January 25, 2024 - Development Update - Microsoft Flight Simulator

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

Earlier today, we released updated versions of four Local Legend add-on aircraft:

Local Legend I: Junkers Ju 52
Local Legend III: Dornier Do J Wal
Local Legend VI: Junkers F 13
Local Legend XII: Dornier Do X

The updates are available via the in-sim Content Manager. You can read the changelog on our forums here.

We’re also excited to confirm that World Update XVI: Caribbean is launching next week on Tuesday, January 30! As with all World Updates, this will include new Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data, 104 hand-crafted points of interest, seven bespoke airports, and new Landing Challenges, Bush Trips, and Discovery Flights. For a sneak peek of one of the new POIs, check out this screenshot below!

Finally, we want to remind everyone that our next Developer Livestream is coming up next week on Wednesday, January 31 at 10:30am PT (1830 UTC). You can tune in to our official Twitch channel to watch our regular panel of Jorg, Seb, and Martial plus special guests answer questions from the community and discuss the future of Microsoft Flight Simulator. If you can’t watch the stream live, we will also post the VOD to our YouTube channel and post a written transcript on our forums.

We previously asked players to pre-submit their questions for the panel, and we’ve reviewed all your submissions to determine what are the most common issues the community would like to see discussed. As always, we will also be taking questions live from Twitch chat, so if you missed the opportunity to pre-submit your question, you will still have a chance to have it addressed by the panel.

– MSFS Team

Feedback Snapshot

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

Marketplace Update

Headlining this week’s new releases is the CS R66 from CowanSim, an experienced developer of several popular flight simulator helicopter add-ons. The CowanSim R66 is the newest addition to the Microsoft Flight Simulator helicopter fleet. Cowan Simulation strives for perfection and continuously updates their fleet using valuable feedback from pilots around the world. The R66, and subsequent releases, will continue to be developed using that valuable information. CowanSim’s flight models are pilot tested, approved, and developed with the Microsoft Flight Simulator SDK. No external flight model/dynamics or programs are used to provide a seamless user experience.

Options like the passengers and more are available through the weight and balance settings window. The R66 comes with 51 liveries, and an easy-to-use paint kit is provided in GIMP and Adobe Photoshop formats. A Blender model is also provided for the 3D painters. There is also an online manual and checklist available at cowansim.com.

MARKETPLACE RELEASES

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

There are 40 new and 39 updated products in today’s Marketplace Update.

RELEASED EARLIER:
Updated on PC and Xbox	Updated on PC and Xbox
Updated on PC and Xbox	Updated on PC and Xbox

40 NEW PRODUCTS: 21 ON PC, 19 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 PC and Xbox	New on PC	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

39 UPDATED PRODUCTS: 17 ON PC, 22 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 Xbox	Updated on PC and Xbox	Updated on Xbox
Updated on Xbox	Updated on Xbox	Updated 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

Marketplace Backlog

Current Backlog: 277 Total

BACKLOG: NEW PRODUCTS

	*Testing Status*
Content Type	In MS Processing	In MS Testing	In 3P Testing	Total
Aircraft	4	3	20	27
Mission	2	6	42	50
Scenery	6	8	0	14
Livery	26	2	14	42
Airport	13	7	19	39
Other	9	1	13	23
Total	60	27	108	195

BACKLOG: UPDATED PRODUCTS

	*Testing Status*
Content Type	In MS Processing	In MS Testing	In 3P Testing	Total
Aircraft	2	5	7	14
Mission	2	6	0	8
Scenery	2	0	4	6
Livery	4	0	6	10
Airport	20	7	7	34
Other	1	1	8	10
Total	31	19	32	82

SDK UPDATE

Asobo

No update this week.

Working Title / MSFS Avionics Framework

MSFS Avionics Framework
- The SR22T Avionics Plugin has been published to the mirror; this provides an excellent example for developers to review how the G1000 plug-in system works.
- Check out this link to access the latest Avionics Framework source code.
- Find the latest documentation about the avionics framework here https://microsoft.github.io/msfs-avionics-mirror/.
- Upcoming Framework Updates:
  - Improving SubscribableMapFunctions in the Avionics Framework to use a reduce method. (SU_15)
  - Adding ground_altitude to GNSSEvents in the Avionics Framework. (SU_15)
  - Adding EngineType to the Avionics Framework BaseEngineEvents interface to support multiple engine type configurations. (SU_15)
  - Adding a generic performance plan repository to the Avionics Framework SDK. (SU_15)
  - Adding a property feature to the Avionics Framework generic FMC framework to enable statically-typed data to be passed in to FMC pages. (SU_15)
  - Fixing a bug in the Avionics Framework Facility Loader (Facilities.ts) that could cause a circular dependency. (SU_15)

THIRD PARTY UPDATE

As of 01/22, we have now approved 248 (+3) third parties into the in-sim marketplace and – so far 210 (+0) have released 3,148 products on PC (+19) and 2,882 on Xbox (+19).
In total, 4,051 products (+24) have already been released in 3^rd party stores and the in-sim marketplace. Beyond that, another 809 products (-2) from 3^rd party developers are in production (345 announced, 464 unannounced). In total, over 4,860 3^rd party products (+22) have either been released or are in development.
Airports:
- 2,284 airports (+12) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 2,061 airports (+9) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 1,538 airports (+5) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 111 airports (-1) beyond the released airports have been announced.
  - 112 airports (+4) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an airport is in production.
Aircraft:
- 792 aircraft (+0) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 353 aircraft (+6) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 275 aircraft (+5) have been released in the in-sim PC marketplace.
  - 257 aircraft (+5) have been released in the in-sim Xbox marketplace.
  - 212 aircraft (-1) beyond the released aircraft have been announced.
  - 227 aircraft (-5) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an aircraft is in production.
Scenery:
- 1,100 scenery packs (+2) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 1,068 scenery packs (+4) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 627 scenery packs (+3) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 21 scenery packs (+0) beyond the released scenery have been announced.
  - 11 scenery packs (-2) are not announced but the dev let us know that scenery is in production
Mission Packs:
- 250 mission packs (+5) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 219 mission packs (+1) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 158 mission packs (+1) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 0 mission packs (+0) beyond the released missions have been announced.
  - 31 mission packs (+4) are not announced, but the dev let us know that they are in production.
Livery Packs:
- 396 livery packs (+3) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 323 livery packs (+4) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 315 livery packs (+4) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 1 livery pack (+0) beyond the released scenery has been announced.
  - 72 livery packs (-1) are not announced, but the dev let us know that scenery is in production.
Ships & Watercraft:
- 38 ships & watercraft (+0) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 27 ships & watercraft (+0) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 22 ships & watercraft (+0) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 0 ships & watercraft (+0) beyond the released scenery have been announced.
  - 11 ships & watercraft (+0) are not announced, but dev let us know that scenery is in production

Community Fly-In Friday

The Community Fly-In Friday World Tour continues!

After arriving at Nuuk last week, we’ll be flying over the frozen glaciers of Greenland as we make our way to Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland!

Be sure to install World Update XV (free from the in-sim Marketplace) for the best experience with this flight.

Note: this stage will be slightly longer than usual as we make our way across the Atlantic Ocean. Once we arrive in continental Europe in a few weeks, we will once again be able to fly shorter distances and better enjoy the scenery.

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

Tubeliner Tuesday

There will be no Tubeliner Tuesday stream on 2024-01-30 due to the worldwide release of World Update XVI – Caribbean. Tubeliner Tuesday will return on 2024-02-06!

Community Video

For this week’s Community Video, we join cgaviator as he takes the Eurofighter Typhoon up to 30,000 feet before landing in the quickest time he possibly can. This challenge seems like a fun way to fly this incredibly manoeuvrable fast jet! Can you replicate the challenge and beat cgaviator’s time?

cgaviator (Chris) is a real world pilot with over 2,500 hours flying fast jets such as the Hawk and Tornado GR4. Chris brings his vast real world experience into the simulator by teaching his viewers tips and techniques to improve their fighter jet flying. If you’re interested in this style of aviation, go and check out cgaviator’s channel!