Some big news for X-Plane fans as Laminar Research have just announced that they will be doing their own storefront for the sim. Let’s have a look at the announcement, the reaction, and some of the potential for this new development.
An official storefront
It’s perhaps a bit surprising to outsiders but X-Plane has never had its own storefront beyond offering a digital version of the X-Plane software itself. Things are changing, however, with this announcement with Laminar Research following in the footsteps of other sims on the market – notably Microsoft Flight Simulator in offering their own store or marketplace.
Revealed at the Montreal developer conference this weekend, Laminar Research is happy to announce that the X-Plane Store is coming to the platform!
A long-requested feature, the new storefront will provide X-Plane customers with a unique and seamless experience, and create an environment where the fabulous work of our community will be more accessible than ever before. Easy transactions, seamless installation, and DRM options for third-party authors – and it all happens directly in the app! We can’t wait to show you more in the coming months.
Coming 2024
X-Plane on Facebook
This move mimics Microsoft Flight Simulator but also DCS World and the IL-2 series in offering up an official store for X-Plane related products. Coming in 2024, follow-up comments on the Facebook announcement have confirmed that the storefront will be both in the sim and on an external website – offering the best of both worlds.
There will be a webpage, alongside a built-in application in X-Plane.
X-Plane on Facebook
Further, on X/Twitter the official X-Plane/Laminar account has reported that third parties will have options on built-in DRM measures and the like. At present various storefronts use a mishmash of different options but a built in system may offer a smoother experience than previously on offer.
The reaction and potential
Comments on Facebook, X/Twitter and on the X-Plane.org Forums are understandably mixed for a community that has stuck largely with what it knows for a long period of time without substantial shake-ups and this potentially has the chance to shake things up.
Some are lauding the change while simultaneously expressing frustration with the X-Plane.Org store and some of the practices there. Others are concerned that the built-in store will lead to a subscription model. That particular hasn’t typically happened with other online stores with other sims but there’s nonetheless the concern.
Not yet mentioned is which third parties might be signing up. Still, it looks like between this and some legitimate efforts by the official X-Plane accounts to boost third party developers and their products, it does appear that Laminar Research are looking to woo third parties to offer products for the sim and through their own built-in store.
It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out over the coming months as the feature is developed.
Stormbirds 
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