March 10th, 2022 Development Update - Microsoft Flight Simulator

Screenshot by mutsumi01210 (Twitter)

We are quickly approaching our next release in just a few short weeks, World Update 8: Iberia. Until then, here are this week’s development updates and community highlights.

And in case you missed it, check out this article about pilot and flight simmer Alyson Johnson, a lover of aviation history!

– MSFS TEAM –

DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP

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FEEDBACK SNAPSHOT

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

SDK UPDATE

General:

We hope you enjoy the revamp of our Documentation website! It now has Dark mode, easier research & browsing, and it includes the “How to make an Aircraft” tutorial. Stay tuned for more additions to this tutorial in the next few weeks!
We announced major improvements to the SimVarWatcher, but due to an error in our process, you’re still working on the former version. We’ll upload a new SDK very soon to fix that!

DevMode:

Scenery Editor:
- We fixed the hide/unhide feature that didn’t work on projected meshes.
- We now sort the Hide/Lock window alphabetically.
- We fixed the debug properties of Airports that didn’t show groupID.
- We fixed a crash when closing the Scenery Editor.

Visual Effects Editor:

We now select all text in the filter when opening the new node creation menu

3RD PARTY UPDATE

As of 03/04, we have now approved 241 (+1) third parties into the in-sim marketplace and – so far 136 (+0) have released 948 products on PC (+4) and 654 on Xbox (+7).
In total, 1,926 products (+10) have already been released in 3^rd party stores and the in-sim marketplace. Beyond that, another 538 products (+7) from 3^rd party developers are in production (290 announced, 248 unannounced). In total, over 2,464 3^rd party products (+17) are either released or are in development.
Airports:
- 1401 airports (+15) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 1167 airports (+8) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 647 airports (+1) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 118 airports (+0) beyond the released airports have been announced.
  - 116 airports (+8) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an airport is in production.
Aircraft:
- 338 aircraft (+1) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 107 aircraft (+1) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 72 aircraft (+0) have been released in the in-sim PC marketplace.
  - 47 aircraft (+1) have been released in the in-sim Xbox marketplace.
  - 157 aircraft (-2) beyond the released aircraft have been announced.
  - 74 aircraft (+2) are not announced, but the dev let us know that an aircraft is in production.
Scenery:
- 645 sceneries (+2) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 574 sceneries (+3) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 138 sceneries (+1) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 15 sceneries (+0) beyond the released scenery have been announced.
  - 56 sceneries (-1) are not announced, but the dev let us know that scenery is in production.
Mission Packs:
- 80 mission packs (+0) are either released or are in various stages of development.
  - 78 mission packs (+0) have been released on the platform so far in various stores.
  - 9 mission packs (+1) have been released in the in-sim marketplace.
  - 0 mission packs (+0) beyond the released missions have been announced.
  - 2 mission packs (+0) are not announced, but the dev let us know that they are in production.

MARKETPLACE UPDATE

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There are 35 new and 18 updated products in the Marketplace today. Marketplace updates generally go live on Thursdays between the release of this blog post and 5pm PT.

35 NEW PRODUCTS: 17 ON PC, 18 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 ✅
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 Xbox ✅	New on PC and Xbox ✅
New on Xbox ✅	New on PC✅	New on PC ✅

18 UPDATED PRODUCTS: 11 ON PC, 7 ON XBOX
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 ✅
Updated on PC and Xbox✅	Updated on PC✅	Updated on PC✅
Updated on PC✅		Updated on PC and Xbox✅

AIRSHOW INVITATION

We are excited to partner with community members from the Flight Simulator Thunderbirds to host the Wings over the Web Virtual Airshow on Twitch!

Join us live on May 22 as performers from around the world display breathtaking stunts and precision formation flying in the virtual skies. Featuring performances by the Flight Simulator Thunderbirds and RAAFv Roulettes, this virtual airshow will be an event you won’t want to miss.

Right now there is an open call for airshow acts. If you are interested in performing, whether as a solo act or with a group of simmers, click here to learn more and sign up!

TWITCH UPDATE

We stream weekly on Twitch.tv/MSFSOfficial! For many of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere where it’s currently winter, we yearn to get away to somewhere warm and tropical. Join our community fly-in this week as we island-hop across sunny Hawaii! En route, we’ll visit landmarks including the historic Dole Pineapple Plantation on O’ahu, Honolulu’s famous Waikiki Beach, Molokini (a partially submerged volcanic crater off the coast of Maui) and the Palapala Ho’omau Church, the final resting place of legendary aviator Charles Lindbergh. Our final destination is the town of Kona on the Big Island. All are welcome to participate! Click here for details.

Click here for a recording of this week’s Flying Lessons on the C172 G1000: Spin Training

COMMUNITY VIDEO

Last week was very busy for the Microsoft Flight Simulator community! In addition to Sim Update VIII and Famous Flyer I: Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing both launching, the team also announced that Microsoft Flight Simulator is now available on devices such as low-spec computers, smartphones, tablets, and last-gen Xbox One consoles via Xbox Cloud Gaming Services. For both new players who don’t own an Xbox Series X|S or a gaming PC capable of running Microsoft Flight Simulator and for current simmers who want to fly on their smartphone during their morning train ride to work, Xbox Cloud Gaming Services opens up many new ways to enjoy Microsoft Flight Simulator. YouTuber ObsidianAnt recently posted a video of MSFS running on his Samsung S21 Android phone and discussed his impressions of the sim experience when played from the cloud. You can hear his thoughts in the video below.

SCREENSHOT CHALLENGE

You can now submit your screenshot via Twitter with #MSFSchallenge or the Weekly Forum Post! This week’s screenshot challenge: These Canyons are gorges!

This past week our Screenshot Challenge was “Silhouettes“. Here are our runner ups this week: