Robert Randazzo has shared more information about PMDG’s products and compatibility for the upcoming MSFS 2024. The statement shares current compatibility expectations, future development and a brief update on the Boeing 777.
To begin with, Randazzo shares that the team has been answering questions from Microsoft in an effort that is hopefully to make sure that PMDG’s existing product line will be compatible on day one. However, he does note that the PMDG development team has so far not been able to “prove cross-compatibility”. This means that, while testing is ongoing, day-one compatibility for MSFS 2024 is not certain. The PMDG team has a plan ready to address issues that appear.
Upgrade Plans
Randazzo breaks down the three categories that PMDG’s product will be broken down into. These categories are MSFS2020 Only, MSFS2020/24 Compatible and MSFS2024 Only. He also shared that as it stands, PMDG can fit all their existing products in the MSFS2020/24 Compatible category. This category is for products built for MSFS 2020, but compatible with 2024 without changes.
Some of the recently announced products in the PMDG line-up, such as the 747-400 and the 747 Classic Whale, will be in the MSFS2024 Only category. This means that these products will only be developed for MSFS 2024.
Furthermore, Randazzo shared that PMDG has been evaluating the new features of MSFS 2024. This process is still on-going, but the developer shared some excitement to bring some of the new features over to their product line, without elaborating what features specifically. With that in mind, Randazzo shared that there might be upgrade pricing involved for these new features in PMDG’s existing product line-up. The Boeing 737 for MSFS line-up will receive a significant upgrade for MSFS 2024, and there will be a “modest” charge for the upgrade, which “will not be a ‘new version purchase’ if you already own the 2020 version”. As for the 777-300ER, a MSFS 2024 upgraded version will be made available, and the team does not yet know if there will be an upgrade price. If there will be, it “will be quite small”. The DC-6 Cloudmaster will not be updated with MSFS 2024 features.
Robert concluded with a separate update regarding the Boeing 777F, which was originally set to release back in August. The developer decided to push back this release, as internal delays caused the plane’s release window to coincide with the MSFS 2024 release and marketing. Furthermore, Randazzo wanted to ensure that the 777F could be made compatible with the upcoming simulator. The 777F will be rebuilt with the MSFS 2024 SDK, and the team does not yet know how much work will be involved with that. This might also mean that the 777F will not be released for MSFS 2020 at all, but Randazzo gave no definitive statement on that.
