Prepar3D v5.0 Features and Enhancements

Release Notes

Prepar3D v5 - The Foundation of Next Generation Simulation and Training.

Prepar3D v5 is the first step in the development of an all new platform built for next generation simulation and training. This foundational release is the cornerstone for continuous development and evolution, bringing new capabilities and features to solve tomorrow's training needs. An all new DirectX 12 rendering engine brings unparalleled performance fully harnessing the latest graphics technologies. See the world like never before with groundbreaking weather visuals including volumetric clouds with localized precipitation and atmospheric haze. Train across a fully updated globe with the latest airport and geographic data including sloped runways with full AI support. An overhauled water system brings the seas to life with accurate wave simulations and ocean effects. See every detail with new high resolution physically based rendering (PBR) textures. Challenge yourself in an array of new vehicles including the Lockheed Martin Civilian Utility Aircraft and the F-35B developed by IndiaFoxtEcho with representative STOVL capabilities. Additionally, a slew of new updates across the entire SDK open up even more possibilities for every type of developer. Simulation and training is redefined with Prepar3D v5.

General Platform Updates

New Features

Enhanced performance and graphical capabilities enabled by the new Microsoft DirectX 12 rendering engine.
Realistic sky, clouds, and atmosphere with Simul trueSKY integration.
Dynamic ocean with NVIDIA WaveWorks 2.0.
Added sloped runway support including AI takeoff and landing capabilities.
Updated time zones to match real-world boundaries.
Added 8.33 kHz spacing support.
Users can now switch vehicles while in multiplayer if enabled by the host.
Updated multiplayer UI to streamline multiplayer setup and lobby interactions.
Multiplayer host and clients can now choose any starting location.
Multiplayer lobby is now available in session.
The map screen is now available during flight.
Added TACAN course selection and tracking support.
Compiler and SDK updated to Visual Studio 2019 and .NET 4.8.
Updated default mouse and joystick camera controls.
Updated default controller layout.
Added controllable flashlight to virtual cockpit views.
Updated user interface design.
Added brown-out and white-out effect support for helicopters.
Updated over 24,000 airports with new data across the entire globe.
Updated global terrain, elevation, water/shoreline data, and traffic routes.
GPS data can now be broadcast to a specific IP address.
Ground contact reaction is now done per contact point.
Added prompt to warn if GPU memory has run out with option to revert graphics settings.
Weather themes can now be customized in the weather UI.
Added surface perturbations to 2D water.
Added support for the Varjo XR-1 mixed reality (MR) headset.
Added SIDS and STARS visualization support for gauges.
New and updated default content:

Updated Randolph AFB (KRND) developed by Orbx.
Added the Lockheed Martin Civilian Utility Aircraft Single Engine (CUASE) aircraft.
Added the Lockheed Martin Turboprop Trainer (TTA) aircraft.
Added F-35B and F-35C variants with PBR textures developed by IndiaFoxtEcho.
Updated F-35A model with PBR textures developed by IndiaFoxtEcho.
Updated F-22 model developed by IRIS Simulations.
Updated C-130 to support 8.33 kHz spacing.
Updated runway surface textures to 4k PBR textures.
Updated various airport and land class textures.
Updated various road, railroad, stream, shoreline, and wake textures.
Fixed mismatched building textures.
Added several additional SpeedTree tree types and seasonal variants.
Added a sample race scenario showcasing racing scenario capabilities.
Added additional road traffic models.
Fixed incorrect light mappings in Maule aircraft.
Updated Deep Sea Submarine model.
Updated several models to reduce flickering issues at large distances.
Updated taxiway signs to use PBR textures.
Improved jetway models and textures.
Fixed several parts in F-16A model that were missing PBR textures.
Added a multitude of new landmark buildings spanning the globe.
Sloped various airports across the globe.
Added multiple wildlife models.
Updated ATC tower interior.
Updated various effect values.

Fixes and Improvements

Improved VR performance.
Adjusted autogenerated building height.
Improved vehicle list caching speeding up vehicle selection and multiplayer loading.
Added keyboard shortcuts for opening settings UI screens.
Control bindings can now be searched by key name in the Controls UI.
Added on/off/set key events for several light controls that previously only had toggle commands.
Fixed issue where GPS ILS markers would be misaligned in some cases.
A default scenario name is now generated when opening the Save Scenario screen.
Scenery Library items can now be dragged to different locations.
Vehicles can now be grouped by category in the Vehicle Select screen.
Fixed various issues in the Pilot Records UI including page flips, distorted images, and only displaying .bmp screenshots.
Launching SimDirector is now available from the Startup screen.
Fixed issue where a corrupted exe.xml file would prevent other add-on .exe files from opening.
Fixed UI sizing issues seen on lower resolution displays.
Sound is now enabled by default in slew mode. This can be disabled in the Sound Settings UI.
Added additional helicopter autopilot tuning capabilities.
AI entities now smoothly transition to level flight after finishing playing back a recording.
Infogen text now displays when voice comms are active.
Fixed environmental forces for turboprops.
Changed the default control mode to DirectInput.
Updated airport light visibility.
Fixed issue where cancelling out of the Failures screen would revert values back to 0.
Opening the Failures screen no longer pauses the simulation.
The Time Preview and Time and Season screens are now combined.
Fixed issue where the Startup Screen would incorrectly prompt to convert structured scenarios in some cases.
Fixed visible border lines in the water between the US and Mexico.
Fixed height of the Oriental Pearl Tower.
Fixed issue causing longer bridges to intersect water in some cases.
Fixed issue causing bridge segments to clip into each other in some cases.
Fixed cases where hangar buildings were too large in some cases.
Updated boat terminals to prevent large boats from docking too close to shorelines.
Fixed various issues with weather settings not applying as expected over multiple weather stations.
Fixed issue where certain weather units would not convert to the correct types with the hybrid metric/imperial setting enabled.
Improved weather interpolation between weather stations.
Navigation visuals are now available in SimDirector.
Added unit conversion drop-downs to additional data types in SimDirector.
Fixed text alignment issues with long object names in SimDirector preview windows.
Added NoAutogenSuppression and NoCrash flags to scenery objects created in SimDirector.
Fixed SimDirector button state sync issue with Kneeboard, Time Preview, and Navigation Visuals buttons.
Fixed issue with elapsed scenario time not resetting properly when switching modes in SimDirector.
Fixed issue where the SimDirector Attachments screen would not update correctly in some cases.
Updated vehicle UI to group by make and model by default and updated column headers.
Improved lens flare logic.
Reduced instances of freeway traffic disappearing along road segments.
Improved bridge and overpass handling for freeway traffic.
Improved HDR effect.
Fixed issue causing PBR materials to completely black out in dark conditions.
Added additional advanced Varjo headset options.
Platform height is now correctly handled when changing locations.
Improved altitude transitions between large airports and surrounding terrain.
Fixed issue where fog could be applied to panel textures.
Fixed issue where cloud altitude would be incorrect after changing locations.

Fixes and Improvements (Professional Plus Only)

Fixed issue preventing weapon damage from applying when played back from a recording in some cases.
Additional camera interface updates for CIGI.
Added additional configuration options, descriptions, and validation checks to several AI behaviors in SimDirector.
Fixed issue with entities assigned to the Combat Air Patrol behavior losing altitude.
The elapsed scenario time now displays in SimOperator.
Navigation visuals are now available in SimOperator.
Added the measure tool to SimOperator.
Fixed issue causing incorrect CombatAirPatrol altitude handling.

Prepar3D SDK

New Features

Airports can now be created with sloping runways.
Distance remaining signs can now be generated for runways.
Updated SDK samples to Visual Studio 2019 and .NET 4.8.
Added enhanced engine extensibility features for SimObjects.
Added ability to define always on mapping for key events defined in gauge xml trigger events.
Added new intensity value in lumens to PBR light effects.
Added airport background flatten options to control altitude transition with surrounding terrain.

Fixes and Improvements

Fixed bug preventing exclusion rectangles from correctly excluding scenery when using the excludeAllObjects setting.
Updated the Autogen Editor UI.
Converted several samples to the add-on.xml format.
Fixed issue where some tools would write out generated data to the incorrect location.
Fixed naming of Axis Steering Set event.
Fixed bug where tail numbers were not being set for helicopters created with the SimConnect_AICreateNonATCAircraft function.
Fixed Traffic Toolbox dump airport list to correctly parse airspace type.
Fixed issue where ImageTool should not load certain DDS textures.
Added ISimObjectManager UnRegister callbacks.
Added 5551 texture support to PBR materials.
Fixed issue that caused certain versions of 3dsMax to freeze during autosaving for several minutes.
Fixed Ambient in cloud SimConnect call.

Prepar3D v5.0 Hotfix 1

Client Fixes and Improvements

Reduced VRAM usage by automatically reducing texture sizes on distant objects.
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) displays are now supported.
Fixed crash that could occur on approach at low altitudes in some cases.
Fixed driver hang caused by the ATC window in some cases.
Fixed crash when closing camera preview window.
Vehicle preview screen now shows interior model if no exterior model exists.
Fixed issue causing detached avatar to crash if parent vehicle crashed.
Fixed issue causing shadow errors in SimDirector when Enhanced Atmospherics was active.
Multichannel host now serializes library effect mappings.
IsOnGround now properly set when initializing mobile scenery objects in SimDirector.
DLLStop is now called on all DLL plugins before being removed.
Fixed issues causing VR views to be out of sync.
Fixed issue preventing traffic from clearing in some cases.
Fixed issue causing invalid reflections in right eye in VR.
Enhanced Atmospherics is now supported in VR stereo and mono modes.
Fixed issue preventing AI from taking off and landing at airports in some cases.
Improved Enhanced Atmospherics cloud shadows.
Fixed issue where adjusting time preview would cause AI to spawn.
Fixed crash that would occur when playing a flight recording from command line.
Fixed issue causing multiplayer session status to appear differently on client and host machines.
Fixed issue causing a crash to occur before user was prompted that VRAM budget was exceeded.
Fixed issue where reflections in right eye were one frame behind in VR single pass mode.
Fixed issue preventing panel mouse interaction from working in VR in some cases.
Reduced intensity of default landing light effect.
Improved AI brake behavior on sloped surfaces.
Additional improvements to ground contact reaction.
Fixed long UI load times if large amounts of add-ons were installed.
Fixed issue where GPS broadcast and sound in slew settings were not loaded correctly at startup.
Fixed issue where flight plans would reapply if currently active when pressing OK in the options screen.
Various Enhanced Atmospherics cloud appearance improvements.
Fixed application hang that would occur if VR threw an error in single pass mode.
Fixed issue causing vehicle select sort ordering to reverse in some cases.
Fixed crash that would occur if a docked view was closed while being moved.
Fixe issue where SimConnect_CreateEffect was not initializing PBH values.
Added VR cursor settings.
Fixed issue where terrain textures would draw on top of each other in some cases.

Content Fixes and Improvements

Fixed issue where right rudder could detach from vertical stabilizer in F-35A.
Updated TTA paint scheme.
Fixed various effect colors.
Fixed issue with incorrect sun visor transparency in the CUASE.
Fixed bad scenario briefing formatting seen in some resolutions.

Scenery Fixes and Improvements

Improved freeway lane textures.
Fixed issue preventing AI push back from occurring.
Fixed various water data issues.
Updates to several airports and surrounding areas including KSAN, KPVD, KXNA, and KTRI.
Fixed VMMC taxiway elevation issues.
Fixed various bridge issues.

SDK Fixes and Improvements

Fixed issue with FX tool not loading certain values from effect files in some cases.

Prepar3D v5.0 Hotfix 2

Client Fixes and Improvements

Improved Dynamic Texture Streaming performance.
Fixed issue causing Scaleform elements to flash including the menu bar and ATC window.
Fixed issue causing invalid wind aloft direction values.
Improved startup load time.
Fixed crash when switching views in PBR vehicles on various AMD graphics cards.
Fixed issue causing effects to lag behind attach points in some cases.
Improved effect rendering performance.
Fixed issue causing invalid particle lighting in multiple views in some cases.
Fixed issue causing emitted extrusions to be invalid at certain rotation angles.
Fixed issue where flashing textures could occur in some cases with Dynamic Texture Streaming active.
Fixed crash that would occur on startup if add-on description was blank.
Fixed issue causing kneeboard and scenario briefing pages to be blank.
Added chroma key support to Varjo XR-1 headset.
Fixed issue where startup screen preview window would stop rendering after location change.
Fixed issue preventing Dynamic Texture Streaming from disabling in some cases.
Search boxes in relevant UI screens are now focused when opened.
Fixed issue where preview window would not work in structured scenarios.
Fixed crash seen when changing between tower and pilot roles in some cases.
Fixed weather theme sync issues between the startup and weather screens.
Fixed issue preventing Wingman AI Behaviors from saving offsets correctly.
Fixed issue preventing SimDirector OffsetXYZ control from accepting negative values.
Fixed issue where role type box would not size correctly in the multiplayer UI in some cases.
Fixed issues with SimConnect BeginVideoStream.
Improved reflection performance.
Fixed visual issues with distance remaining signs.
Fixed issue where loading flight plans would not update the map in startup and multiplayer screens.
Map screen now supports heading and airspeed changes while moving the user.
Adjusted sun and moon sizes in Enhanced Atmospherics.
Fixed issue with TexturePlugin providing render targets with state data.
Fixed DIS enumerations for F-22 and F-35 aircraft.
Fixed terrain cracks that could occur in reflections.
Fixed issue where location text could be cut off in the Startup and MiniChooser screens.
Improved map UI loading times.
Improved transparent object sorting with Enhanced Atmospherics.
Fixed issue causing missing autogen in some cases when using add-on.xmls.
Fixed issues with additive effects sorting incorrectly with clouds.
Fixed multi-GPU crash with Dynamic Texture Streaming.
Program and Environment simvars can now be set in XML gauge code.
Updated attenuation for PBR and non PBR dynamic lighting.
Updated falloff exponent for non PBR dynamic lighting.
Fixed issue where high cockpit LOD configuration setting would be reverted to 0 when settings were reduced.
Engines are now started for helicopter AI entities that spawn in the air.
Fixed issue preventing tooltips from displaying in map UI screens.
Added VR setting to disable Hidden Area Mesh.
Fixed issue where SimConnect menu events were not being processed.
Fixed issue preventing PDK add-ons from adding menu items to the "Add-ons" menu.
UI search boxes no longer handle the escape key when empty and immediately process the search when pressing enter.
Improved SinglePass VR latency fixing issue where dynamic light positions could be one or two frames behind.
Fixed issue preventing Scaleform RTT elements from rendering.
Fixed issue that could cause the SimDirector UI to become unresponsive if an error popup occurred when selecting an object.
Entries in the Facility Selection screen can now be double-clicked.
Fixed issue that could prevent AI Behaviors from activating at scenario start in some cases.
Improved error handling when reading sim object configuration data.
Fixed crash that could occur when running multiplayer and changing scenery library settings.
Fixed crash that could occur when using the multiplayer autostart command line option with multiplayer autostart configuration settings enabled.
Fixed issue causing differences in reported wind direction in some cases.
Fixed issue that could cause visual errors with runway edge lines at sloped airports.
Fixed crash that could occur when loading third party AI vehicles in some cases.
Fixed error when comparing property name strings in recording/playback in some cases.
Fixed shutdown crash when using Varjo headsets.
Fixed crash when changing Varjo VR view options.

Content Fixes and Improvements

Added landing light fx file.
Updated tail number geometry and material on various default vehicles.

Scenery Fixes and Improvements

Fixed issue with jetway decal textures turning asphalt aprons white.
Fixed various water, terrain, coastline, bridge, and various other data issues.
Fixed issues with St. Paul and St. George islands, Victoria Falls.
Fixed issues with Washington DC scenery objects, San Siro Stadium, and Generali Tower.
Updates to various airports including LFMV, KOFF, KGGG, EFHK, SBSP, EDDH, EDVK, KAKR, KPIT, RJBB, EDDS, EGPF, KBUR, PALR, VOTR, KVPD, LIMC, PASI, and EGGW.

SDK Fixes and Improvements

Added OpenGLTexture sample back to SDK.
Added 3dsMax 2020 and 2021 support.

- top -