Every year for the last several years, Eagle Dynamics has surprised and entertained with their DCS World and Beyond video series. This year was no different with the release of a nearly 7-minute long cinematic showcase of the series complete with its confirmation of two new and previously unknown or very slightly hinted at modules. The F-35 was a complete surprise to me. Let’s break down the trailer and talk about what we’ve learned in both the video portion of the presentation as well as with some of the FAQs that have been released in the last few hours. This is going to be a long one so let’s go!
Video breakdown
Let’s start with a breakdown of DCS World 2025 and Beyond. Encourage you to watch the video for yourself to take in the cinematic experience and then come back and lets break down some of the things that we saw in the presentation.
I’m going to go mostly in order here so we’ll revisit some content time and again.
We start the trailer off with a stylized overview map featuring DCS World icons with a frontline marker, and flights of Su-33, Su-25T, and F/A-18Cs represented. The map is DCS: Caucasus. It seems likely that this is a nod towards DCS World’s long in development dynamic campaign but it may also be the more recently referenced new quick mission generator. Either way, featuring this up front seems to be a statement by ED that these gameplay features are important and we’ve been heard that this is an important feature – more than any module. I may be reading into that little much but I’m going with hope!
In addition to the map, we’ve also got a series of moody shots featuring a lot of ground warfare, some aerial shots of what looks like some new explosions and fire effects, and just generally lots of low light chaos. This again may be a nod to some upgrades to ground vehicles and enhancements for DCS: Combined Arms.
That initial section changes from gritty war movie into a much brighter one though no less action packed. Here we see the F6F Hellcat in a brief glimpse, we’ve got a lovely shot of Aerges Mirage F1, lots of M1 Abrams tanks looking extremely details, Heatblur’s F-14 Tomcat, a blurry but no less interesting shot of the A6M Zero (we’ve seen glimpses of it before), the C-130J by Airplane Simulation Company, another great view of the F-14, and plenty of blink and you’ll miss it Typhoon images.
We’ve got one of a few glimpses of the MiG-29 here and while its unclear if this is the new full fidelity one or not, it’s clearly aimed at the excitement for that project. We’ve also got one of a few shots of what looks to be some much higher detail soldiers and a gunsight view definitely from Combined Arms.
The F-100 Super Sabre makes one of a few appearances here. We’ve got a couple of F-4 Phantom shots here and by now its clear that the new “green map” is not the Caucasus but something new. This is probably the new Germany or Fulda Gap map (no idea what the official naming is yet). We’ve got a silhouette of Heatblur’s Draken AI model, and an F-15C (more on that later).
Lots of the TrueGrit/Heatblur Typhoon in this next segment. Some great camera work and dramatic reveals of the jet in motion. Typhoon was already looking visually impressive when it was announced but it does look like its an in even better place now.
The tension remains high as we’ve got another MiG-29 shot, and then a detailed image of what is probably an S-300 missile battery but it may also be an S-400. Not sure if any keen spotters have picked out the specific version there. We’ve got another dramatic night shot with fire… again I think this is suggesting some visual updates to how fire is rendered.
Ok, now things shift a bit from the high tempo that we’ve been at and we get a little slower and more cinematic for a moment here. Some years, Nick Grey has some sort of spoken message, but this year the visuals are doing the talking. We’ve got a low sun angle shot, a night shot and some frozen mountains and a glacier. Then we get some slower shots focused on what is undoubtedly the new DCS: MiG-29 full fidelity module. The cockpit and exterior details are extremely high as presented.
After that, we switch gears a little bit to the C-130J again with visuals of the cargo ramp, the cargo load, and even a GBU-43/B MOAB. There’s also a cockpit shot of what I suspect is the C-130.
These next one I didn’t spot right away but have later to have been confirmed by Heatblur as the F-14B(U). Just over 80 F-14B’s were upgraded into the revised configuration with upgraded avionics and HUD. Heatblur had mentioned earlier in the year that they were seriously pursuing this but needed to investigate more before they could make sure it was possible. It looks like it is!
A smattering of images follow. A Typhoon from the ramp of a C-130, ground units with desert dust, another MiG-29 shot, a Leopard tank driving on the new Germany map, another great appearance by the F-100, Typhoon’s doing a break away shot, MiG-29s with some very cool camo, and then we get some images of what is definitely Berlin. The Victory Column, Berlin Tempelhof Airport, the Berlin Cathedral and other landmarks. Tempelhof Airport still technically exists though it is closed as an airport. The image with its Lufthansa 727s and Pan American 747 suggest this map will take on a slightly historic tone perhaps being set in the 1980s.
We briefly cut away to some other locations and aircraft. DCS: Afghanistan, the F-16C, CH-47 and AH-64D appear. We’ve got more images of the Germany map too.
Our next sequence gives us a brief glimpse of Magnitude 3’s long in development F4U Corsair. Will we finally see it this year? Maybe! Hard to say. The MiG-29 and F-100 appear again, then the Typhoon, then an R-27 likely from the MiG-29, and we’ve got a Viggen shot – gotta love the Viggen!
The tempo is up again as we get some more rapid fire shots. The C-130 dropping cargo out the bay, an urban area with fire rising in the distance, an F-4 makes a quick flypast, an AAA gun engages what looks to be another A6M Zero, a P-51D lights on fire, the C-130J flashes past us, and the F-15C fires an AIM-7. Phew!
Then we move into the last stage of the DCS World 2025 and Beyond trailer with a couple of products to be revealed. We never know exactly what they will show us but its usually always worth talking about and this year we’re going to be having a lot of discussions.
First, DCS: F-15C Eagle is confirmed as a full fidelity module. This was hinted at in an Instagram post late yesterday but today certainly confirmed it. I’ve got more info on that but just let this one sink in for a moment because we’ve got one more…
… and after a number of teasing shots that had me guessing… Eagle Dynamics confirmed DCS: F-35 is going to be a thing! Colour me surprised!
F-15C and F-35! What?
Both the confirmation of the F-15C and F-35 were a bit of a shock to me. The F-15C as a full fidelity module was something I and others had asked about some years ago and the answer, then at least, is that single purpose fighters like the F-15C are potentially less interesting and less of a selling proposition than multi-role types. But, times change, market conditions change, and I think enough people in the community have been hoping for the F-15C to become a full fidelity option with some even wondering in the early days of the F-15E’s release if that model would be satisfying enough in the air superiority role alone. So, there’s interest out there and it looks like Eagle Dynamics is meeting that interest.
A FAQ has been posted about the DCS: F-15C which confirms a number of burning questions. The F-15C in question will be the F-15C Multi-Stage Improvement Program (MISP) with AN/APG-63 radar, PACS, JTDIS datalink, JHMCS helmet and the AIM-9X. A much more modern and sophisticated version of the F-15C relative to the Flaming Cliffs model. The model is reportedly an entirely new one with 2025 graphical standards. It will model a USAF standard version from the mid-2000s so there will be no air to ground weapons (“Not a pound for air to ground” am I right?).
If we had burning questions about the F-15C, a million more have been asked and a few have been answered by a similarly available FAQ for the F-35. It is confirmed as a DCS World level product (clickable cockpit, complex systems, etc.) and Eagle Dynamics intends to focus efforts on the DCS: F-35A with F-35B and C to be unconfirmed but considered for future development. As for how they are going to pull this off, the FAQ does offer up an answer.
Starting around 2010, F-35 demonstrations became commonplace at defense tradeshows. These demonstrations were often filmed and provide great insight into the Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI) of the F-35 2010 to 2015. These, combined with a wealth of public academic papers, sub-contractor systems demonstrations, public feedback from F-35 pilots, and established PVI of other aircraft will allow us to create a largely complete and accurate F-35A simulation.
I have seen false comments that the F-35 is so classified that we don’t even know what the cockpit looks like when there are actually quite a few public references now out there. A decade ago and it was still a bit hush hush but these days they are operational with multiple operators and some parts of the jet’s operation is public knowledge. Still, there will be an awful lot that is not and that is going to require Eagle Dynamics to infer a bit more than I think many DCS World fans are used to. IndiaFoxtEcho, as one of there MSFS offerings, has managed to do quite a decent F-35 in that simulator and while they don’t have to confront many of the complexities of a functioning DCS module it does show a pathway forward. Still, I’m sure this will be an adjustment.
The weapons list is also tentatively set as the following:
The complete weapons suite of a US F-35A in the 2015-time frame is planned. This includes the internal 25mm cannon, AIM-9X, AIM-120, GBU-38, GBU-39, GBU-31, GBU-12, GBU-16, GBU-10, GBU-24, AGM-158, AGM-154, CBU-103/105, CBU-99/100, and Mk-80s series. This list is subject to change during development.
There’s more so I encourage you to read the DCS: F-35A FAQ yourself as they talk about multiplayer, stealth, flight model and more. I’m sure the introduction of this fifth gen fighter into the mix with its capabilities and its coveted nature will remain interesting.
Both F-15C and F-35A are heading into development so this is a very early announcement of both types. Eagle Dynamics suggests they will not be coming this year and may release as early as 2026 though I think 2027 is a realistic guess too.
Final thoughts
Well that was quite a display wasn’t it? While the F-35 and F-15C will probably occupy a fair bit of discussion for now and years to come (and I will probably revisit with an editorial after the dust has settled), I was generally pleased at the overall mix that we saw.
While a fifth gen type with its fancy stealth features and distributed aperture system may not be for some, it will undoubtedly be a huge draw for others. For those not as impressed with it, it was gratifying to also see types like the F-100 show up in the mix and get the brief shots of the F4U, A6M and F6F. Even the AI only Draken is a welcome addition to the Cold War mix (Heatblur, flyable please? :)). And again, while some will not be as enthralled by a logistics focused type, I think the addition of the C-130 creates new and potentially quite fun gameplay opportunities for those who want something a little slower.
I was surprised by the number of ground shots that we saw. DCS World’s visual details at ground level has become quite impressive and the ground vehicle detail seems oriented towards more ground and helicopter ops than ever before. The sim has some major AI related shortcomings it needs to solve here too but its becoming more believable looking every year.
I am hopeful that the moving map icons up at the front of the trailer is what I saw it to be as a kind of statement that DCS World’s gameplay is finally going to see some moves forward in this year. Fingers crossed.
So there we go! We’ve got quite a display here, one that will have far reaching implications for the series for some time to come.
I expect there will be a flurry of comments! Fire away but, as always, keep it respectful. What were you most surprised about,
Stormbirds 
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