April 7th, 2022 Development Update - Microsoft Flight Simulator

Screenshot by shizhe85511526 (Twitter)

We are one week into our public Sim Update 9 Beta testing and your feedback has already led to an improved build which came out this past Tuesday. We anticipate more updates during Beta testing and continue to work through your reports. A huge thank you to those who have taken the time to help us in this endeavor!

Below, you will find a brand new version of our Feedback Snapshot. We are now taking a three-layers approach to how we gather your feedback as well as present back to you what we are working on. Those layers are:

Active Development – This is a selection of some of the items we are currently working on. In it, we will reference different wishlist or bug item numbers that may be associated with it.
Bugs and Wishes – Past 3 Months: These lists indicate which items have been created and voted on the most just within the last three months. While lifetime votes are important for the overall scope, we want to know what your current bugs/wishes are.
Bugs and Wishes – Lifetime Votes: You will be the most familiar with this section as it details the highest voted bugs and wishlist items overall.

We are always looking to improve how we communicate, and would love your feedback on this new process. Thank you!

MSFS Team

DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP

The Development roadmap has been updated for Q2 2022. Please see the new roadmap below. Click here for the web-friendly version.

FEEDBACK SNAPSHOT

Click here for the web-friendly version. To learn more about Accessibility in Microsoft Flight Simulator, click here.

SDK Update

General:
- We thank you all for your feedback on the ongoing Sim Update 9 flighting. It already allowed us to investigate & fix several bugs. You can keep on reporting on DevSupport – please do not forget the “SU9” tag!
DevMode:
- We fixed misleading warnings regarding invalid Marketplace images when building a package.
- We fixed cursor issues in cockpit and in DevMode.

WASM:
- We fixed a crash when closing the simulator while a WASM module was being compiled.
- We improved the compilation times that were excessively long.
SimConnect:
- We fixed potential crashes when accessing some SimVars (“EXIT POSX”, “EXIT POSY”, “EXIT POSZ”, “HSI BEARING”, “HSI BEARING VALID”).
- SIMCONNECT_STATE_OFF now disables event, and ClearNotificationGroup now removes events linked to its groupId. This requires further testing on our side and will not be integrated in Sim Update 9.

Third Party Update

As of 04/03, we have now approved 246 (+0) third parties into the in-sim marketplace and – so far 142 (+3) have released 1,010 products on PC (+17) and 715 on Xbox (+18).
In total, 2,012 products (+22) have already been released in 3^rd party stores and the in-sim marketplace. Beyond that, another 531 products (+35) from 3^rd party developers are in production (295 announced, 236 unannounced). In total, over 2,541 3^rd party products (+55) are either released or are in development.
Airports:
- 1450 airports (+46) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 1221 airports (+12) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 692 airports (+16) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 120 airports (+37) beyond the released airports have been announced.
  - 109 airports (-3) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an airport is in production.
Aircraft:
- 348 aircraft (+2) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 115 aircraft (+1) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 79 aircraft (+1) have been released in the in-sim PC marketplace.
  - 54 aircraft (+1) have been released in the in-sim Xbox marketplace.
  - 159 aircraft (+1) beyond the released aircraft have been announced.
  - 74 aircraft (+0) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an aircraft is in production.
Scenery:
- 664 sceneries (+8) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 597 sceneries (+8) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 146 sceneries (+0) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 15 sceneries (+0) beyond the released scenery have been announced.
  - 52 sceneries (+0) are not announced, but the dev let us know that scenery is in production.
Mission Packs:
- 81 mission packs (+1) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 79 mission packs (+1) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 10 mission packs (+1) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 1 mission packs (+1) beyond the released missions have been announced.
  - 1 mission packs (-1) are not announced, but the dev let us know that they are in production.

MARKETPLACE UPDATE

Click here for a web-friendly version.

There are 41 new and 21 updated products in the Marketplace today. Marketplace updates generally go live on Thursdays between the release of this blog post and 5pm PT.

41 NEW PRODUCTS: 20 ON PC, 21 ON XBOX
New on PC ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅
New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅
New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on Xbox ✅
New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅
New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅
New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅
New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅
	New on Xbox ✅

21 UPDATED PRODUCTS: 12 ON PC, 9 ON XBOX
Updated on PC and Xbox ✅	Updated on PC ✅	Updated on PC ✅
Updated on PC and Xbox ✅	Updated on PC and Xbox ✅	Updated on PC and Xbox ✅
Updated on PC and Xbox✅	Updated on PC and Xbox ✅	Updated on PC and Xbox ✅
Updated on PC and Xbox ✅	Updated on PC and Xbox ✅	Updated on PC ✅

TWITCH UPDATE

We stream weekly on Twitch.tv/MSFSOfficial! This week, we put the destination selection for our Community Fly-In Friday to a public vote on Twitter and our forums. Your votes have been counted, and the community has chosen a flight in Brazil from the bustling metropolis of São Paulo to the beautiful beaches of Rio de Janeiro! Click here for details on Friday’s flight. All are welcome to participate!

Also, we are back next Wednesday with ForderLearnToFly with our next lesson on the C172! Join us to learn about Diversions and precautionary landings. Click here for details!

COMMUNITY VIDEO

Available today from the in-sim Marketplace from developer Wing42 is a highly-realistic new aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator, the Boeing 247D. Developed in 1933, this aircraft set the standard for a new generation of airliners. Features such as a retractable landing gear, cantilevered wings, and a top speed of over 190 miles per hour made the 247D a remarkable aircraft of great historic significance. The Wing42 Boeing 247D is the first aircraft in MSFS to fully implement a radio range navigation module that will have sim pilots “flying the beam”, giving an experience like no other.

Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, described the Wing42 Boeing 247D as “an exemplary execution of a classic plane.” But you don’t need to take our word for it. YouTuber SimHangar Flight Simulation recently posted a review and tutorial video showcasing this exciting new plane and providing some important tips on how to fly it properly. Check it out below!