Some DCS World news coming to us via the latest DCS World Weekend News update as well as from some developments during the week. Matt Wagner released two new videos showing off upcoming open beta features for the AH-64D, there’s an update on voice chat features, a new Black Shark 3 campaign is coming to us soon, and we’ve got a new video showing off the DCS: Mirage F-1BE’s back seat in VR. Let’s go!

New voice chat features

Eagle Dynamics have been busy building in a voice chat capability into DCS World for quite some time now. Although SRS, a third party system, is still often the defacto standard, Eagle Dynamics keeps on putting in new features to their system which looks set to bring in some interesting immersion that we’ve not seen before.

Replicating radio effects seem to be a focus with real audio physics now being incorporated to modulate voices. Distortions, signal loss, and interference are simulated. These effects will vary based on the era of the radio and the airplane – warbirds will be different than modern jet fighters.

ED report that the system will be rolled out to all other DCS modules starting with the Airboss for DCS: Supercarrier. An external application is also being worked on so that you can communicate with units in multiplayer without running the sim – key for some GCI setups.

Black Shark MAD campaign

Black Shark 3 fans have a new campaign coming up. The DCS: MAD Black Shark Campaign by Stone Sky puts you into the DCS: Persian Gulf map featuring 12 narrative missions with English and Russian localization. The story puts you into a civil war scenario and has you flying the Ka-50 Black Shark 3 from an aircraft carrier and conducting missions with special forces as well as doing CAS and CSAR missions.

Multiplayer is a feature for this campaign as well.

New AH-64 features in video

Matt Wagner has been busy this week again posting a couple of videos talking up some new features for the DCS: AH-64D.

The first video surroundings datalink messaging covering the ability of the AH-64D to send messages through the datalink.

Its not just datalinks because there’s also a new laser warning system that is coming soon. This should give the AH-64D some warning when laser guided systems are targeting the helicopter.

Back seat of the Mirage F1BE

Aerges and Ismael Jorda are showing off the back seat of the Mirage F1BE. Its a mostly calm cinematic flight but it does show off the cockpit in VR mode complete with the HUD repeater in the back seat position.