Developer HighSkyTech has released a brand new commercial product called xAmbience. xAmbience is a powerful new environmental application which includes atmospheric effects, new cloud rendering effects and, most excitingly, a seasonal ground texture engine. X-Plane 11, by default, doesn’t have any seasonal variation regardless of time of year – so this adds a level of immersion for the user.
For the cloud effects, xAmbience enables a custom cloud draw and lighting model, which will change depending on the time and real weather situation within the sim. Further to this, clouds form realistic and there are 10 new cloud textures installed with the plugin. As for the atmospheric effects, the product contains 16 new sky colours with custom lightning effects and advanced fog implementation.
As mentioned, it also includes a comprehensive seasonal change engine, which changes automatically depending on weather and time of year. It also includes snow effects.
The product itself is available standalone but is compatible with FSGRW and Active Sky XP. It is fully compatible with VR and the developer says it has minimal impact on performance.
You can buy xAmbience now from the X-Plane.org store for $34.95.
Full feature list
Main:
- Custom clouds with many rendering logic and blending
- Custom atmosphere rendering
- Water system rendering
- Advanced plugin controls
- 20+ sliders for control full x-plane global sphere.
- Simulate true visibility effects and haze effects
- Seasonal ground textures with advanced auto-change mode.
Clouds:
- Custom visibility rendering
- Advanced atmosphere rendering
- Algorithmic Sky rendering model with custom controls
- Sphere saturation control
- 16 sky colors with custom lightning effects
- Advanced fog implementation with 3d effects
- Sky city lights effects
Atmosphere:
- Custom clouds with many rendering logic and blending
- Custom atmosphere rendering
- Water system rendering
- Advanced plugin controls
- 20+ sliders for control full x-plane global sphere.
- Simulate true visibility effects and haze effects
- Seasonal ground textures with advanced auto-change mode.
Water:
- Custom lightness
- Custom post processing effects
- Custom cockpit shadow effects with immersive effects
- Shadow intensity controls
- Seasons implementation
- Snow effects
Other:
- Custom lightness
- Custom post processing effects
- Custom cockpit shadow effects with immersive effects
- Shadow intensity controls
- Seasons implementation
- Snow effects