A bunch of updates coming to us from Microsoft Flight Simulator developer PMDG in the last couple of days. One big piece of news from the company is the roll out of their new Operations Centre 3 software which replaces the long in the tooth version 2. There’s a release plan for the 777 as well as details on what they plan to do for MSFS 2024 releases. Let’s dig into it!

A new operations centre

If you read my PMDG 737 series review, one of my points of critique on the products was the antiquated feeling PMDG Operations Center software. The Ops Centre felt like an old piece of software and, that on its own isn’t a huge issue, but it was also somewhat unreliable and required some manually fiddling about to get it updated. PMDG releasing Ops Center 3 gives me a lot of hope that those issues are now behind us. It’s certainly much faster and slicker looking than before.

Here’s a little of what PMDG’s Robert S. Randazzo has to say about the new software:

OC3 is a complete overhaul of the OC2 application we have used since 2017, and while it retains most of the features of the older OC2, it benefits from a fresh, new interface, additional diagnostic tools to help our support team help you in times of trouble, product installation (no more installers!) automated user license management, streamlined livery handling, and the ability to interface with our support ticket system directly from within the app.

PMDG are in the process of rolling out products into the new software. As you can see above, neither of the 737 models that I own are available yet but they will be starting with the 777F and then the 777-300ER soon after. The rest of the product line will eventually be here too for both 2020 and 2024.

Read more about the roll-out here!

Road to release for the 777-200ER and 2024 products

Another update from Robert S. Randazzo coming out earlier today was quite a bit of information about the company’s plans for their next product releases and 2024 updates.

First in the pipeline is the 777-200ER which is aimed at release before the end of the month with Robert saying sometime between April 16 and 29. The aircraft will include PW4092, GE90-92 and Rolls Royce Trent 892 engines, a next generation sound package with enhanced sounds, new tablet features with weight and balance application and further integration with SimBrief. They also report various improvements to the auto throttle, roll and pitch handling, and improved pilot feel.

The aircraft will be available as a single purchase with both 2020 and 2024 included. Roll-out will be with the new Ops Center 3 and more than 30 liveries will be available for download at release.

Meanwhile, PMDG are about to start launching more 2024 aircraft beyond the 777-200ER. Up next will be the DC-6 with an early May launch, then the 777F and 777-300ER with a mid to late May launch, and after those are all out then the company will be focused on the 737NG series. All 777 owners will get the upgraded version for free while it was previously reported that 737NG in 2024 will have an upgrade fee associated with them – more on that in a moment.

Future development plans

Robert also talks about future plans for PMDG and their development. They report that work on the 777 line for both 2020 and 2024 has revealed that its four times the effort when trying to do it at the same time. Thus, their plans for the future are to release for MSFS 2024 only.

The 737NG upgrade will be a 2024 project only with Robert reporting that the update will be a “near-full rebuild of the airplane.” New features, updated models, sounds, and 2024 features will be part of the update. Robert says current owners will see “a small upgrade charge.”

The statement recognizes that some will take issue with the move towards the new sim and that is communicated in this message:

I recognize that these changes will disappoint some users, but we have managed through these transitions previously and there is a natural flow of users to the newer platform. If there was only a small effort required to maintain work on both platforms we would continue to do so- but if we are to avoid getting mired in maintaining just the same products in a stagnant state, we must move with the majority of customers and recognize that progress is ever forward, even for a company like ours that prides itself in the long-term support of our products.

You can read this and the rest of the update over here on the PMDG forums!