With all of the hype over the start of the DCS: F-4E Phantom II’s pre-order, it seems some folks may have been a little over excited about the when of this whole thing coming out. In a short post to the Heatblur Discord and a lengthier post on r/Hoggit, Cobra8472 from the Heatblur team has clarified their expected plans and release window for the F-4 project. I’m giving it a bit of a boost so everyone knows what the plan is. Let’s set expectations.
Waiting on the Phantom
Responding to a post on r/Hoggit, Cobra8472 from the Heatblur team has given us a reasonably lengthy yet clear post on what the Heatblur team are up to right now and what their release window means. When the F-4 pre-order began several weeks ago Heatblur were pretty clear that their window for release was anywhere from December of this year to March of 2024.
In my head I automatically assumed that a more likely release would be towards the March end of that window but I think a few saw December and started pinning their hopes on that. From what Heatblur are saying right now, December is not going to happen as they are still working out bugs and aiming for a quality release. Here’s what was said:
I just want to reiterate that we have announced Winter as our release window. Yes; this can indeed stretch to basically the end of March. We’re not doing it to be mean, or to false hype, or create unnecessary stress on ourselves – we just need to have a broader window so we know that we can try to put the quality of the product as the #1 thing. In the end, everything else is secondary. Some of the stuff we’re doing is the hardest and toughest stuff we’ve ever done, e.g. Jester v2 and making him fully scriptable. We just have to try and hope that in the long run, it will matter and you will think it has been worth it too.
I’d also like to just note that keep in mind that we as people, developers, enthusiasts and a company that needs to release products and stay in business – are incentivized to get it to you as soon as possible. There is no reality in which we are better off by releasing later, or delaying, or causing you pain or annoyance. In fact, I’d argue that we are the ones that are most incentivized to release as soon as possible – for our own mental health, finances and excitement about wrapping up the F-14 and what lies beyond.
We operate at a loss currently, meaning that not only do we draw your ire by pushing towards the tail end of our window, but we also continue to accrue risk. But in the end- again- the product is what matters and I don’t ever want to be in a position where I’m ashamed to launch something.
Cobra8472 on r/Hoggit
Patience is a virtue
It is interesting how challenging the finances are at the moment with the Cobra indicating that operating at a loss the way they are right now brings risk. Obviously, opening pre-orders helps but releasing the product itself will bring far more in the way of sales.
Heatblur have done some incredible work with the DCS: AJS-37 Viggen and with the DCS: F-14 Tomcat. This team have gone through extraordinary effort to bring us two incredible DCS World modules so far and their work on the F-14 in particular pushed the whole of the sim forward introducing ideas and artwork that I can say without hyperbole are industry leading. It looks like the F-4 Phantom will offer more of the same and I hope that positions Heatblur well for the future.
Good things tend to come to those who wait and patience is a virtue – sayings you’ve probably all heard before. The F-14 was a long wait as well but so worth it in the end and I think we’ll see a repeat with the F-4. Just a few more months!
Stormbirds 
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