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[Krakin]

Microsoft Flight Simulator - The next generation of one of the most beloved simulation franchises

Microsoft Flight Simulator is the next generation of one of the most beloved simulation franchises.

fsi.microsoftstudios.com

On behalf of the entire Microsoft Flight Simulator team, we humbly and deeply express our gratitude for such an overwhelmingly positive response to our announce trailer! We recognize that without people like you, we don’t get to make experiences like this that span more than 35 years and maintain such a passionate following. Thank you for being patient enough to weather the turbulence caused by some of our previous missteps. Thank you for being willing to look to the possibilities of the future while asking us to be accountable for the past. We hear you, we value you, we want to make the next generation of Microsoft Flight Simulator for you, with you.

While this is not the moment to answer every question being asked, we do want to take the opportunity to answer a few important ones:

1. We are making Microsoft Flight Simulator. Emphasis on the word SIMULATOR.
2. Designed for PC, optimized for multiplatform support (e.g. Xbox).
3. Yes. We are supporting 3rd Party Content Development and Community Content creation. We are aware of the concerns in the current eco-system and are working to address them.
4. Yes. We genuinely want to work closely with the community in the development of this title.
5. Accessibility is important to us. Whatever your abilities are, if you want to fly, we are going to do whatever we can to make that happen. Yoke and pedals, mouse and keyboard, controller, etc. No pilot should be left behind.

Over the next few months, we will be communicating our plans for the rest of the year, including important updates to the Preview Build/Insider Programs, and important development beats. Maintaining a collaborative relationship with the community starts with transparency and clearly communicated expectations. Early August is our current timeline for kicking off the communication of the development roadmap. We will continue to add clarity to this timeline throughout the summer. If you’d like the latest updates, please make sure to sign up for the Insider Program.

This is just the first step in an adventure we are honored and excited to be taking with all of you. The reaction we received from our recent trailer was an incredible reminder that we are not alone in this passion we have for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, honestly expressing your feedback and concerns, and for taking this next step with us.

From all of us here working on Microsoft Flight Simulator:

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

This probably deserves its own thread. Really fantastic to hear them acknowledging the mistakes made in the past. I am more stoked than ever!

 

[Makariel]

They make all the right noises at the moment, I still want to hear about VR support though!

 

[Krakin]

They make all the right noises at the moment, I still want to hear about VR support though!

Accessibility is important to us. Whatever your abilities are, if you want to fly, we are going to do whatever we can to make that happen. Yoke and pedals, mouse and keyboard, controller, etc. No pilot should be left behind.

It's pretty much a given in today's landscape anyway.

 

[Myths]

Can’t wait, this is definitely going to be a pre-order.

 

[C4lukin2]

This looks insane. Does anyone know it the older games supported some sort of "arcade" mode where you could just fly around without doing all the complicated tasks requiring to actually fly a plane ? Would love to see that as a feature in the new game, if not.

I mean they had scenarios where you were already flying, and did not have to go through the takeoff process.

But yeah it was always very simulatoresque. I remember the manual being huge back in the day. Like a couple of hundred pages

It was never like the Top Gun game on NES where landing was a pull up or slow down affair.

It has always been a simulator, with a crazy learning curve.

I remember I had this layout, on my keyboard, where you you would put this thin plastic on said keyboard, and it told you press f to do this and e to do that

 

[IbizaPocholo]

Microsoft Flight Simulator - The next generation of one of the most beloved simulation franchises

Microsoft Flight Simulator is the next generation of one of the most beloved simulation franchises.

fsi.microsoftstudios.com

JULY 11TH, 2019 – DEVELOPMENT UPDATE


As the team enters the dog days of summer, we’ve been hard at work putting the finishing touches on many of the big updates we’re planning to share toward the end of summer. Our excitement continues to build, as does our impatience to share this information with you. So we press forward counting down the days until we can open the hangar doors and dive into the details with you.

There are many very important topics being discussed in the community (e.g. New Flight Model/IFR-VFR Flight/Weather Simulation Depth/VR Support, etc.). The team is constantly monitoring the feedback/suggestions being discussed and please know that many of these topics and more, will be covered thoroughly in near future updates.

In the meantime, here’s a work-in-progress screenshot, and confirmation that the Insider Program will be starting in early August as part of our development roadmap kickoff.

On July 25th, we will be releasing another update on our plans for August and September. Until next time, know that the team is excited and anxious to share more information with you.

Sincerely,

The Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

 

[IbizaPocholo]

 

[IbizaPocholo]

Head in the cloud(s): the return of Microsoft Flight Simulator

An unexpected revamp of Microsoft’s classic flying simulator could usher in a new era of cloud function for games

www.theguardian.com

 

[Larogue]

Oh just look at that realism

 

[IbizaPocholo]

Microsoft Flight Simulator - The next generation of one of the most beloved simulation franchises

Microsoft Flight Simulator is the next generation of one of the most beloved simulation franchises.

fsi.microsoftstudios.com

“Update to an update about an update” – AVSIM member post


Heading into the last week of July the team is excitedly awaiting the arrival of August. There are a number of big updates planned for August and September starting with the V1 release of the Development Roadmap.


Within the next few weeks we’ll be providing the official release date for the Development Roadmap, in the meantime, we’d like to share a few of the deliverables from this plan:

• August (Early/Mid) – Insider Program kickoff
  • First batch of content for the Insider Program members is being prepared for delivery:
    • Advanced preview of the Development Roadmap
    • “In-Sim” content – clips captured from build.
    • Preview Build Program – Detailed information on first build deliverable, Insider participation sign-up

• August (Mid/Late) – Development Roadmap Release (v.2019.08/drr1)
  • Development beats through EOY 2019
    • Build Program Recruitment and Release timeline
    • SDK Update
    • 3rd Party Content Update
    • UGC Content Update

• August (Late) – Build Program Kickoff
  • Preview Build Program – Detailed information on first preview build deliverable
  • Preview Build Program – Public Participation sign-up
  • Preview Build Program – Preview of next build details

“What we want” – AVSIM Thread


There are two important plans we will be sharing with you in September:

1. The pipeline for how we will provide an in-depth look at the product we are building.
2. The process for how we will integrate the community into this process to facilitate a collaborative partnership to bring this product to launch.

Threads like this on AVSIM, and across all the forums we pay close attention to, are truly valued by the team. So though we may not be directly interacting with you at the moment, we hear you. August is about setting expectations, providing a clear Development Roadmap outlining how we get from today to launch. September is about how we accomplish that task, together.





“Early August for Insider… Hope I get in.” – Reddit User r/flightsim


MSFS – You’re in. In August we’ll kick-off the Insider Program. Insiders will be able to login to the site and be given access to the Insider area, and not just redirected to the FAQ, as per current.





“I want to pay for it in unmarked, non-sequential, low denomination bills, placed in three black plastic bin bags, left on the third floor of an abandoned multi-story car park, at midnight.” – AVSIM User


MSFS – Done. Once you make the drop, head south 3 kilometers. Locate a metal trash bin, retrieve mobile phone at bottom of bin. At 1:06AM text “no subscription”. Await further instruction.





“Microsoft don’t read AVSIM or any other forums, they read their own gaming forums and insiders community forums, it is standard company policy.” – AVSIM User


MSFT – Well this is awkward…





Finally, the team would like to take a moment to call attention to AVSIM mod 188AHC. Your effort and contributions do not go unnoticed. Thank you.





Next update coming August 8th!





Sincerely,


The Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

 

[Stiflers Mom]

I have fond memories of playing Flight Simulator 2 on an Atari ST back in 1987...

 

[IbizaPocholo]

 

[Bani]

There is no chance that this is a game,eyes don't believe everything they see

 

[Nitty_Grimes]

Plane porn right there.

 

[KyoZz]

Looks incredible

 

[Otterz4Life]

Day. One.

 

[Threeshotgamer]

They shared a roadmap on twitter earlier for the development

 

[Dane]

So apparently Asobo acquisition might be something close (if not, already done).

There was a rumor pre-E3 that Asobo was one of the candidates.

Back in the first days of 2018, Asobo announced a mass hiring for 40 positions.

Jeux vidéo : Asobo Studio va embaucher 40 personnes à Bordeaux

2018 sera assurément un tournant pour Asobo Studio. L'éditeur indépendant de jeux vidéo s'apprête à recruter 40 personnes à Bordeaux, essentiellement pour travailler sur ses prochains jeux mais aussi pour nourrir sa division BtoB Holoforge, spécialisée dans les applications de réalité mixte. Un...

objectifaquitaine.latribune.fr

Despite that, in April of this year, shortly before the release of A Plague Tale, Focus Interactive announced that the studio closed a deal for a new game.

But here's another thing, last month Microsoft took back the support for FSX as their contract with Dovetail expired.

FSX - Microsoft Flight Simulator

In 2014 Microsoft entered into an agreement allowing Dovetail Games to bring Flight Simulator X to Steam. Today, we are announcing that we’ve reached the end of our partnership agreement. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to Dovetail Games for the...

www.flightsimulator.com

It could mean lots of things though.

1) Asobo will be acquired, the 40 new employees are for a new "Aces Team" of sorts, with also a small portion of their already existing staff (140 people) working on it too . That means there woulbe be a team for the studio projects, with Focus one being released as they planned on the partnership, or Microsoft buying the publishing rights (just like with Psychonauts 2 from Starbreeze) while the other team will be dedicated to supporting Flight Simulator franchise.

2) It won't be acquired, but their development team will support the game for years to come, until it gets passed on to Xbox Game Studios.

3) The then new employees will be reunited as a new XGS studio once development and/or support from Asobo finishes.

4) Nothing happens

Just to remember, Asobo could fit in their acquisitions because it follows the same pattern from the other ones, studios who worked closely with the Xbox at some point.

 

[Bergoglio]

Wait. How Asobo is connected to XGS?

 

[Dane]

Wait. How Asobo is connected to XGS?

Before A Plague Tale, their previous projects were Microsoft exclusive.