Features that improve the quality of the experience in any sim are never as splashy as a new aircraft release but they help improve everything when they are added. Today we’ve got a new DCS World Weekend Update and its all about the features that the team are working on for DCS World right now. Several of those updates will have a reasonably profound impact on the sim and how we experience it… like mid-flight save games. Yeah! Let’s dig into it!
Vulkan news
We’ve got some Vulkan news. Vulkan is, as a refresher, a graphics API that Eagle Dynamics have been working to implement as a replacement to DirectX. According to the update, multi-threading support (that came out this last year) was a necessary step before moving over to Vulkan.
The update goes on to say that they are working adapt DCS World to use this API while also mentioning that they will continue to optimize the engine as it is running now with DirectX11 with goals for both 2D and VR performance. We’ve seen some strides this past year so it’ll be interesting to see where they can take it in the immediate future and then later on with Vulkan.
Core support
Let’s get through some of the usual updates first before diving into some significant ones. Eagle Dynamics are working away on a bunch of different core updates that include new landing gear physics (the Mosquito has already been mentioned as a testbed), improved air traffic control, more refined air to air missile modeling (the R-27 and R-73 are up for improvements together with DCS: MiG-29), refined infantry movement, voice chat improvements, improved electronic warfare, and graphical improvements.
Now on to some of the big ones and I start with save game features. Eagle Dynamics are announcing that they are working on a new “game persistence system” with the ability to save a flight mid-mission and then return to it later on. This is a big thing that I can’t wait to see implemented as lengthy flights are sometimes desirable but real life prevents you from doing the whole thing in one sitting.
Replay system update. Some of our cries have been heard here. DCS World’s track system is notoriously unreliable diverging from actual gameplay events sometimes immediately and sometimes after hours of gameplay. The original was designed as a debug tool but the new one will be an honest to goodness replay system. It’s in development for 2024.
Weather will also apparently be a focus for 2024 with new and improved effects. An updated fog system and tower clouds are both mentioned.
New naval, ground and air units. This is an interesting one and it may finally give us a clue towards an answer on why the recently released S-3, B-1B and B-52 models were of somewhat average quality. Here’s what they said.
New units will be available in 2024 that will range from World War II to modern day. Each unit requires thousands of man-hours to create and will be provided as optional packs at their highest levels of detail. Standard versions will also be available for free to ensure both single-player and multiplayer compatibility for all.
My initial reaction is that I didn’t particularly love this. It means that additional asset packs are likely to appear in the DCS store at some point. On the other side of the coin, this is a potentially a more reasonable and workable system than the current WWII asset pack system which you either have and can use or you don’t have and can’t use – making for a lot of complexity in single and multiplayer scenarios.
Module support
Another area that Eagle Dynamics is laying out some core functionality updates is systems that surround modules as well as module development.
Going through the list, Eagle Dynamics talk about phase three of their radar systems improvements with better STT simulation, false target generation, and more realistic look-down radar effects. Modern aircraft will also be receiving the same attention to bomb fuzing that WWII modules currently have.
A big one on the list is the DTC – Data Transfer Card.
For each aircraft, the DTC consists of a variety of areas that are first modeled such as datalink, navigation, radio, weapons, sensors, and more. Once these elements are completed, they will be organized into a unified DTC interface.
If done right, this feature will be a gamechanger for DCS World with a hopefully more accessible and unified interface that will make setting up multiplayer (and single player) sorties easier to do and pre-loading the jet with all kinds of presets saving minutes and ultimately hours of having to reset aircraft settings.
Then we have talk about the modules themselves with the F-16C getting the Sniper Pod in 2024, a new first perspective pilot model, new HUD symbology and RWR tones.
The F/A-18C is also getting something of an overhaul with updated flight model and flight control system, landing gear physics, and improved exterior lighting – that last one is apparently being used to test a whole new lighting system that will later be used on other modules.
AH-64D is getting updates too with new modes such as LINK, additional radar modes, and new George commands. Also… a campaign!
Mosquito will also see work this year with new AI crew members and a Drift recorder.
Other modules and maps are also set to receive updates as well we’re told.
Winter sale and end
That’s quite a bit to talk about and digest but all ultimately good items on the horizon for DCS World. Check out the DCS World Weekend News for even more DCS World coverage.
Eagle Dynamics is also reminding us that we have until the 14th of January at 15:00 GMT to take part in the winter sale. The reminder even gets its own video. The e-Shop is right over here.
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