Hi all,
I'm surprised this topic hasn't been raised before
The latest version of P3Dv4, named "4.4", is now available for download from your account.
The change log is quite long. It includes mostly bug fixes and some optimizations. Also a few improvements for the virtual reality (menus and tooltips are now visible, at last).
A cool new feature is the introduction of PBR. It is a new graphical rendering technique that allows more realistic-looking materials for 3D objects and their textures. Of course, such effects are only visible on objects that were created specifically for PBR. Old objects will be displayed just like they were before. Not better, not worse
I haven't installed the update yet. I plan to update only the client and the content.
Be aware the new 4.4 content will get rid of all the default Beechraft airplanes. I suppose LM had some licencing conflict with them, most likely.
For the King Air, it's not a great loss, since this airplane had not been updated since its FS9 days. The external model was so so, and the virtual cockpit was simply terrible.
For the Baron, I've got mixed feelings. I liked that plane a lot back when I was still flying on the screen. Now that I use a virtual reality helmet, I realized the virtual cockpit of the default Baron is completely out of proportions. The seats are too small, and when you are sitting in the cockpit, the lower part of the seat is going right through your chest So I guess the Baron is not a great loss either.
The Carenado A36 though, is quite a loss. The model and the VC were superb. I strongly recommend you save a copy of that plane and its gauges before you uninstall the 4.3 content.
I have been reading the feedbacks about the 4.4 on various forums. A few problems were expectable: TacPack and Active Sky don't work anymore, like a few other external addons (F1 GTN and stuff like that).
Active Sky already has a 'beta' patch to make it compatible with 4.4 though.
FSUIPC seems to be ok, no need for update.
I'll wait for the updated TacPack.
Beside these problems, and ignoring the users who obviously have no idea about what they are doing or how the sim works, the feedbacks are very positive and I saw many reports of performance improvements on recent hardware (= less than 4 years old).