We’ve got our first video Q&A from Matt “Wags” Wagner for 2025! It’s the first Q&A in quite some time and its arriving just after some big reveals in the DCS World 2025 and Beyond video that came out a few days ago. Matt’s video is focused on some other topics so this is not a rehash of the cinematic overview and does get into some other topics. Let’s have a look.
January 2025 Q&A from Matt Wagner
I’ll do my best to summarize some of the key points from the video so that if you can’t watch it you can at least get some of the take away messages. I’ve tried to capture all of the key moments but there may be some things that I missed so I encourage you to watch the video. Matt also put a note out on YouTube that the video was recorded pre-DCS World 2025 and Beyond so he doesn’t talk specifically about the F-15C or F-35.
Some of the questions that Matt answers are basic ones like when did Eagle Dynamics start (1991 FYI) and how many people work for the company which Matt reports is currently 170 – roughly consistent with what we’ve heard over the years.
Matt reports that Eagle Dynamics has a bunch of projects on the go right now. The biggest among them are the dynamic campaign, instant action generator, the world map, general AI flight models, updates to the mission editor and the core engine. Matt says each of these has their own dedicated teams working on them. The biggest group, however, are the ones working on paid modules
When asked about choosing aircraft to develop, Matt answers that the biggest factor is if its a popular option that players are going to buy including the hardcore community as well as the larger flight sim community in general. They of course also balance out the time periods and types of aircraft. Matt suggests that they don’t see themselves doing a 747 for example as DCS is definitely combat focused.
Another question asked about ground combat and the possibility of an FPS (first person shooter style game). Matt says they are working on improving the ground combat aspect of DCS and suggested that they probably won’t be doing a FPS but they are looking at a more detailed vehicle simulation.
Another question focused on maps asking if Caucasus and Nevada maps might see some upgrades at some point. Matt says that its more a matter of when rather than if. But also that the map teams are busy with Afghanistan, Iraq, and Marianas WWII right now and so it probably won’t happen this year.
Staying on the topic of maps, Matt says that ED does not currently have any cold war era maps in development but did talk about the work that Ugra Media is doing on the German Cold War era map. Third parties can, of course, do era appropriate maps but ED has no plans for now.
He did mention that they want to do Vietnam but that the terrain development kit needs more work to do it right. It’s something they want to do but have no immediate plans. Last point on maps, he says that they are still working on the world map project and reports that the project is a massive one and is still years away adding that its still in the R&D phase.
On the subject of aircraft, Matt was asked about two seat jets like the F-16D and F/A-18D as well as multi-crew bombers. He says that multi-crew jets like the F-16D are not planned at the moment and suggests that larger bomber projects would have more realistic operations after the world map is completed.
Matt was asked an important question about gameplay and here he said that they are working on some elements to improve DCS World as game. They are reportedly designing “several new game modes,” adding a mid-mission save feature, and working on a data capture system so that people can create a pilot experience with a persona, rewards, etc.
There was talk about the ATC system which reportedly has been rebuilt and they are looking to update the menu system. They are looking into if pre-recorded voice lines or AI generated voice might be better. They are also looking to add a lightweight utility that could allow players to act as ATC controllers.
Matt also praised the community for their support and suggested that Eagle Dynamics needs to continue to work harder on transparent communication with the community. He says they hope that this Q&A and others like it will aid in that goal.
Additional thoughts
All in all, this was a much better Q&A than some of the last ones that we’ve seen which were, as Matt also suggested, somewhat repetitive. I’m glad to see that the community were asking about core features of the sim rather than specific modules – we learn a lot about modules but its the core aspects that make or break DCS and it does have a deficit that it needs to catch up to.
I’m particularly interested to see the development work on a new radio comms/ATC system. I’ve learned that the old Overlord Bot system has died off and I absolutely loved that as a third party system. If a third party can do that, I hope ED can build in something as good as that into the core of the sim. Having save games is another feature that I love to hear about. Some campaign missions in particular can be long and I don’t always have the time to start them.
Matt reported too that he’s not able to comment on 3rd party related matters and I suspect that while its a blanket statement that its going to be read and seen as having a lot do with the ongoing saga with RAZBAM and the recent turmoil at Polychop. Fair enough, this is focused on other things and we did learn one or two new things.
The next thing we need, of course, is for DCS to pick up many of these new features. It does get new features but it does sometime feel like the pace is glacial and many of these are much needed. Maybe 2025 will be a good year for the sim. I hope so and I’m hoping to see more from Matt in these Q&A videos in the future.
Stormbirds 
Leave a comment