TFDi Design has shared a detailed end-of-year development update, outlining progress on its long-awaited MD-11 update, alongside news on smartCARS and a look toward the future.
MD-11 Progress Update
According to the team, the past year has been heavily focused on refining and enhancing almost every aspect of the MD-11. Significant work has been carried out across the entire product, including improved sound design, a completely rebuilt exterior model, major cabin reworks, and refined cockpit geometry and features. On the systems side, hundreds of fixes, changes, and additions have been implemented, with a strong emphasis placed on quality of life improvements requested by users.
Testers involved in the process have reportedly described the aircraft as feeling like a new product, with the development team aiming to meet or exceed the standards expected of current top tier add ons.
TFDi Design also confirmed that a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 native version, alongside a major art update, has already been distributed to Collector’s Edition customers. These users have opted into testing unfinished builds to help identify issues ahead of public release. While feedback has been largely positive, wider testing has highlighted some remaining issues that still need attention.
Although the update was originally planned for release around now, the team has decided to delay the launch until after the holiday period. This decision was made to allow additional time for testing across a wider range of hardware and use cases, ensuring a smoother experience on day one. The studio also noted the importance of giving team members time to rest after an intensive development push.
In the meantime, Collector’s Edition customers will continue working closely with the quality assurance team, while official media partners begin showcasing the upcoming update in their content.
smartCARS Update
Alongside aircraft development, the smartCARS team has also been preparing an update of its own. Several months of collaboration with partners and testers have focused on improving overall reliability and user experience. Planned improvements include better X-Plane connectivity, more reliable flight tracking, improved landing rate detection, and enhanced logging.
As with the MD-11, the short-term focus for smartCARS has shifted toward stability and reliability, with additional features and enhancements planned further down the line.
Looking Ahead
With active MD-11 development nearing completion and smartCARS reaching a more mature state, TFDi Design says it is now preparing to move forward with new projects. While details remain under wraps, the team confirmed that several plans are already in motion, with more to be shared next year.
The update also highlighted recent growth within the team, including new additions to the support staff and a returning developer. TFDi Design closed by thanking its community for their continued patience and support, describing the past year as an intense but rewarding period, and hinting that the year ahead will be an exciting one for the studio and its users.
