This week in DCS news we have some map focused updates. First, Eagle Dynamics has provided us with some updated screenshots and a bit of new information on DCS: Iraq South. The project has been in the works for a while now and its good to see a new update. Meanwhile, a couple of weeks back OnReTech provided a status update on their DCS: Balkans map with some tidbits of new information as well. Plus, the autumn sale is coming to a close soon and we have an Italian focused community update. Let’s check it all out!

Iraq South progress

We have a small update from Eagle Dynamics this week. The developers report that their efforts on DCS: Iraq South (or just DCS: Iraq if you own both the north and southern sections of the map) are progressing well.

The map includes sections of Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia and includes various well known locations in all of those countries including the strategically important Kharg Island. Work is currently being done to fill those sections out with towns, cities, and terrain details.

The screenshots are most of the story and we don’t have too much else to go on. Usually progress like this means we may see this emerge into the sim within an update or two. Fingers crossed.

Check out the latest update here!

Balkans update too!

A couple of weeks ago, OnReTech, the developers of the third party DCS: Balkans map also posted a map update with plenty of new screenshots of the work in progress map. I missed it then so I’m rolling with it now!

They report finishing work on all airbases while they currently work on infrastructure, radar stations, SAM sites, military barracks and other spots on the map. Terrain and cities are also in the refining stage as well.

We do know that damage modeling for buildings will be in during early access, however, seasons will not be.

It sounds like the map is making good progress though we don’t have any sense on what a release date might be just yet. An initial target of June 1 has long since past so we’ll have to see when this one might arrive.

Read the latest update from OnReTech on the DCS forums.

Sale and community update

October 12th is the last day for the autumn sale so if you’ve been thinking about something your time is coming up. Another sale will eventually be along of course… but this one is now.

Notably, DCS: Iraq Map is currently 50% off on the E-Shop so if you were exited about the eventual update for the southern sector, now its not a bad time to buy in.

This week, the community update is focused on DCS Italia and the groups planned presence at Maker Faire Rome 2026. They will be showing off various hardware setups and will be showcasing their DCORE campaign framework and the system behind their persistent campaigns. Learn more with the DCS World Weekend update.


14 responses to “DCS: Iraq South update, DCS: Balkans progress, and sale reminder!”

  1. Love me some Iraq map. Can’t wait for the update/expansion to it.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      Sounds like it’ll be a great update!

      Like

  2. A whole map of the Middle East would be a dream come true for me. But I’ll ask you (the reader) if you know this question: has computer storage and computer rendering strength matured enough to accomodate something like I am hoping for?

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      Depends on how it works. X-Plane can do the whole world on minimal storage requirements but without a lot of details. DCS may go to that model someday but it’d be interesting if the maps add stitched together into a large framework. That could work together with high and low detail areas – possibly.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I wonder if development on the Iraq map would expand again and stretch eastwards to as far as the UAE, Southern Iran, and Oman, making the Persian Gulf map redundant?

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      2. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        Right now, it seems unlikely. Eagle Dynamic’s Persian Gulf map saw fairly extensive expansion which I don’t think they really planned for… with these maps they’ve done a bit of extension but they’ve stayed mostly on scope.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Bought Iraq map on almost 1 month after release and the amount of time passed until any care for it has been highly disappointing…

    Enough that I have paused any new map purchase for DCS because it didn’t make sense to do so when I just purchase a new map for full price with less than half its development delivered for a LONG time.

    I know what Early Access is and I actually like the approach overall. But IRAQ map release, for me, was a blunder where the other half didn’t seem to have had started development back at North release.

    May ED know…
    Godspeed on DCS development because still a kick ass sim.

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    1. Yeah, I bought it early on too and the lack of progress has been frustrating, even if decent parts of what has been delivered are actually very good (the mountain areas are great fun to fly low level). Kind of wish I did what I ended up doing with Afghanistan where I completely ignored it at launch and waited until it was pretty much complete and also managed to pick it up at a discount.

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  4. It will forever be a mystery to me why the release of an Iraq map languished for so long.

    It really should’ve been the choice instead of the Persian Gulf map, and for so many glaringly obvious reasons.

    In any case, I’m glad it’s still inching towards the release of the most important parts!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      It will be though I suspect that they juggle resources around internally a lot. There may be “separate teams” but they probably share a lot of humans between them and they bounce artists and programmers around from place to place. Some projects get a boost while others languish. This one probably languished a bit.

      I don’t have DCS: Iraq yet…. but I’m kinda tempted right now to give it a go.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. I really haven’t spent much time there other than some fam & nav practice with the Viper (BEST sightseeing plane of all time!).

    What’s there is good, and certainly preferable to the PG map, but tbh it’s VERY much a sandbox where you have to make your own fun.

    I bought it to show support and interest, rather than expecting to immediately replace Syria, per se.

    For me, it won’t really hold my attention until we can start running Desert Shield and Desert Storm missions.

    Once there, I can easily see it becoming my primary AO. 🤙

    Liked by 1 person

    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      That’s encouraging actually. If there’s scenario potential there, ala Desert Storm and beyond, then it should be quite fun.

      I played a lot of missions on Strike Eagle III over Iraq.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh, yeah, man – the mind boggles at the possibilities.

        Iraq had a large, battle-hardened military equipped with a broad array of modern, mostly RedFor equipment, and certainly one of the most sophisticated and dense Soviet-style air defense networks in the world.

        It’s as close as we’ve been to a peer-level conflict in modern history (thank god!)

        Not only that, but it’s extremely well documented. Everything from the opening night strikes with Apaches and Nighthawks, to genuine A2A action, the intense armored warfare, and even sea to air defense action.

        And of course, all the follow on actions where it became more of a CoIn operation, etc.

        And because it’s so well known, it should be a boon for mission and campaign makers – even casual ones! We’ll eventually have more reality-based content than we can ever hope to find time to play. 👍

        The only other thing that’s as interesting to me is the Marianas WW2 battles. We just need ED to finish off the PTO Asset Pack already (and their Hellcat would be nice, but hopefully that’s not the hold up!).

        Liked by 1 person

    2. P.s., I just remembered that Lemoine reviewed the map awhile back. He was based there and flew around to check things out.

      He said it really took him back and was quite evocative. 🤙

      Liked by 1 person

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