DCS World Steam Edition News

[h2]CH-47F[/h2]
[h3]Updates[/h3]



Since the Early Access release of the DCS: CH-47F, our team has been working diligently on adding new features and addressing known issues. We look forward to releasing the next version of DCS that will include the following improvements:

The external model will be improved with new skins for Japan and Turkey and improved pilot models. In the flight deck, Cyclic and Thrust Control Lever animations have been improved, the addition of 1st person view pilots, and fixed mirror and glass reflections. The gunners will also see improvements with the addition of the ramp gunner, optional M240H machine guns, the addition of a gunner’s control window, and corrected AI gunner behavior by player-controlled aircraft.

A great deal of work has also gone into the avionics systems, some of the more notable changes will include the addition of the ARC-164 radio, detailed MFD start up pages, new COMM page via the SYST menu, fuel display on the HSD page, radio frequencies and Caution/Advisory Field on MFD pages, separate HSD zoom for each MFD, HSD DME, VOR, TACAN, VORTAC, and VOR/DME symbols, Reference Bug, Speed Fields, and Wind Arrow/Speed Indicator on the HSD, Heading Angle and Track Angle Indicators, and more HSD orientation options. Some of the improvements encompass a more accurate Flight Plan Line, size of VSD systems, and colour of fuel bar based on total fuel quantity. We’ve also addressed several bugs like total fuel bar quantity value and other fuel indications, simple radio use, and more.

Rounding out our upcoming CH-47F changes is support for Force Feedback joysticks, Night Vision Goggle option for gunners, an improved steering animation, and multiplayer freezing.

In parallel for a later update, a great deal of work continues on Digital Advanced Flight Control System (DAFCS) and Longitudinal Cyclic Trim (LCT).


[h2]Shadow Reapers[/h2]
[h3]Multiplayer Servers[/h3]



Introducing the Shadow Reapers Campaign, one of the most immersive and innovative DCS experiences available. Featuring PvE and PvPvE servers set in the Syria and Caucasus maps, this campaign offers something for everyone. Choose from modern PvE missions, an exciting 80s PvPvE server, or dive into a challenging, hardcore 60s PvPvE campaign.

What sets this campaign apart is that every player’s contribution really counts. From completing missions to taking down enemy forces, your actions directly affect the morale system, which can turn the tide of battle. The campaign’s highly complex zone system involves supply lines, power grids, and resource management, making strategic decision-making vital.

The mission system lets you and your friends form squads and tackle a variety of mission types, including CAP (Combat Air Patrol), CAS (Close Air Support), Strike, SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses), DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses), BAI (Battlefield Air Interdiction), and many more. With fully randomised and unpredictable missions, no two campaigns are ever the same. Join Shadow Reapers Discord!

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics

[h2]DCS Update Preview[/h2]
[h3]What to look out for[/h3]



Get ready for a wealth of DCS improvements that will add new features, resolve bugs, and optimise performance, especially in multiplayer environments. Here is what you can look forward to:

Aircraft AI and Ground AI
The latest update will include fixes and improvements to both Aircraft AI and Ground AI behaviour. For aircraft, issues such as cargo doors on the AI Mi-8 helicopter remaining open during transportation tasks and helicopters having difficulty landing will be fixed. The carpet bombing task will work correctly when a priority target is set and weapons free. Additionally, fighters will perform better in cruise missile interception scenarios. For Ground AI, bridge crossing is being improved along with route following behaviour. The BTR-80 and BTR-82 will deploy a bow-wave shield when crossing water. Please stay tuned for the upcoming changelog.

Weapons
Weapon behaviour will see several important fixes, particularly for the AIM-54C's lock reacquisition issue. AI units will properly use APKWS rockets. Additionally, the R-27R/ER missiles will be adjusted to track cruise missiles effectively, and a new China Asset Pack addition will introduce the HJ-12 Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM). Other improvements will include updates to the Sea Eagle missile, which will have a collision model that can be intercepted.

Terrain Engine
The terrain engine will receive notable optimisations, including better VRAM usage, disk streaming, and CPU utilisation for rendering scenery models. This enhances performance across maps, especially in VR. Additionally, issues like crashes at mission start in certain maps (Afghanistan, Kola, and Sinai) and graphical artefacts when zooming or panning in map modes have been addressed. These optimisations will contribute to a smoother and more stable gameplay experience, especially in complex and processor intensive situations.

Other important improvements will include cargos no longer being destroyed when dropped, improved oil and water leak effects for World War II aircraft, and the Arleigh Burke Close-In Weapon System (CWIS) use against missiles is improved.


[h2]F/A-18C & F-16C [/h2]
[h3]Aircraft Improvements[/h3]



Recent updates and bug fixes across various aircraft, including the F-16C and F/A-18C, are part of our ongoing commitment to refining the simulation and completing all release and post-Early Access support commitments. We have addressed a wide range of issues, from minor graphical glitches to more significant systems-related bugs that affect gameplay.

The F-16C Viper will see improvements in its radar including fixes to Track While Scan (TWS) multi-designations, more reliable soft-locks in Range While Scan (RWS) and Dual Track modes, added the ability to interact with false targets, corrected Hot Lines, and improved Pulse Doppler (PD) tracking. For ground-pounders, Maverick slaving to the Sensor Point of Interest (SPI) issues will be addressed.

One of the biggest, and most requested changes, is the ability to select the Flight Control System dead zone gradient to either a realistic setting best used for force-sensitive joysticks or to exactly match the Controls Manager deadzone value. You will be able to select this in the next update.

Despite being out of Early Access, the F/A-18C has and will continue to be supported with new features and fixes. In the next update, the F/A-18C will receive updates to its avionics and weapon systems. These updates are based on player feedback and extensive testing, they include adjustments to the radar BIAS behaviour, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), training missions, fuzes and more. Stay tuned for the full changelog!

Although not ready for the next update, the F/A-18C is also undergoing an extensive review and re-work of the flight model and flight control system. Other F/A-18C features are still planned for the project like more Multi-Sensor Integration (MSI) features, loft symbology and data for JDAM and JSOW, and the Mk-77.


[h2]End of Summer Sale[/h2]
[h3]Upgrade your hangar now![/h3]



The DCS End of Summer Sale 2024 is running until the 30th of September 2024 at 15:00 GMT, and we truly hope that you take this opportunity to land some great deals. Our most popular fighter jets are available with a 30% discount including DCS: F-16C Viper, DCS: JF-17 Thunder, DCS: MB-339. Our staple helicopters such as DCS: AH-64D and DCS: Black Shark 3 are also on sale with 30% off! Many more aircraft, terrains, campaigns and important add-ons are on sale with 50% discount. Visit our shop!

Please note that we are running an identical sale on the DCS World Steam Edition until the 23rd of September 2024 at 17:00 GMT as part of the Planes, Trains and Automobiles fest!

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics

[h2]End of Summer Sale[/h2]
[h3]Up to 50% discount[/h3]



[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

The DCS End of Summer Sale 2024 begins today on our Shop and will run until the 30th of September 15:00 GMT. We are also excited to announce our participation in the Planes, Trains and Automobiles fest on the DCS Steam Edition, which starts on the 16th of September and ends on the 23rd of September at 17:00 GMT.

Visit the Shop


[h2]Kola map[/h2]
[h3]Development Progress[/h3]



The next DCS update contains superb new summer textures for the DCS: Kola map. So far, all summer textures have been replaced with more refined images. The textures are now being generated using custom scripts that use multiple sources, including satellite imagery as well as aerial photography. Furthermore, the upcoming update includes the EFKS Kuusamo Airport and the EFIV Ivalo Airport with various towns and cities added around the new airfields. The colours at XLMV Severomorsk-3 Naval Air Base, UMOE Monchegorsk and ULAK Severomorsk-1 have also been updated. ESNJ Jokkmokk has been reworked too. Please stay tuned for the next update and make sure you update your DCS so you too can enjoy these fantastic enhancements!

[h2]Instant Action Generator[/h2]
[h3]Development Progress[/h3]



We are currently working on a new Instant Action Generator (IAG) that will replace the existing Fast Mission Generator. The IAG is designed to be user-friendly and allow you to easily and quickly set up simple air-to-air and air-to-ground missions without having to use the Mission Editor. The primary objective of the IAG is to allow more mission content in an easy-to-use interface. Missions can range from simple dogfights, to bomber escorts, to close air support missions, and much more. The IAG allows you to choose your aircraft, map, and mission type, hostile forces, and then tune the mission generation with more detailed variables.

The IAG is designed to work equally well across all eras of combat aviation in DCS and work with all aircraft and maps. It will be a free update to DCS.

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics

[h2]Multithreading[/h2]
[h3]Integration process[/h3]



Significant multithreading progress has been made since its release, improving performance and stability substantially. This is particularly true for multiplayer servers with numerous forces. Multithreading has enabled the use of modern multi-core processors by distributing workloads more efficiently across CPU cores. We will continue to improve our multithreading for DCS and focus on performance through the platform.

With multithreading at an advanced and stable state, we will be terminating the older single-threaded version of DCS in the next update.


[h2]CH-47F Pilots[/h2]
[h3]Development Progress[/h3]



The DCS: CH-47F module will soon be receiving first person view pilot models. These models are being crafted to ensure every aspect of the pilot's appearance reflects real-world standards. The flight suits, helmets, and accessories such as body armour and communication gear have all been modelled. This will be a particularly important improvement for those of you flying in virtual reality.



These new models will be fully integrated into the cockpit and animated to correspond with crew actions, control operation, interaction with instruments and more!

In parallel, we are adding new elements and functionality to LCT (Longitudinal Cyclic Trim), AFCS (Automated/Advanced Flight Control System), DAFCS (Digital Advanced Flight Control System), DASH (Digital Air Speed Hold), DCP (Differential Collective Pitch), as well as new display pages and associated functions, new aircraft skins, more advanced sling functions, improvements to the cargo system, new crew-served weapons, and more.


[h2]DCS for Disabilities[/h2]
[h3]MP Server[/h3]



The DCS for Disabilities group focuses on supporting disabled DCS pilots. The Scuttlebutt Lounge Discord channel is a place where disabled DCS pilots can get support, set up controllers, discuss their particular challenges and arrange multiplayer missions that best support their unique needs.

The group flies all DCS modules, and has led to amazing friendships. They strive to place DCS in the homes of mobility challenged individuals, veterans, warriors, and children in need of hope and strong mentorship in a safe community. Join their discord!

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics

[h2]Screenshot Competition 2024[/h2]
[h3]Showcasing our talented contenders[/h3]

These screenshots and many others stood out for their beauty, narrative, and technical excellence, making our selection process both challenging and immensely rewarding. We cannot express enough gratitude to our community for your continued support and passion. It is your commitment to the art and science of flight simulation that drives us to continually improve and expand the DCS experience.



First place: Rasboy. $100 of ED Miles




Second place: Golden JAMMER. $50 ED Miles




Third place: Kino_67. $25 ED Miles




Here are the top 20 runners up. $5 ED Miles each.

Thank you to all who participated, we are blown away by your talent and creativity! Please join us in congratulating the winners and all the participants of the DCS Screenshot Competition 2024 and make sure to join us in the next one!

Stay tuned for more events, updates, and community features. Blue skies and safe landings to all!

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics