Laminar Research, the developer responsible for X-Plane, has recently made the new X-Plane 12.2.0 Beta version available to the public. With the objective of making X-Plane more immersive, realistic, and visually stunning, the developer emphasizes various improvements that have been made, such as cloud rendering, lighting, environmental effects, and graphics performance.
Dark Cockpit Fixes
The team has solved issues related to how aircraft interiors are rendered and visualized. Among the improvements, there is better exposure handling, as well as the sky brightness, which has been corrected.
Graphics Engine Improvements
The graphics engine has also been improved, leading to better performance and visuals. Texture loading and rendering are more efficient, leading to better overall performance. Additionally, lights have been broken down into tiles, which should result in better performance, especially at larger airports.
Cloud rendering has also received upgrades, as a small radius around the aircraft has been added, where clouds can be rendered with high quality. VRAM management has also been improved, reducing the chances of blurry textures or slow performance.
Graphics Improvements
The team has switched to a new system called AgX, which improves color accuracy, especially in bright and vibrant scenes. Moreover, sky colours are shown more naturally, thanks to careful fine-tuning.
Clouds & Lighting
Clouds now cast more detailed shadows, which is a huge improvement in the depth and realism of the sky. A new shaping algorithm has been implemented, which helps create more natural-looking cloud formations. When not directly lit, the density of the clouds causes scattering that results in dark edges. In direct light, edges will be white instead.
Cloud density and the Earth’s curvature are now considered, creating smooth gradients at sunrise and sunset when it comes to shadows created by clouds. Clouds now cast visible shadows on the atmosphere, just like in real life.
Airport/Scenery Enhancements
All airport ground textures have been upgraded, resulting in better visuals. Additionally, weather effects such as rain, puddles, and snow now appear on main roads. In terms of gateway airports, 846 were updated. The developer thanks the community for their contributions.
Deeper Simulation
The ATC system has been improved for smoother pattern flying, better VFR handling, and a more realistic pre-flight flow, as well as new options such as a new “request startup” call. Aircraft designers now have a new parking brake system to play with. This new system supports both hydraulic and mechanical locking methods, reflecting the variety of real-world aircraft implementations. Finally, wheel chocks have been introduced as an alternative to parking brakes, allowing for a more realistic way to secure an aircraft on the ground.
Closing Notes
If you would like to read the original release notes and instructions to test the new Beta version, you can do it here. If you would like to read more flight simulation news, do not hesitate to check out our main website.
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