is easily accessible within the sim would be a great idea in helping other simmers, veterans and newcommers alike, explore places they've never been to while also instilling a sense of purpose to one's flight if so desired. I'm thinking sort of like a 'mission creator lite' but where a user can just simply create a flight plan, and then upload it with a brief written scenario description and screenshot where other users may then download and fly said flightplan, all automatically imported and wi…

Can't remember when they close Alpha 1 testers. This week maybe?

I think MSFT/Asobo should have a small team explore the development of a compatibility mode for XP Aircraft. 1. There are tonnes of quality freeware and payware XP aircraft, which would be a shame to see go to "waste". 2. Many thousands of XP users will be enticed to buy MSFS 2020 which will boost sales. 3. It brings more developers to MSFS platform. 4. It creates more available aircraft and better competition and prices for users. 5. The pro's far outweigh the development costs. In terms of priorities it's up there with VR or even higher.

It's certain that there will be a Xbox version at a later date than the PC version, but what will the difference be? What will not be possible with a Xbox version that we are used to in PC versions? I assume it's possible t get yokes / joystick & rudder pedals to Xbox? I have never had a console (paystation, Xbox etc.) and don't intend to get one, just wondering what will be an advantage/disatvantage with the xbox version. Will a Xbox be more powerful since the processor is only built for one purpose?

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/25766-08nov19-announcing-pmdg-737ngxu-for-prepar3d-v4

Would it be useful having a thread that lists an open Q&(A), a list of questions that are not yet answered, where Microsoft/Asobo could pick some that they can answer and want to answer (at that time), perhaps in those dull weeks where we don't get a lot of new information? A few examples could be (I apologize if I picked some that have already been answered): Can we fly across the poles? Can we use time acceleration, if yes, what is the maximum factor? (The new flight model calculations with the > 1000 surfaces may require more time, limiting the possible time acceleration) Can we use online weather and offline scenery? Can weather …

From last night's update one of the frenchs screenshots shows two bridges (procedurally generated apparently):

I've had a chance to watch most of the dev interviews from another 'channel' and read about everyone's experience at MS in Seattle over the last few days. I must say that I'm really impressed with the new dev team and how much respect they have for the FS franchise itself and the community. It's really great to see how committed they are to developing a hard core simulator. They seem to be leaving it all on the table. They've stated that the release of the new simulator is actually the start (not the end) of what's to come and are in it for the long haul. I know MS is still a business at the end of the day, but it appears that MS seems to be giving the team…

I know that some of you have had, like me, some problems to get in. So my recent experience may help some. Since the FS20 site has been set up, I couldn't enter into the private area. Then again I had Windows 7 so I said to myself, this is why. Fortunately, some fellow simmers posted the pics and vids so it was not much of a problem (thank you guys). January approaching, I've upgraded to Windows10, these last few days. Using Chrome setting up the MS and Xbox account was not a pleasant experience with a repeated error message at one point (the Xbox profile). Finally, I had my account set up but still couldn't get into the Insider area ! Suddenly, I had a f…

https://twitter.com/MSFSofficial/status/1192227982535884800?s=20

‘TWAS THE DAY OF TECH ALPHA AND ALL THROUGH LAST NIGHT, NOT ALL EMAILS FINISHED SENDING YET, SO EVERYONE HOLD TIGHT. As we complete our notification process for those selected to participate in our first Tech Alpha, the team would like to provide some additional information regarding participation. One of our primary goals for the Build Program is to get everyone interested in early build testing, actually testing early builds. Though we have limited participation numbers in our first build release, we are actively working to scale participation numbers for future releases. If you were not selected for participation in this …

Doesn’t appear to be happening? Should we be worried?

As this new flight sim has a sublime visual character to it, and seems to be of a high quality, I thought it should be deserving of a nice, thoughtful music theme. (if one will be added to it by Microsoft/Asobo?) The composer Ludovico Einaudi creates some really lovely sublime music, and, I would think could be of a fitting type, and character to go with this aerially scenic game/sim? Having listened to this playlist on youtube: While watching this 4k footage of Microsoft Flight Simulator......I think it matches pretty well, what do you think?......

If PMDG is already in contact with Microsoft/Asobo and have early access to the SDK/Tech Alpha and have access to the team for tech support , then there is no reason why we wouldn't have at least one of the PMDG aircrafts available on release day think of it, they have everything, the game, the SDK, and I imagine they can call or visit the team whenever they want to get information