Looking through the development threads (and Announcements)....it's such a depressing read :(

[Mysticpuma]

7 hours ago, Soto_Cinematics said:

Hello guys.

 

It's no secret that there was not an update for the last 2 months. I was not able to get enough substantial news together to make these posts (or nothing that we didn't already know). I've checked on our team members and they are working in the background in their free time as always. New Channel map 1940 is nearing completion, coding work continues on VR, etc. Mission making continues. P-51 work continues.

Trust me, no one shoots the messenger (usually 😂) 😇

It always makes me laugh when "the individuals" are called out for wanting information. "The Individuals" who are still here because they are still interested in the development, but without whom, there would be nothing said on these forums at all.

 

I'd simply ask, with all the content mentioned in the original post in this thread, the expected release being last December, how far have the team progressed.....in, say for example, 12 months? What news/progress on Speedtree 8 (or is it now 9?)? What news/progress on all the aircraft being even shown in game? What news/progress on VR, 3-years into a closed beta, 9+ years since announced? What news/progress on Truesky being available, 6-years since implemented?

We've seen images and videos of all the VU in action, but that's been the case for the same amount of years, what is now undeniable is that there is no expected end date. 

The next point I know that will be made is "Well they gave us a date before and missed it, so they won't give us a date so they don't get criticism". What a great "get out clause". We all know it's effectively voluntary, I know obviously from being in there, exactly what the situation was and is, but with no focus or end point, there is no target to aim for, no target to push for.

Soto's "there's nothing that we didn't already know" is very telling. Over 2-months, there is literally nothing new to show. Think of all the aircraft initially mentioned above. Not one has an image of any progress. Not one?

So with so many aircraft to complete, let alone bring into the game, code, beta test, create a release candidate version......as of June 2025, the release of V6 looks further away than it ever was.

The "constant" asking for information, is akin only to knowing an old friend who has fallen on hard times, and you just keep popping in to see how they are getting on, just to see if they are feeling any better or if you need to prepare for the worse.

 

As it stands, and with the glacial progress....it doesn't seem like the release of V6 is getting any better 🤔

 

I'd use the phrase "same old, same old", but this feels completely different.

These forums are dead for interaction with Devs apart from Soto and Snapper (giving access to ATAG). Batmacumba has vanished, and he was a true breath of fresh air. The Discord channel, which was alive with Dev interaction, is effectively mute now with barely any interaction on there at all. Again, it appears the Dev's have vanished. Maybe this is why Soto can't get any new content?

Buzzsaw going AWOL for six weeks was an ominous sign, and his return has not brought any news (and now he's gone again).

 

The lack of progress, lack of interaction, lack of any news.....the VU, to me, has never felt more like an unreachable goal, and with no end point given.....to quote a film title, I feel like "The Man Who Knew Infinity".

 

 

 

Edited June 2 by Mysticpuma

[Buffo002]

What 12 months? On December 31, 2024, Soto released an explanation of why the 6.0 release was postponed. And at the same time, what was done after December 31, 2024 and what is being worked on.

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/90312-tfs-year-in-review-2024/

Then, a month after the new year, the work was shown, what was done and what is being worked on, roughly after March 31, 2025.The first 3 months after the new year. Every month what they did or what they are working on. So there are only 2 months missing from the work sample, April and May 2025. So no 12 months, but only 2 months. And now Soto explains here. that he has to "go around" or let all the people with TFS know who is working on it, so that he can give further progress in detail. But when everyone does it at home, the data is difficult to put together and it also delays their work and takes some time. So please don't write that they didn't do anything for 12 months and that they didn't tell (inform players on the forum) what they were working on or will be working on during those 12 months. Here are the monthly links for 2025, because some people don't want to look for them:
https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/90506-tfs-january-update-2025/
https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/90771-tfs-february-update-2025/
https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/91008-tfs-march-update-2025/

Edited June 2 by Buffo002

[Mysticpuma]

5 minutes ago, Buffo002 said:

What 12 months? On December 31, 2024, Soto released an explanation of why the 6.0 release was postponed. And at the same time, what was done after December 31, 2024 and what is being worked on.

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/90312-tfs-year-in-review-2024/

Then, a month after the new year, the work was shown, what was done and what is being worked on, roughly after March 31, 2025.The first 3 months after the new year. Every month what they did or what they are working on. So no 12 months, but only 2 months. And now Soto explains here. that he has to "go around" or let all the people with TFS know who is working on it, so that he can give further progress in detail. But when everyone does it at home, the data is difficult to put together and it also delays their work and takes some time. So please don't write that they didn't do anything for 12 months and that they didn't tell (inform players on the forum) what they were working on or will be working on during those 12 months. Here are the monthly links for 2025, because some people don't want to look for them:
https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/90506-tfs-january-update-2025/
https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/90771-tfs-february-update-2025/
https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/91008-tfs-march-update-2025/

A summary of which (and why I said 12 months), P-51...still skeletal and nowhere near in game. A Ship (not flyable  ) and the Dieppe Map texture (finished a long time ago) but lots of objects added.

 

The Dieppe map wont be shipped without Speedtree...no news on that.

The ship, not shown in game.

The P-51. Not shown in game (after years of development), approx 60% of the model completed. Not in game.

 

Soto already stated in his comment that in two-months nothing has progressed that he can share (been there, got the t-shirt), however, let's not detract from the main issues. V6 has been on hold because it won't be released without VR, Speedtree or Truesky. These are all FREE updates for anyone who owns CloD. So V6, with no progress on those features, is not anywhere near the horizon.

 

I'll state again, progress is and has been glacial. 

[AtomicP]

7 hours ago, Buffo002 said:

Most players understand this, only some individuals want to know what's new almost every week or 14 days, all the time. IL-2 GB published notifications about new releases with an interval of 1 month, 2 months and sometimes even 3 month to half a year and no one complained there. And that's a professional team, their job. (IL-2GB)  TFS you are great and I look forward to any news or updates. Great work.  

Playing devil's advocate here, one might argue that the 'keen' folk are so vocal because they care about the sim. I mean, realistically, with so many alternatives out there now, it's just the hardcore among the sim community left. 

 

Like I said previously, if I had a choice, I'd have released an update with TrueSky or whatever visual improvement thing (assume it didn't immediately crash the game) and use that to drum up interest. People (especially more casual gamers) are drawn to flashy graphics. DCS, for all its many faults has broad appeal because it looks good. People enjoy looking at the fancy world as much as flying around it. 

[Dagwoodyt]

    I am guessing that the Enigma video was expected to be accepted as an April update and TFS was surprised when it was not😉 That video I see as an attempt to sell DWT based on supposed progress with the VR "beta", which TFS won't offer to show and the interviewer doesn't want to see. I suspect that there was careful coordination between TFS and the interviewer to make sure that no "hardballs" were thrown. The entire video is overlaid with a slideshow of what appear to be previously shown jpeg's set to loop. If TFS cannot receive funds from TF 6.0 before publication then all it will receive funds for is DWT for years to come. 

     Further, the reality is that TFS will not have a real "beta" for the VU until VR has been successfully integrated with trueSKY and ST8/9. Pity the original "beta" test group that was induced to buy DWT and arguably to purchase an HMD based on a desire to be part of the "beta" test program that was marketed in a YT video in 2021. How could  they possibly have been given a piece of software worthy of testing? 

     This is all about credibility. That lost there can be no happy Team or Community.🤔

Edited June 2 by Dagwoodyt

[II./JG27_Rich]

Let's just ease off and try  to land this beast  

 

 

 

[AWC]

I may have said it before, but if I could I would gladly put in the work to do weekly posts. We know that with the inevitably sporadic workflow of TFS that that isn't possible. However, the team is aware of some of the glaring issues some have mentioned here and we are working on getting them addressed - trust me I would share any breakthroughs in a timely manner.

[DD_Arthur]

On 6/2/2025 at 2:39 AM, Soto_Cinematics said:

Hello guys.

 

It's no secret that there was not an update for the last 2 months. I was not able to get enough substantial news together to make these posts (or nothing that we didn't already know).

I don’t understand. We finally have a PR guy who is obviously competent with making videos, posting stuff, etc.

Do you not have access to the latest development versions of the game? In any other commercial or institutional organisation the PR guy is at the heart of the action.

All it would take is a decent video of the Typhoon flying around, shooting something, a bit of weather too…

Easy and everyone would see there’s a pulse going on somewhere in TFS.

 

Or is access still locked up by the Leadership in ye olde Lubyanka style that is has been for the last twenty years…?

[Dagwoodyt]

Could be that "Leadership" doesn't always coordinate with their PR personnel before announcing "breakthroughs", o/w that Enigma video might not have made it to YT.🤔

[354thFG_Leifr]

Weird arrangement if so.

[Mysticpuma]

7 hours ago, Soto_Cinematics said:

However, the team is aware of some of the glaring issues some have mentioned here and we are working on getting them addressed

See, this is where it would be good to hear from the upper echelon about the glaring issues they are aware of and what they are doing to get them addressed?

I'll be honest, I'd be quite interested in reading what issues the team still face in getting Speedtree and Truesky incorporated (on working maps) as well as what current issues they face with VR.

True, I/we may not like what I/we read, but in an information vacuum (not of your making Soto), that type of engagement can actually bring the so called 'naysayers' back onside, knowing what the issues are, what the challenges are fixing them, what progress has been made, how some of those challenges were beaten. It's just engagement with the community, rather than the void that currently exists.

And....No, I don't expect it, no, I shouldn't bother them, no, I shouldn't put pressure on them......I get the usual defenders jumping in....but, if you take the time to read what I typed, there is no demand, it's simply asking if the team would kindly engage with what is left of the community and just let us know, how tough things have been and what they are doing to defeat the challenges that face them.

[BladeMeister]

On 6/6/2025 at 7:04 AM, Soto_Cinematics said:

 However, the team is aware of some of the glaring issues some have mentioned here and we are working on getting them addressed - trust me I would share any breakthroughs in a timely manner.

If and when these glaring issues mentioned here by some are resolved, will the resolutions be released as a standalone patch or will these resolutions have to wait for the VR/VU update or 6.0?

 

S!Blade<><

[Buffo002]

3 hours ago, BladeMeister said:

If and when these glaring issues mentioned here by some are resolved, will the resolutions be released as a standalone patch or will these resolutions have to wait for the VR/VU update or 6.0?

 

S!Blade<><

I think sometime before or after the new year, I don't remember exactly, the TFS team said that they wouldn't do updates little by little, but that once they had solved the main problems with VR, True Sky, 4K graphics, new sounds of aircraft engines, weapons and lots of other adjustments, then only with version 6.0 would the new DLC be released.

[AtomicP]

The interview with Enigma mentioned this. Basically, TFS wants the new visual update to work well with VR. In other words, if they released the visual update now outwith the VR part then it probably won't work well with VR since the code needs to be well optimised for the performance needed in VR (i.e. twice the number of frames per second). So it sounds like the visual update could come out in short order for just 2D but they won't because of the push to VR. 

 

I don't have the gear/care to have VR so it's a moot point from me but I guess the performance optimisations for VR will work on 2D as well.

[Dagwoodyt]

It is as if someone promised a "free" grand steak dinner, but preparations are unexpectedly(?) running very late. You ask for a glass of water while you wait. Your request is denied because it would further slow their preparations. The logic is irrefutable.😉

[BladeMeister]

6 hours ago, Buffo002 said:

I think sometime before or after the new year, I don't remember exactly, the TFS team said that they wouldn't do updates little by little, but that once they had solved the main problems with VR, True Sky, 4K graphics, new sounds of aircraft engines, weapons and lots of other adjustments, then only with version 6.0 would the new DLC be released.

No disrespect intended, but Buzzsaw and TFS have said this literally for YEARS and YEARS and yet I as a customer still have to live with these glaring issues in the sim I purchased from them YEARS and YEARS ago. Blitz/Tobruk is not unplayable, but with these glaring issues it sits at the very bottom of my stack of my sims to actually play. Again, no disrespect but I am hoping for an answer from Soto or another TFS team member.

 

S!Blade<><

[No.54_Reddog]

3 hours ago, BladeMeister said:

No disrespect intended, but Buzzsaw and TFS have said this literally for YEARS and YEARS and yet I as a customer still have to live with these glaring issues in the sim I purchased from them YEARS and YEARS ago. Blitz/Tobruk is not unplayable, but with these glaring issues it sits at the very bottom of my stack of my sims to actually play. Again, no disrespect but I am hoping for an answer from Soto or another TFS team member.

 

S!Blade<><

Good luck with that. The story isn't going to change while Buzzsaw is still in charge I think. (I'm hoping that his long absence is going to lead to him relinquishing the reins at this point. - to be clear I don't wish the man ill, but it's been very obvious to some of us that the problems have always been from the top).

[Dagwoodyt]

The "battle plan" was officially outlined over four years ago. It has failed to achieve a saleable state. Still, Leadership has no fallback plan. This inflexibility could mean that neither the VU/VR nor TF 6.0 ever reaches publication. That might not be a very big loss to me, but then I haven't given tens or hundreds of hours as a Team member working on the projects.🤔

[Buffo002]

11 hours ago, Dagwoodyt said:

The "battle plan" was officially outlined over four years ago. It has failed to achieve a saleable state. Still, Leadership has no fallback plan. This inflexibility could mean that neither the VU/VR nor TF 6.0 ever reaches publication. That might not be a very big loss to me, but then I haven't given tens or hundreds of hours as a Team member working on the projects.🤔

I just want to ask if you as a team member have been working on VR, Tru Sky or any new changes that TFS is planning for the last few years? And if you managed to solve the VR issue in a few months or with some other new adjustment? 

[Dagwoodyt]

4 hours ago, Buffo002 said:

you as a team member

I am not now nor have ever been a TFS staffer. Even if I were I might not know much more about the status of VR, tS or ST8/9 than you or I know🤔

[Buffo002]

You wrote:   That might not be a very big loss to me, but then I haven't given tens or hundreds of hours as a Team member working on the projects.  I understood that you were part of the team. So I didn't understand, sorry.