“Hey, still workin on stuff, gonna be a bit, just sit tight.”

We have a number of exciting deliverables planned for November so let’s get right to the updates!

TECH ALPHA 1

For those of you that were selected to participate in testing Tech Alpha 1, a quick reminder that you should expect all updates related to Tech Alpha will be sent via email. Expect the next email update on 11.10.

BUILD PROGRAM

TECH ALPHA 2 RECRUITMENT IS NOW OPEN!

• If you’re interested in registering for a chance to participate, please go here 
• If you registered for Tech Alpha 1, we’ve automatically registered you for Tech Alpha 2.
• We expect to provide an update on the timeline for Tech Alpha 2 in the next few weeks.

FEATURE DISCOVERY SERIES

We are excited to announce the official release dates for Episodes 3 and 4!

• 11.21 – Episode 3 (Aerodynamics) release
• 11.28 – Episode 4 (Cockpits) release

SOMETHING EXCITING IS COMING…

The team is excited to announce we will be attending the upcoming X019 in London November 14^th – 16^th. For more information regarding the event – https://www.xbox.com/en-US/x019

MEDIA UPDATE

We’ve posted some new screenshots, head into the Insider Area to check them out!

Lots of exciting things ahead, some much closer than you think.

Next update – 11.14!

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Keeping the update brief this week as the team prepares for many exciting deliverables we’ve planned for November!

BUILD PROGRAM

• Tech Alpha 2 recruitment will open November 7^th.
• If you registered for Tech Alpha 1, we’ve automatically registered you for Tech Alpha 2.
• We are targeting mid-November to provide a timeline for Tech Alpha 2 release/availability.

FEATURE DISCOVERY SERIES

Another heartfelt thank you to the community for all of the amazing feedback we received regarding Episode 2 in our Feature Discovery series! The community response to the first two episodes has been incredibly valuable to the team and our development effort.

• Episode 3 – Planned release is still on track for mid-November.
• Episode 4 – Planned release is still on track for end-November.
• Expect final dates for release in our next update (11.07).  

OFFICIAL SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS

We’d like to confirm that we do have official MSFS social media channels for those of you interested:

• https://www.facebook.com/MIcrosoftFlightSimulatorOfficial
• https://twitter.com/MSFSofficial
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqONzeACDBaF6FfKjh7ndAQ/featured?view_as=subscriber

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Halloween!

Next update – 11.07.

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

‘TWAS THE DAY OF TECH ALPHA AND ALL THROUGH LAST NIGHT, NOT ALL EMAILS FINISHED SENDING YET, SO EVERYONE HOLD TIGHT.

As we complete our notification process for those selected to participate in our first Tech Alpha, the team would like to provide some additional information regarding participation.

• One of our primary goals for the Build Program is to get everyone interested in early build testing, actually testing early builds.
• Though we have limited participation numbers in our first build release, we are actively working to scale participation numbers for future releases.
• If you were not selected for participation in this round, fear not, we’ve automatically registered you for the next build release.
• So while you may not have been selected for participation in the first Tech Alpha, please know that we are actively working to get as many people into the testing process, as quickly as possible.

EPISODE 2 HAS BEEN RELEASED!

We are pleased to announce the second episode in our Feature Discovery Series has been released! Recently presented at the Global Preview Event, Episode 2 (WEATHER) features a detailed look at the world we fly in, and the importance of this world in the next generation of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Head into the Insider Area to watch Episode 2!

TECH ALPHA

• 10.24 – On the 24^th, we will begin the process rolling out access to the Tech Alpha. So if you are wondering WHEN build access will be provided, it will start on the 24^th.
• 10.31 – Update on Tech Alpha 2 recruitment opening.

DR UPDATE GENERAL RELEASE

 Next update 10.31!

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

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THANK YOU

On behalf of the entire Microsoft Flight Simulator Team, we’d like to express our sincere appreciation to the community for all the valuable feedback we’ve received from the community on the first episode of the Feature Discovery Series. Though this is only our first step in our collaboration with you, the importance of this step to the team cannot be overstated. For all the feedback, all the effort spent writing comments, asking questions, daring to hold out hope when the past has been littered with unmet expectations. We hear you, and we are going to do our best to keep building this experience with you. In the meantime, thank you. It’s been a great boost to the team reading all the feedback from Lionel’s presentation on the world we’re building, which is big, in case you missed that.

EPISODE 2

On October 24^th we are releasing the next episode in our Feature Discovery Series. Episode 2 (SKY) features a detailed look at the world we fly in, and the importance of this world in the simulator we are building. 

TECH ALPHA

• 10.15 – Recruitment for Tech Alpha 1 is now closed. Thank you to everyone that signed up for our upcoming Tech Alpha build!
• 10.17 – Starting today and continuing through the 24^th, we will be sending out notifications to those Insiders that have been selected for participation in our first Tech Alpha.
• 10.24 – On the 24^th, we will begin the process rolling out access to the Tech Alpha. So if you are wondering WHEN build access will be provided, it will start on the 24^th.

DR UPDATE (PREVIEW FOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER)

The DR (formerly DRR) preview for November/December is now available in the Insider Area! 

PARTNER ANNOUNCEMENT SERIES KICKOFF

We are in the final stages of preparing to release our first series of announcements as part of our Partnership Announcement Series. While we are still working on wrapping up the final few details, we are targeting mid-November for officially kicking off this series which will provide insight into all the amazing partnerships taking part in the development of the next generation of Microsoft Flight Simulator. 

Tech Alpha is almost here!

Next update 10.24.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

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DELIVERING THE DELIVERABLES WE SAID WOULD BE DELIVERED DURING THE DELIVERY OF UPDATES

 We are pleased to announce that the first episode of our Feature Discovery Series has been released! Recently presented at the Global Preview Event, Episode 1 (World) is an in-depth look at the world we’re building for the next generation of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Head into the Insider Area to watch Episode 1!

FEEDBACK PIPELINE

 TLDR  – There is a Feedback Dashboard. The dashboard contains a summary of all feedback we collect from community discussions on a daily basis. Feedback is triaged, prioritized, and assigned a plan of action. We will provide the output of this pipeline to the community in a document tentatively called the “Feedback Snapshot” on a regular basis.

 There has been an incredible amount feedback from the press coverage of our recent Global Preview Event. This feedback, along with all feedback we’ve been collecting, is critically important to the team to ensure the voice of the community is being put into action through a collaborative and transparent process (i.e. use the Feedback Snapshot to give the community transparency into the feedback we’re prioritizing for action). Features like ATC, Seasons, VR, Rotorcraft, SDK, etc. can be found in the Feedback Snapshot along with our current plan for next steps and timelines for resolution. The Feedback Snapshot will be released at regular intervals and we will announce the date for our first preview release in our next update.

TECH ALPHA

•  10.15 – Recruitment for Tech Alpha 1 ends. If you would like to sign up, please head into the Insider Area and fill out the survey.
• 10.17 – Build release preparation begins. Insider acceptance confirmation communication begins and will run through 10.24.
• 10.24 – Release Window Opens. We will begin granting access to the Tech Alpha build to Insiders that have received acceptance confirmation.

BUILD PROGRAM UPDATE

 We are currently targeting mid/end November for our second build release (Tech Alpha 2). We expect to open recruitment for Tech Alpha 2 closer to the end of October but expect a final date in our 10.17 update.

DR Update and Episode 2 information coming next update.

Next update 10.17.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

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Redmond Washington – Today, we have reached another critical milestone in our development. On September 19th and 20th, Microsoft hosted a small number of press and community representatives at the Rainier Flight Service in Renton Washington to attend the Global Preview Event for the next evolution of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

The team was honored and humbled to share our passion for flight with attendees from around the world. From taking actual flights in Cessna 172s to sitting down and spending a few hours playing our pre-alpha build, the entire event was a magical opportunity to sit down and talk in detail about the development and product.

The Global Preview Event also marks the next step in our communication with the community regarding more granular product details. The team gave technical presentations on four important topics during the event:

1. World
2. Sky
3. Aerodynamics
4. Cockpits

Starting today, you’ll get to see and hear the reactions from those in attendance. Starting in October, these presentations will be delivered to the community as part of our Feature Discovery Series.

Since our introduction at E3, it’s been an incredible journey. The engagement by the community and support we’ve received from flight simulation fans around the world, has been truly amazing. Today we embark on our next phase of development and look forward to a new level of collaboration and communication with the community!

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

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“Et tu, Connor?”

The team is incredibly excited to officially kickoff our Feature Discovery Series with a preview of Episode 1 (World), posted in the Insider Area. In this series we will be covering the core features in attempt to answer many of the most discussed topics throughout the community.

We’re also delivering an updated DR outlining our October deliverables. Insiders should expect a DR update within the next few weeks that will provide a preview of our November deliverables.

A note on deliverables – we’re moving the Feedback Pipeline overview deliverable to our next post coming early October. This will allow us to allocate more update space to this deliverable to provide greater detail.

Finally, as we bring September to a close the entire team would like to thank everyone out there patiently waiting for more granular information on the next iteration of Microsoft Flight Simulator. The information you seek, is much closer than you think.

Next development update – Early October!

Sincerely,

 Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

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The grass is always greener…
especially when it’s procedurally generated.

Tech Alpha Timeline

• October 10: Release testing complete. Lock final delivery schedule.
• October 17: Build release preparation.
• October 24: Release window opens.

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QUIT STALLING!

Apologies to those folks living outside the PST time zone. We’re trying to improve the timing of our posts and clearly we’ve got more work to do but we’ll get there… eventually. We’re not stalling, we swear it.

TECH ALPHA RECRUITING IS NOW OPEN!  HEAD INTO THE INSIDER AREA.

If you’re interested in participating in the upcoming Tech Alpha release, please make sure to sign into the Insider Area and follow the registration link.

On September 19^th, we will be releasing more information on the Tech Alpha build goals and release timeline.

On September 26^th, we will be releasing the preview for our Feature Discovery Series.

A preview release of version #1.10DRR of the Development Roadmap has been posted in the Insider Area. We’ve added dates for October and will be adding November deliverables over the next few weeks. So expect another rev of the Development Roadmap by the end of September.

Next update September 19th.

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

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Wandering into the grass of irrelevancy attempting to flush out the rodents of inaccuracy in order to bring you the “real news”.  

As we bring August to a close, the team wanted to provide a few quick updates and some new content.

• Development Roadmap – General release of the DR is here! We’ve added a few updates for September to improve clarity.
• Web Post Timing – For those of you ”across the pond” and in time zones not “PST” – we are working to deliver our updates earlier in the day. So look for earlier post times starting in September.  
• Build Program Update – Tech Alpha sign-up starts September 12^th!
• Feature Discovery Series – The Feature Discovery Series (preview in September, launch in October) is our deep dive into the areas of the simulation, driven by a number of threads we’ve seen across the forums we follow closely. We are on track to provide a preview at the end of September and the kickoff of the series in early October.
• Media Update – We posted (2) Screenshots and (3) clips from early 2019 builds. Head into the Insider Area to check out the goods!

Next update coming September 12^th!

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team

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