The PMDG director, Robert Randazzo, has provided us with another update on the progress of UFT integration on Xbox, as well as some fixes and improvements for the current 737 fleet. Additionally, he shared some exciting news about the upcoming 777. Although there are no preview images currently, we can expect them to be shared in future posts as the development of the 777 continues.
Why don't we kick things off from the beginning, shall we?
PMDG 737 for Xbox
In the last update, Robert stated that they have demonstrated to ASOBO that the UFT experiences communication problems with the aircraft, but they have resolved that issue. However, a new problem has arisen regarding the release of the UFT on the Xbox platform, which involves the conflicting interaction between the native Xbox keyboard interface and PMDG's UFT. It's crucial to input data into UFT to fully utilize its features, but this problem is preventing users from adding anything to the tablet.
PMDG has been looking into this problem for a while now and they have come up with some workarounds to address the issue with the Xbox native keyboard. They are testing the UFT on Xbox to find the best solution for users.
The team is relieved that the UFT now has seamless communication with the PMDG 737, and its presence in the cockpit does not have any adverse effects on the aircraft. Next week, they will introduce new updates to the 737 and test it on Xbox to try out potential solutions. They are feeling positive about the process and will keep us updated on the progress.
PMDG 737 "Freezes"
Recently, there have been more and more reports of the 737 freezing and not responding to user inputs. Community assistance suggested the issue might be linked to the TCAS, specifically in TA or TA/RA modes. Suspicions arose about mods installed by users, but there was no clear evidence pointing to the source of the problem within or outside the 737.
PMDG dedicated a significant amount of time to identify and resolve the issue. After successfully finding the problem, they promptly sent the fix to their Beta team for testing. Once the fix proves to be reliable, they will release it as an emergency update for all users.
PMDG 777 MSFS
There isn't much to see in this section, but sometimes simplicity is better. The progress on the 777 is going smoothly and everything is falling into place. PMDG has hinted that they are in the final stages of development and are finalizing the essential features for the initial release. While they haven't revealed specific details about the aircraft's features, it's always good news when Robert keeps things under wraps. Essentially, the team is putting the finishing touches on the aircraft and ensuring that every detail is perfect. Robert has promised that he will share some preview images soon for all the eager customers waiting for this product.