Following the release of Magnitude-3’s DCS: F4U-1D Corsair and the freely available Marianas WWII map, we’ve been waiting to hear what the full extent of the plan is for the rest of the foray into the Pacific theatre of operations (PTO). Thanks to this DCS World Weekend News, we now know quite a lot more about what is coming up including two flyable modules that are planned. Eagle Dynamics are also talking about their mission save state system again and about the free trial program. Let’s dig into it all.

Assets planned and in development for the Pacific

DCS Marianas WWII as a free map is a great starting place for DCS World’s foray into the Pacific theatre, however, aside from the assets released by Magnitude-3 together with the F4U Corsair, we’re a bit light on content to make a compelling experience. Now we know what Eagle Dynamic intend to add and here is the list:

United States Aircraft

• F6F “Hellcat”
• SB2C “Helldiver”
• TBF “Avenger”
• SBD-5 “Dauntless” 
• PBY “Catalina”
• P-38L “Lightning”

United States Ships

• Enterprise aircraft carrier 
• Casablanca-class light aircraft carrier 
• Independence-class light aircraft carrier 
• New Orleans-class heavy cruiser
• Baltimore-class heavy cruiser 
• Cleveland-class light cruiser
• Fletcher-class destroyer 
• Liberty-class transport 
• Cimmaron-class oiler

United States Ground Forces

• M4A2 Sherman
• M3A1 “Stuart” light tank 
• LVT-4 tracked landing vehicle 
• LVT(A)-4 tracked landing vehicle 
• DUKW-353 amphibious truck 
• US Marine Corp infantryman
• US Navy Carrier personnel 
• US Navy seaman

Imperial Japanese Aircraft

• A6M5 “Zero”
• D4Y “Judy” 
• D3A “Val” 
• B6N “Jill” 

Imperial Japan Ships

• Shokaku aircraft carrier 
• Chitose light aircraft carrier 
• Kongo battleship 
• Mogami heavy cruiser 
• Agano-class light cruiser 
• Yugumo-class destroyer 
• Kagero-class destroyer 
• Kashino-class transport 

Imperial Japanese Ground Forces

• Type 94 Tankette 
• Type 95 Ha-Go tank 
• Kurogane Type 95 car 
• Type 97 Te-Ke tank 
• Type 97 Chi-Ha tank 
• Type 97 ShinHoTo tank 
• Type 2 Ka-M amphibious tank 
• Type 1 47mm anti-tank gun 
• Type 98 20mm anti-aircraft gun 
• Type 91 10cm towed artillery 
• Type 92 70mm towed artillery 
• Type 10 120mm anti-aircraft gun 
• Imperial Japanese Army Infantryman 
• Japan Navy seaman 

Notably, Eagle Dynamics have reconfirmed that the DCS: F6F-3 Hellcat is in development and that they intend to offer a DCS: A6M5 “Zero” as well. The Hellcat we’ve seen in DCS World and Beyond for at least the last two years while the Zero is a little more elusive. Eagle Dynamics co-founder Nick Grey confirms that their friends at the Chino Planes of Fame Air Museum helped them source documentation for the Zero. The museum there operates an restored A6M5 so they know a thing or two about the plane.

Eagle Dynamics are going to be charging for the asset pack (that part was reconfirmed early in the year) which mirrors the European Asset Pack method which was and remains a controversial move within the community. A 30% discount is being offered for owners of the current European focused WWII asset pack.

The pack does well to focus on the mid 1944 time period offering aircraft and ships that fit the Marianas Islands battles rather than the more scattershot approach that was used with Europe (and yes, I know there were reasons for that but the outcome is still the outcome).

Mission save state and new trial offers

The other two pieces of the update are focused on the mission save state system and free trial offers.

The mission save state hasn’t quite delivered what I think most of us were thinking it might but it has clearly elicited some feedback as Eagle Dynamics are adding features. Here’s a little of what was said.

Moving forward, a common request has been saving destroyed unit states on the battlefield. We have now tackled this issue, and destroyed static objects will be created in place of each destroyed ground vehicle, aircraft, infantry unit, or static building (not terrain/map buildings) in the Mission Save state. In this sense, the battlefield wreckage remains where the destruction took place.

Saving a group’s waypoints are part of the next set of features that are being worked on.

Meanwhile, several DCS World modules have been added to the free trial system. This allows players to try out a module for two weeks, free of charge, after which the trial will be over. The ability to reactivate the trial can occur after six months have past. This lets people try out the modules before buying them and then revisit them periodically if they are waiting to see what the progress of a module is.

The following have been added to the free trial program:

• South Atlantic Map
• Kola Map
• Sinai Map
• CH‑47F
• F‑5E Remaster
• NS 430
• F‑5E Flaming Cliffs
• MiG‑15bis Flaming Cliffs
• F‑86F Flaming Cliffs
• Flaming Cliffs 2024

I haven’t taken advantage of the system but it does seem like a good way to try out some modules, if they are on the list.

For all of this news and more, visit the latest DCS World Weekend News.