August 29th, 2024 - Development Update - Microsoft Flight Simulator

This week’s Screenshot Challenge winner is Twitter user @MihamaBlend! If you’re interested in participating in our weekly Screenshot Challenges, check out the details in the Community section below!

Earlier today, we released an updated version of Local Legend 19: Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor. You can read the release notes on our forums here, and the update is available for download now via the Content Manager.

Last week in Cologne, Germany, we were thrilled to provide hundreds of gamescom attendees with the opportunity to try Microsoft Flight Simulator at our booth! Check out some of the photos of the event here:

Finally, on a more somber note, our team was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Derek Davis. For nearly 20 years, Derek has been serving the hobbyist flight simulation community as editor-in-chief of PC Pilot magazine. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and enjoyed his work, and the MSFS team would like to pass on our most sincere condolences to his family and friends. Blue skies and tailwinds!

– MSFS Team

Development Update

Feedback Snapshot

Click here for the web-friendly version of the Feedback Snapshot.

SDK UPDATE

Asobo

No update

Working Title / MSFS Avionics Framework

No update

Marketplace

Featured Release

This week, we’re proud to highlight the B-2 Spirit from developer Top Mach Studios!

The B-2 Spirit is a stealthy, long-range strategic bomber manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The “flying wing” airframe is crewed by two and can carry conventional or nuclear arms in its internal bays. Combining low observability (stealth), endurance, and large ordnance capacity, the B-2 is one of the most advanced aircraft ever made — and the most expensive in history! First flight was on July 17, 1989. Only 21 of the bombers were built.

Top Mach Studios faced a significant challenge modeling this unique aircraft due to the difficulty in obtaining quality reference material and gaining insight into flying characteristics and procedures. More people have flown to space than have flown the B-2! The Top Mach Studios team has dedicated over a year and a half of R&D to bringing this model to MSFS.

This model is entirely custom-developed, with input from real world B-2 maintainers and pilots within the limits of operational security. Much about the B-2 is still classified, so Top Mach Studios utilized publicly available images, videos, graphics, data, and statements by USAF pilots and engineers to replicate the B-2 as accurately as possible. This is likely the most accurate and detailed simulation of a B-2 ever made available to the public. Despite restricted information about the real-world aircraft, the B-2 from Top Mach Studios is rendered as a highly capable, immersive, and entertaining model that we’re confident you’ll enjoy flying!

This product is not endorsed by the Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Marketplace Releases

Click here for the web-friendly version of the Marketplace Update.

There are 94 NEW and 44 UPDATED products in this week’s Marketplace Update.

Released Earlier:
2 UPDATED Products: 1 ON PC, 1 ON XBOX
Updated on PC and Xbox

Released Monday, August 26:
3 NEW Products: 2 ON PC, 1 ON XBOX
New on PC and Xbox		New on PC

Released Thursday, August 29:
91 NEW Products: 47 ON PC, 44 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 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 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 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	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

Released Monday, August 26:
6 UPDATED PRODUCTS: 3 ON PC, 3 ON XBOX
Updated on PC and Xbox	Updated on PC and Xbox	Updated on PC and Xbox

Released Thursday, August 29:
36 UPDATED PRODUCTS: 18 ON PC, 18 ON 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 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 and Xbox	Updated on PC and Xbox	Updated on PC and Xbox

Marketplace Backlog

Current Backlog: 324 Total

BACKLOG: NEW PRODUCTS

Content Type	In MS Processing	In MS Testing	In 3P Testing	Total
	*Testing Status*
Aircraft	14	0	4	18
Mission	16	0	111	127
Scenery	19	0	6	25
Livery	4	0	14	18
Airport	13	0	21	34
Other	10	0	6	16
Total	76	0	162	238

BACKLOG: UPDATED PRODUCTS

Content Type	In MS Processing	In MS Testing	In 3P Testing	Total
	*Testing Status*
Aircraft	5	0	14	19
Mission	0	0	4	4
Scenery	2	0	3	5
Livery	3	0	24	27
Airport	6	0	13	19
Other	4	0	8	12
Total	20	0	66	86

THIRD PARTY UPDATE

As of 08/26, we have now approved 295 (+0) third parties into the in-sim marketplace and – so far 238 (+1) have released 4,048 products on PC (+40) and 3,805 on Xbox (+40).
In total, 4,770 products (+25) have already been released in 3^rd party stores and the in-sim marketplace. Beyond that, another 800 products (-26) from 3^rd party developers are in production (333 announced, 467 unannounced). In total, over 5,571 3^rd party products (+0) have either been released or are in development.
Airports:
- 2,409 airports (+0) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 2,225 airports (+0) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 1,727 airports (+0) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 96 airports (+0) beyond the released airports have been announced.
  - 83 airports (+0) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an airport is in production.
Aircraft:
- 866 aircraft (+0) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 431 aircraft (+3) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 347 aircraft (+5) have been released in the in-sim PC marketplace.
  - 333 aircraft (+5) have been released in the in-sim Xbox marketplace.
  - 213 aircraft (+1) beyond the released aircraft have been announced.
  - 222 aircraft (-4) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an aircraft is in production.
Scenery:
- 1,196 scenery packs (+0) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 1,160 scenery packs (+0) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 722 scenery packs (+0) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 20 scenery packs (+0) beyond the released scenery have been announced.
  - 16 scenery packs (+0) are not announced but the dev let us know that scenery is in production.
Mission Packs:
- 544 mission packs (+0) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 466 mission packs (+14) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 405 mission packs (+14) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 0 mission packs (+0) beyond the released missions have been announced.
  - 78 mission packs (-14) are not announced, but the dev let us know that they are in production.
Livery Packs:
- 513 livery packs (+0) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 458 livery packs (+8) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 449 livery packs (+8) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 1 livery pack (+0) beyond the released scenery has been announced.
  - 54 livery packs (-9) are not announced, but the dev let us know that scenery is in production.
Ships & Watercraft:
- 43 ships & watercraft (+0) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 30 ships (+0) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 25 ships (+1) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 0 ships (+0) beyond the released ships have been announced.
  - 13 ships (+0) are not announced, but dev let us know that ships are in production.aw

Community

Community Fly-In Friday

The Community Fly-In Friday World Tour continues!

In this stage, we’ll visit the capital cities of two more countries on our World Tour, Slovakia and Austria! Picking up where we last left off, we’ll depart Budapest and fly on a generally westerly heading to Bratislava and then onwards to Vienna. En route, we will enjoy the beautiful scenery from the air and pass over several Points of Interest (POIs) from three different World Updates!

For the best experience, be sure to download the FREE World Update XIV: Central Eastern Europe and World Updates VI & XVII: Germany, Austria, and Switzerland from the in-sim Marketplace.

Event details are available here. All are welcome to participate!

Community Video

With the recent release of World Update XVIII: Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching many content creators explore these newly enhanced areas, one of them being this week’s Community Video created by SimFlightPro.

With a first look review, SimFlightPro highlights the updated regions with stunning cinematic shots as well as providing soothing commentary by describing some contextual background about the areas of focus for World Update XVIII. Check out SimFlightPro’s review as well as their other content via the video below: