PMDG Publishes New Development Update

Robert Randazzo, PMDG’s founder, has recently published a development update on their forum regarding future updates for the 737 lineup and its potential Xbox release, the Universal Flight Tablet, the 777, and more. 


Robert begins with information on an upcoming update for the 737 lineup. He claims they are refactoring some of the click-controls and animation logic to better conform with the new SDK standards, which differ from what it used to be back in 2020 when the aircraft was still under development. They managed to preserve all functionality on PC while also functioning identically on Xbox. They have also been refining AFDS roll control logic, improving magenta line computations, and continuing with the preparations to make the navdata system compatible with the new Navigraph database format.


With some of the aforementioned improvements, a new update is coming soon for the 737s. It will be available in the PMDG Operations Center for people who bought it directly via their website and a week later on the Marketplace (they state it’s hard to predict how long that will take, so it’s just an assumption).


PMDG claims to be “happy” with the 737 on Xbox, although holding off on releasing it just yet because they have not gained clarity on the timeline for the associated livery packages available in the Marketplace for use by Xbox customers. They are using the DC-6 as a gauge for how long it takes, and it appears to move through the process substantially slower than the aircraft itself. They intend to fully understand the timeline before releasing the aircraft. On that livery package note, they state that even though the original plan was to make it free of charge, the Marketplace has a minimum pricing of $4.99 per item, which will be the cost of each livery package, through no fault of their own.


The Universal Flight Tablet is said to be robust and ready for wide-scale testing after the developers had to fight an issue involving C++/WASM and their capabilities of sending/receiving data from the sim to the outside world. They don’t have a release timeline yet, but they say Navigraph/SimBrief users will be pleased with the UFT once it’s out.


The DC-6, on the other hand, also underwent heavy work to ensure proper compatibility with the Xbox, including changes to the shape/function of some clickable surfaces to facilitate their use on consoles. The changes are currently being tested; they claim it should be out late next week. PC users will also get the update, but it’s said to be “transparent,” given it targets Xbox folk.


They finish with information on the 777, saying “work is progressing nicely” and that the “pieces are coming together in a polished form.” Although they do not plan to show any in-development shots yet, they have claimed it’s “yielding some absolutely spectacular results” and that their development process has matured significantly since 2020. They promise that the wait and their silence will be paid off with great joy.


The 737 Lineup and the DC-6 are available on the PMDG Shop and in the MSFS Marketplace (partially). 

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