Microsoft Flight Simulator Gets New Beta Update; Blackbird's ATR Canceled; Aguenar Airport Revealed

Here's your daily dose of Microsoft Flight Simulator news: MSFS has received a new beta update. The ATR by Blackbird/MilViz has been canceled. Aguenar Airport has been revealed. The C-160 Transall and Salt Lake City got new screenshots. 😎


Published: January 10, 2023 4:53 AM /

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Microsoft Flight Simulator Tamanrasset Airport

Microsoft and third-party developers have delivered news and updates about Microsoft Flight Simulator and several upcoming add-ons, including aircraft and airports. 

We start with Microsoft itself, which launched a new beta update for the simulator. Numbered 1.30.11.0, it aims to fix crashes on Xbox, alongside significant changes to the avionics and systems of the Cessna Citation CJ4, the TBM 930, and the Cessna Citation Longitude, on top of the G3000 navigation suite. 

You can read the full patch notes on the official forums, keeping in mind that this is a beta, so you may want to hold off unless you want to help test it and provide feedback, as it might introduce bugs and unwanted issues. The final version of the update should launch in a few days. 

Next, we hear news from Blackbird Simulations (formerly known as MilViz). The developer has decided to put on hold its ATR 42/72 project and take a wait-and-see stance until Microsoft releases its own designed by Hans Hartmann in March 2023. 

Below you can read the message shared by the developer with its reasoning.

I am aware that we've not been very open about what's happening with the 80-R.... And that means, well, it's time to spill the beans:

At this time, after having invested significant bucks, we've decided that, for the moment, we're putting the project on hold.

The reasons should be obvious but in case they're not... I'm listing them below:

1) MS/Hans Hartmann are doing one and no matter what our price is, they can beat it. Hands down and super easy. No matter the quality level of either, we'd never be able to compete in the same space.

2) Spending another year on the project would've cost a huge amount of money that we'd never see. (again, see 1).

3) Halfway through development, we realized that the 3D model was unacceptable in terms of quality (look/feel) so we junked it and started again. Though we had finished modelling, painting had not yet commenced. It would take another 20-30K and 4-6 months to get it done. All the while, MS is doing theirs.

4) When the MS/Hans version comes out, we will assess and revisit this. For now though, we've decided to put a hold on this till theirs is out.

We know you all were all looking forward to this, and we hate to bring you this disappointment, but we have to make decisions that best fit our business.

 An interesting reveal comes from a new developer named NetDesign, who showcased its upcoming Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airpor (DAAT) serving Tamanrasset in Algeria. This airport in the south of the country hosts a number of airline flights and a military air base that houses the Sukhoi Su-30MK fighters of the 123rd Air Defense Squadron.

The airport is finished and should be released soon. In the meanwhile, you can catch a trailer below.

Pacific Island simulations released a single screenshot of Salt Lake City International Airport (KSLC), which has been in the works for a while. 

Microsoft Flight Simulator Salt Lake City

Last, but not least, we get two more images of the C-160 Transall vintage military transport by AzurPoly, showing details of the flight deck. 

C160 Transall Microsoft Flight Simulator

C160 Transall Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is currently available for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, including Game Pass. If you'd like to learn more, you should stay tuned on TechRaptor as we host daily Microsoft Flight Simulator news to keep you updated on the many add-ons coming and released for the sim. 

 

Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net


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More Info About This Game
Learn more about Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)
Developer
Asobo Studio
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release Date
August 18, 2020 (Calendar)
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