X-Plane 11, the detailed flight simulator is finally closing in on an update that will bring in Vulkan support as detailed in a new developer blog post.
Firstly though, the upcoming X-Plane 11.40 update is going to be focusing on the physics. They've spent a good six months going over their physics system as part of an upgraded and currently experimental flight model. The new system will not be the default in the 11.40 update but it will eventually replace the current flight model. If you're interested in learning more about that side of it, see the video included below (Vulkan info below the vid):
Direct Link
The more exciting part for Linux fans of this sim is likely the Vulkan API addition coming with X-Plane 11.50. This is going to be a huge change, making it more modern and prepares X-Plane 11 for future enhancements as the foundation of what comes next.
It won't be done quickly though, as they said they expect the beta period for Vulkan to "be a relatively long one" but they want to get it out the door and started this year. Sounds like their team are quite excited about using Vulkan (and Metal for macOS) as they say a lot more of what happens compared to OpenGL will be directly inside their own code. They claim what happens inside the drivers are "more predictable, bounded, and can be viewed via modern profiling tools". They think it "should be straightforward to get the information we need to really make the Vulkan renderer scream".
For those of you interested, I've started following their developer blog posts to keep an eye on it for more information on when X-Plane 11.40 and X-Plane 11.50 will actually release in full.
You can pick up X-Plane 11 on Steam and the official site.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: iiariQuoting: Cyba.CowboyGonna be picky here, but Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is not expected to support Linux-based operating systems though, so technically, X-Plane has no real competition...I can't imagine even the hardest core, Richard Stallman worshiping Linux flight sim fan wouldn't do a dual boot or get a new machine to run MS 2020 when it comes out (assuming Proton doesn't work). I mean, dating myself here, I'm a flight simmer back to C64 and Apple IIe days, and MS2020 seems to be what we've all been waiting for our entire lives.
You're talking about an unreleased product. For now it's all hype. I don't have particularly much faith in the big data approach. Good data is only available for a relatively small part of the world. I expect the rest to look pretty mediocre. On top of that, is there any way you're expecting this online service not to be a subscription model? This is Microsoft after all. They may start out without it to gain traction, but that's where it will be going.
Also don't forget the amount of money that a lot of simmers have invested in their sim with specific add ons and scenery packs. That's not something you just dump to start over. Besides, even if they did make it run natively on Linux, I have no reason at all to trust Microsoft for the future. I'll stick with X-Plane.
Cyba.Cowboy Oct 21, 2019
Quoting: EhvisBesides, even if they did make it run natively on Linux, I have no reason at all to trust Microsoft for the future. I'll stick with X-Plane.
This. I trust Microsoft as much as I trust Mark Zuckerberg - which is not at all... Call it "paranoia" if you want, but I don't trust Microsoft in any context.
Mountain Man Oct 21, 2019
Quoting: EhvisYou're talking about an unreleased product. For now it's all hype.He's definitely strayed into shill territory.
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