It’s been a while since we last heard from Majestic Software regarding their long-awaited Dash 8 Q400 for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Development updates for this project have been rare, and at times it’s felt like the aircraft had vanished into the virtual ether. But today, Majestic resurfaced with a brief yet welcome update—and a new set of visuals to prove that work is still ongoing.
The update, published in the official Majestic Software forums, confirms that the Q400 is still under active development for MSFS. While no in-sim screenshots were included, the team shared a series of detailed renders showing the aircraft’s exterior with particular attention to the engines and landing gear. According to the developers, these are “renders only” and not representative of the aircraft as it appears within the simulator.
“We will be providing MSFS screens when it is permissible to do so,” the team stated, implying that certain internal milestones or agreements may currently restrict what can be shown from within the sim.
This isn’t the first time Majestic has acknowledged the complex nature of bringing the Q400 to MSFS. In previous updates, the team explained that much of the work from their Prepar3D version couldn’t be ported directly. As a result, most of the visual assets—including the 3D model, animations, and displays—are being rebuilt from scratch to align with MSFS’s SDK and rendering systems. Only the system logic and some sound elements could be carried over.
Development has also faced a few setbacks. A key challenge emerged when their original 3D artist left the team, leading to delays in the completion of the model. However, Majestic has since reorganized and pushed ahead with new personnel and workflows.
We’ve also learned that the EFIS has been reworked, and the new version will include an integrated EFB with Navigraph Charts support. This functionality is expected to be available across both the MSFS and Prepar3D versions.
As for a release timeline, Majestic has consistently avoided making any promises. A 2025 release remains the earliest plausible window, though even that isn’t guaranteed. The developers have been cautious not to set expectations prematurely, choosing instead to post updates only when they have something concrete to share.
These latest renders serve as a quiet reassurance to long-time fans of the Majestic Q400: the project is still very much alive. It may not be flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator yet, but the propellers are turning behind the scenes!
We’ll keep an eye on further developments—and as soon as those long-awaited in-sim screenshots arrive, you’ll see them here.
