Following on PMDG’s Boeing 777 status update, Robert Randazzo made a separate announcement regarding some of PMDG’s other ongoing development efforts.
MSFS 2024
To begin with, PMDG is committed to bringing the current product line-up into MSFS 2024. While the developer does not have access to an early version or SDK, Randazzo does anticipate that some work will be required before the full line-up will be available in MSFS 2024. The current line-up of PMDG consist of the Douglas DC-6, Boeing 737 and Boeing 777.
When it comes to adding new features exclusive to MSFS 2024, such as the new walk-around and career mode features Microsoft has been demonstrating, PMDG will assess these on a case-by-case basis. Randazzo states that “an economic/development-cost assessment will be made once we actually have the platform in hand.” Furthermore, the initial focus will be to make PMDG’s product line-up available in MSFS 2024, without adding any of these additional features at first.
777-200LR & 200ER
While Randazzo commented on the 777-300ER and the 777F in his previous post, he shared a bit more information about the 777-200LR and 200ER in this separate development update. PMDG is currently anticipating a schedule for the 777-200LR and hopes to see it released before the end of the year. Upon release, it’s PMDG’s aim to release the aircraft in parallel for MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024. The time-line of this release might slip a bit though, as the current estimate does not take additional MSFS 2024 development into account.
As for the 777-200ER, this project is “similarly affected by the three higher priorities”, and more information will be provided as PMDG gets a clearer picture.
737 MAX
The highly anticipated Boeing 737 MAX for MSFS by PMDG might leave simmers waiting for a little while longer. Randazzo shared that PMDG’s “Enterprise Division” has taken on work for a large, commercial aircraft manufacturer that has a high priority for the developer. This new enterprise division work has left the 737 MAX deprioritised for the time being. Randazzo did hint that success in this enterprise project might play a big factor in a project they would like to do after the 747 is completed, but did not mention any specifics. Once the enterprise project work is wrapped up, the developer will work on bringing back resources to continue the 737 MAX for MSFS.
747
PMDG has been working on the 747 for MSFS for nearly a year now, and this work continues steadily. Randazzo is hopeful to see a first (internal) version of the aircraft before the release of MSFS 2024, after which the developer will begin working on animating the flight deck, working on “software logic” and getting the plane ready for internal testing.
Randazzo commented on the amount of additional detail the team is packing into the 747 for MSFS, and that this will be the first aircraft built with fully customised 3D scanning from inside and outside of the aircraft, as well as using drone technology for the exterior surfaces.
While work is ongoing on the 747, with some hopeful information on a first internal version, the developer does not yet have a release date in mind for the Queen of the Skies.
Other Projects
Wrapping up the announcement post, Randazzo made some hints towards one of PMDG’s not-yet-revealed projects. Without sharing too much new information on this project, teased as the “BoeBusA3797”, we did get a new, close-up preview of the aircraft altimeter. The previous preview can be found here, and contained a close-up of some rivets.
