Developers struggle with Sim Update V: Aerosoft cancels Simple Traffic, FlyByWire removes A32NX from Marketplace
To say that the latest Flight Simulator Sim Update is polarising is an understatement. It has resurfaced the worst that the flight simulation community has to offer: bitterness, ingratitude, insults… total disregard for what has been done. It seems many have forgotten about the great things of Flight Simulator because of a rougher-than-usual update. Folks, remember: Asobo and Microsoft have been extraordinarily communicative and honest about their work, constantly seeking user feedback to improve the experience, and there’s no reason to expect the contrary after the crazy last few days.
Obviously, if you’re not experiencing any issues after Sim Update V (SU5), you’re probably totally oblivious about what I’m talking about. That’s a good thing! It means you’re not spending your time reading the dumpster fire that flight simulation forums have become in the last few days. A poll on AVSIM indicates that around 50% of MSFS users are happy, but the other half is definitely very vocal. Obviously, issues can’t be ignored on a product that you’ve bought, but please be patient and let the hard-working people on the Flight Simulator team fix them. It’s happening right now and I’m sure they are losing their sleep to fix things.
While the simulator stabilizes during these days and after the stream of patches that will certainly be released in the near future (a hotfix was already made available), the truth is that those struggling after SU5 will have to adapt. This is true for pilots but also for developers, and we’ve seen a few of them going through some difficulties after the update. Many had to quickly update their products to make them compatible, while others face harder circumstances.
Aerosoft, for instance, has revealed this weekend that one of its newer products, the recently announced Simple Traffic, has now been put on hold. It aimed to do two simple things: to show correct AI traffic liveries and to improve performance, but this simplicity didn’t stop SU5 from breaking the possibility of having this work in MSFS. According to Mathijs Kok, SU5 “wrecked this project as it changed the AI traffic and encrypted the files we were depending on. So at this moment this project is dead.“
Unfortunate news indeed, but the team isn’t giving up. They are currently studying other ways to implement this functionality, but they need MSFS to stabilise, so this could take a while. For now, Simple Traffic is canceled, but hopefully we will hear more news soon about a possible alternative from Aerosoft.
Another very popular add-on that is seeing major issues is the A32NX by FlyByWire. Users of the stable release, the one that is available through the MSFS Marketplace, have faced numerous crashes, so much so that FlyByWire took the drastic action of temporarily removing the A32NX from the Marketplace. Until further notice, the team is recommending the installation of the experimental version, which is available from the Installer.
Many other developers are scrambling to update their products to support SU5, so it’s absolutely crucial that you check if there’s any update available for the add-ons that you’re currently using. Remember, if your simulator is crashing, temporarily move all the contents of your Community folder to a new location, and then slowly put them back up. You may be experiencing CTD’s because of a bad livery, for example, so it’s very important to keep this in mind.
I’m hopeful that things will calm down, new updates will be issued, problems will be fixed and, eventually, everyone will be happy. I know, I’m an optimist, and knowing how committed Asobo and Microsoft are to Flight Simulator, I’m absolutely sure that everything will be great again for (mostly) everyone. For now, let’s all please be patient. If things are not working out for you, just go for a walk, turn off simming for a few days, let things settle down. This is a hobby after all, one that should bring joy to us all. Let’s let people work and soon it will all be behind our backs.
Andres Fernando Alvarado Garzon
Good morning, Do you have news about the problem with the thrustmaster airbus quadrant under te update 5 and some kind of solution with the engine 1 starter?. thanks.
Mike
I totally disagree with your opinion the simulator was working fine it looked great yes it was taxing on the pc but it worked. A performance update was promised and I did not read one thing that stated that performance update would come at a cost . This Simulator is not the same sim it was before su5 . Apparently asobo Clearly thinks Xbox is more important then pc since they have literally made the game unusable with all the things that made this special compared to xplane live weather and traffic cause ctd and now alot if the add on airports I spent money for do not load and ctd. Yes I do have faith the game will soon return to its glory but I am Just frustrated a great sim was made into a huge ctd program and the hardware I spent money on unusable
Williamson
Good morning,
I partly agree on what you are saying and still believe in MSFS. (i mean, I fly already the flightsims since 1982 and have seen them all..and still use P3D and Xplane 11) So I totally understand what it takes all the updates and changes.
However, 1 important difference which you don’t mention and could solve so much troubles to everyone and read it as positive point of view; Just make it possible to duplicate (sandbox) the Flightsim.
I mean you can do this already for years with Xplane 11 and also with P3D. This saves so much troubles for the customer. From my experience, when the other 2 sims had an update, I run it first separate as copy, so when I get issues, I still have my normal running Simulator. This keeps me satisfied and more in control with no frustrating surprises. That is my experience from all years of flying with simulators. (and also from my profession as Business Consultant ICT when Microsoft Dynamics had updates, we (the company for who I did my work) always test it via sandbox before we update the Live version.)
With MSFS you don’t have a choice, they push the update and your SIM system is down if you are unlucky. Particularly for the people who spend a lot of money in Addons, subscriptions, etc. it is very frustrating. And for them it is not just a matter of keep your community folder empty and getting answers like it is probably a third party issue. You pay and invest money in addons, so expect to have them up and running, even when it is a hobby. So when you still can use your “stable” version before the update it doesn’t harm you that much, becaue you can still fly, while you wait in the next weeks/months until everything is fixed and then make the switch for yourself. (as what I do with Xplane 11) 🙂
I think this can keep the other 50% of flightsimmers more satisfied and less frustrated.
Just an idea 🙂
Andreas
Hello that´s easy……
https://discord.com/channels/738864299392630914/738864300818432023/871801047805468682
Do this I found in the FBW Discord
Quecksilber
The people seem to have lost all patience. MSFS is a very complex piece of software. Sim Update 5 was a milestone in the right direction. Yes i have some smaller issues with my PMS50 GTN750, wich i guess will be fixed in the next weeks. For my JustFlight Pipers, there is no update already, and you know what? They can have all the time they need, because i am sure all the small things can be fixed. It is the same like close after the initial release. The internet people behave like toddlers. And next everybody wonders why we only get dumbed down games that are made for kids and teenagers.
koord
As I have seen the 1.18.13.0 update I thought oh oh 13 lots of trouble. The could overgo the 13 and go right away to 14.
Ted Striker
Seriously, with everything that’s happened with this sim over the past year, I have a good notion to pull out my old PC and go fire up FS2004 for the time being until a time when all such issues have been resolved. This game is even getting blocked by my Firewall for crying out loud…
Zaki
Switched over to DCS, damn how good this shit is!
May coming back to msfs soon, when cts are patched. Sadly i put a lot cash into the sim and cant use it at this state