The builds we're still receiving are still in test phase so it makes no sense for them to lift the NDA and have the internet flooded with unfavourable reviews.

There are way too many moving pieces in the current state of MSFS, but things will settle down much closer to release. It would be a major distraction for MS/Asobo and the flight sim community to lift the NDA anytime soon. Nobody really benefits with having a large amount of controversy out in the wild for MSFS except those who like to stir the pot for entertainment or those who want to denigrate this product because they have financial interests in seeing this platform struggle. 

Alpha testers have no special knowledge on this, but I'll continue to speculate that they will lift the NDA for certain streamers when the beta 1.0 releases on July 30th. They've still got two weeks of work to do before they start showcasing. That's my feeling anyway.

Im under the impresssion that the testers so far are very pleased with the sim. Seldom have I ever seen a flight sim make headlines in gaming news, but now msfs is regularly mentioned in the top 20 most anticipated games in 2020. That is a pretty unique position for our hobby in regards to widespread pr. The question is whether the franchise will profit more from more openness or not. I dont really believe that removing the nda will fill the ethernet with all the flaws of the new sim. The vids that are out there already are captured within the sim itself and are dropping jaws all over the world. People who never simmed before are now showing interest. Will more openness hurt or benefit the title? Right now it seems to me that the people in charge of handling this dont trust their own product enough which doesnt rime well with the vids we’ve seen so far. A question that will lurk in the background is "if  the developers dont trust their product enough 1 month out from release, why should I?". I would have thought they believed in their product enought to lift the nda. I think it would do more good than harm. 
We could also look at this from the perspective of different groups: 

a. Potential buyers: A lot of videos will be floating around the internet which is basically free pr. Unless the actual sim is a lot worse than what we've been led to believe from the videos so far, I think the enthusiasm from the testers will help propagate the franchise to more groups than ever before.

b. People who already pre-ordered: Speaking for myself, I would appreciate more up to date info on the sim now that we are closing up on release. I want to know the impressions of the testers on the latest build of the various aircraft. I'd like to know the depths of simulation, and which aircraft has the deepest simulation. I'd also like to know about how it's been testing the sim thus far, and just hear the anecdotes. That will flame my enthusiasm and help MS propagate to potential new buyers through my network. 

c. Testers: They are sitting on a ton of knowledge, and it must be pretty frustrating to be tied up by the nda. They are a potential powerhouse of good pr for the product. They might also be a liability, but on every rare occasion I see one of them pop their head in a conversation it is to say a good word about the sim. Why would it all of a sudden turn on it's head and be a source of bad pr?

But then again, its only ms themselves who has the right to decide on this. 

Edited July 18, 20205 yr by Andreas Stangenes

One FSX beta build had a graphic setting named "Display cloud shadows". This feature was not included in the release version because it had issues. This is an example why they may choose not to lift the NDA yet. They still can cut unfinished/non working/buggy features.

 

Some people are bashing the sim because of that leaked footage of an A320 flying over San Francisco, saying it looks like an arcade game.

In my opinion, If MS/Asobo had any intention to lift the NDA soon, they have no more because of that leak.

19 hours ago, bonchie said:

when the beta 1.0 releases on July 30th.

Beta was released to all registered Alpha testers two weeks early, which means a four week testing cycle, not simply the two weeks previously scheduled.

32 minutes ago, n4gix said:

Beta was released to all registered Alpha testers two weeks early, which means a four week testing cycle, not simply the two weeks previously scheduled.

I don't think I'm breaking the NDA by saying this because I think they said it publicly, but it's still billed as a "Beta Preview." 

There is going to be another version released for us to test. Right now it's 1.6 but I was just assuming the later beta will be a v1. Maybe it'll just be 1.7. 

Edited July 19, 20205 yr by bonchie

I was actually among the very first group of Alpha testers. Unfortunately my day job with Milviz tied up so much of my time that I have been unable to keep up with the various Alpha releases. Now I find that I am unable to obtain the Beta Preview and successive updates, so I'll have to wait until the 18th of August myself... 😩

19 hours ago, Andreas Stangenes said:

They are a potential powerhouse of good pr for the product. They might also be a liability

^^^ A more true set of statements as ever have been spoken in this forum. 

It is understandable that the NDA remain in place. Especially with the astronomical expectations that have been placed in this initial release, there can’t help but negativity, despite the things that the sim will do well.

Patience is a virtue. I will wait for the release product, watch the inevitable reviews and video clips,  and read the forums.

It will all become apparent within days after release as to whether my mid tuned PC will run this and what's great and whats not.

 

Gaming websites have access to beta since few days (an editor talk about that in a podcast that i follow). So there will be a lot of preview soon (end of NDA?). There is also a xbox keynote this week to talk about first party games for next xbox. MSFS is one of games with WOW effect that can help to sell new hardware. I bet for a release date for xbox and full information during this event and press preview just after.

Just be patient