PMDG’s Robert Randazzo has taken to the PMDG Forums to announce upcoming changes to their development visions and announced the release week of their anticipated third Boeing 777 variant release for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024.
The Release of 777-200ER
The Boeing 777-200ER by PMDG is going to be released between the 16th of April and the 29th of April. In this package, PMDG promises to give virtual pilots three different engine variants, each with custom simulated behaviours, engine models and sounds. Speaking of sounds, this is going to be the first package to introduce PMDG’s modern sound system, further enhancing the experience.
This will also mark the first official release of a PMDG plane for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. In a single purchase, customers will have access to both the 2020 and 2024 versions of the aircraft. On the release, this aircraft is also going to include around 30 custom liveries, and is going to be the first aircraft to be installed via the new PMDG Operations Center v3, leaving behind installers and licence keys.
The Future of PMDG Products
Since January, PMDG’s main focus is to bring all their products to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and as the team has learned that the two major simulator platforms are vastly different from each other, it is not going to be sustainable to develop aircraft for both the 2024 and 2020 variants of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Thus, PMDG’s last aircraft to be released for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is the Boeing 777 Series, ending with the 777-200ER. The 747 Series is only going to be available for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Speaking of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, the team is currently working on bringing the Boeing 777 Series for this platform. With the 200ER releasing some time next week, the 777 Freighter should follow next, together with the 777-300ER, sometime between mid to late May, and the 777-200LR in late May to early June. The DC-6 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is going to be released in early May, and the 737NG Series release is yet to be disclosed.
What About the 737 Series?
The 737 Series is going to get special treatment from the PMDG team. The conversion to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will begin once the 777 Series is complete. Robert Randazzo promises that the 737 is going to be fully rebuilt for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and this version is not going to come to the previous simulator version.
The 737 will get new, updated models, sounds, systems, more efficient software infrastructure, basically everything you can think of is going to be new. However, this version of the 737 Series is also going to require a new purchase. Those who already own the 737 Series will be eligible for a discount, on the other hand.
Bad News for Prepar3D Users
Lastly, PMDG has announced the end of support for Prepar3D. This might be due to small demand from the community, and the fact that the team now solely focuses on development for modern Microsoft platforms. PMDG hasn’t released any new aircraft or updates for their Prepar3D products for almost five years, so this decision was just a matter of time.
For the small portion of Prepar3D users, this essentially means that no support is going to be provided, and no updates are going to be officially released for the aircraft. If needed, those who own these products will be able to download and install them normally from their eCommerce profiles, and use a narrowed-down version of PMDG Operations Center v2, which is only going to be capable of installing 3rd party liveries.
If you would like to read more about PMDG, make sure to check out our coverage of the recently enrolled PMDG Operations Center v3 here.
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