The next version of X-Plane 12 is promising to be a consequential update for the sim with visual improvements as a focus but also some other systems and flight model updates that will help to boost the capabilities of the sim. Let’s have a look!

Visual upgrades

The developer blog introducing the new features reports that 12.1.0 is primarily a graphics update though some other features are coming in as well. For the first time, X-Plane 12 will have cloud shadows on water. It’s also picking up bloom lighting effects, adapted sharpening (RCAS), softer ground shadows, MSAA improvements, improved CPU performance, better water transparency, and a new screenshot utility to control depth of field and exposure.

All of these visual updates speak to improving the visual fidelity of the sim but it also is important to note their efforts to improve CPU performance which they say will help decide what scenery the sim needs to be drawing and thus improving upon performance for CPU bound users.

Screenshots show off some of the visual effects.

There’s also new particle effects that are coming with the update. Sparks from pavement collisions, ground spray from aircraft wheels and engines, and brown/whiteouts from helicopters (or helicopter style aircraft).

Systems updates too

X-Plane’s G1000 implementation, used by quite a few first and third party projects, has fallen behind the state of the art these days so it’s good to see that Laminar Research have done some work to update this critical piece of aircraft systems.

The G1000 for X-Plane picks up ADS-B simulation, stormscope page, traffic map page, airport METAR flags, NDB + VOR pages, WAAS/Test Satellite Constellation, and a Boot-up Overlay. Synthetic vision is also in progress.

The update also makes it easier for third parties to do their own customization of the system for aircraft specific features. Many third parties already do this so making it easier can only mean good things for them and us end users.

Separately a glass avionics plugin will also make it easier for developers to add their own glass panel avionics. Also good news.

The STEC ST-350 autopilot is getting added to X-Plane as well.

New camera functionality

The release update or a patch shortly after will offer something called a “physics-based camera” where the in-cockpit view will move the camera around based on the acceleration of the aircraft.

The inspiration, they claim, comes from Austin watching a video of an A330 on takeoff roll though more likely is inspiration from competitors that have had this feature for years. XPRealistic has had a motion based camera system for years too so its not even an unknown feature in X-Plane. DCS and IL-2 series have had such a feature for a decade or more.

ATC, flight model updates

There are some other updates planned for 12.1.0 with a new “Real Weather Server” which will apparently solve the issues with their old weather server. The systems will also see better METAR parsing with less random rain and more bug fixes for odd-looking weather data. Hopefully that will mean fewer inverted pyramids (which I spotted on a recent X-Plane flight) and other oddities.

Flight model updates as well as manual flap system and dial a flap functionality, electric clutches for helicopters, and a single level control for turboprops (if equipped). All things to help third parties develop better aircraft. Love to see it!

There’s also unspecified updates to the ATC.

All coming soon

The shipping version of 12.1.0 is not yet here and but it is due soon according to the update.

This is looking like a very good update with a few performance improvements, a substantial list of graphics improvements, and some notable systems updates too. X-Plane 12 has struggled to combat its closest competitor in a variety of ways since 2020 and I see this update as aimed directly at improving X-Plane 12’s viability to both end users and developers – both which are key to supporting the sim in the future.

These updates plus their own built in marketplace will hopefully keep X-Plane 12 as not just another sim competitor but a strong competitor in the space. The competition between civil aviation sims is hopefully leading towards better products for all of us and I love to see the work here on display.

I do hope that a future update helps to move the needle forward in a substantial way for X-Plane 12’s biggest issue – scenery. No mention of any work on that in this update but one would assume that something is in the works somewhere.

Check out the full update right over here.