DCS Update available now. Check out all the new fixes and enhancements. (2025)

04 October 2024

Dear Fighter Pilots, Partners and Friends,

The September 2024 DCS update has been released and we kindly encourage you to download the latest version and read the full changelog. Multiple third party terrains have also received impressive updates, notably the South Atlantic, Sinai, Syria, and Kola maps at 20% off during early access. These improvements improve immersion and make for engaging missions.

In light of the impressive new DCS: Kola map summer textures, Orbx Systems has prepared a summary on their most recent improvements and development timeline. Please read the details below.

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Thank you for your passion and support.

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics

Development Progress

We're excited to bring you a new DCS update that features a variety enhancement and fixes across several DCS modules that both improves gameplay and realism. Last week we discussed some of the improvements coming to the F-16C Viper and F/A-18C, and these were included in this week’s update. Additionally you will find a wealth of enhancements for a variety of our modules including Combined Arms, Black Shark 3, MB-339A/PAN by IndiaFoxtEcho Visual Simulations, JF-17 by Deka Ironwork Simulations, and terrains including the South Atlantic, Kola, Syria, and Sinai maps. For more details on all the fabulous enhancements, please read the full changelog.

Development Progress

“Check out the September update video of the reworked map’s visuals and additional Finnish airfields. We greatly appreciate your role in bringing Kola to life and invite you to visit https://kola.orbxdirect.com/ to submit new improvements.”

– Orbx Systems

Progress So Far

Compared to the initial release, the Kola map now has substantially improved natural terrain that includes a more detailed elevation mesh, summer and winter ground textures, vegetation, shorelines, lakes, and rivers. The initial focus area for airfields and infrastructure spans the Finland-Russia border regions, but we’ve also started adding more detail to parts of Norway and Sweden. If you were holding off on purchasing this wonderful map, now is the time to experience this epix terrain.

Major updates since the Early Access release:

• The addition of a complete set of high-resolution, winter textures that will be critical for the upcoming ‘Arctic Thunder’ campaigns by Reflected Simulations and Baltic Dragon.
• The summer textures have greatly improved with much higher resolution that improves the low altitude environment.
• The addition/improvement of four highly-detail regions covering four airfields in Finland: Rovaniemi (EFRO), Kemi / Tornio (EFKE), Kuusamo (EFKS), and Ivalo (EFIV); and five in Russia: Severomorsk-3 (XLMV), Severomorsk-1 (ULAK), RU-1110 (UMOE), RU-4464 (UOLE), and Murmansk (ULMM).
• Added or improved two road runways in Finland (at Vuojärvi and Rovaniemi), three airfields in Norway: Bodø (ENBO), Kirkenes (ENKR), and Lakselv (ENNA); and five in Sweden: Kiruna (ESNQ), Jokkmokk (ESNJ), Luleå (ESPA), Vidsel (ESPE), and Kalixfors (ESUK).
• An improved road and railroad network connected within the coverage area that includes bridges and tunnels that allow AI routing across the map.
• Many new cities, towns, infrastructure, tunnels and other objects have been added to the map.

Future Plans

The next release will see the inclusion of Andoya (ENAN) airfield in Norway and Alakurtti (RU-0059) airfield in Russia with some additional infrastructure in the surrounding areas. Orbx has also reviewed a series of bugs and errors aiming for small performance improvements.

Future releases will see the addition of more airfields and surrounding infrastructure including: Evenes (ENEV), Bardufoss (ENDU), Kittilä Airport (EFKT), Enontekiö Airport (EFET), Pudasjärvi Airfield (EFPU), and Sodankylä Airfield (EFSO). Beyond these, Cold War-era installations, military airfields, and other key points of interest are also planned.

The upcoming Arctic Thunder campaign by Reflected Simulations & Baltic Dragon for the Kola map will consist of two scenarios: one for a Finnish Air Force F/A-18C and another for an USAF F-16C Viper. Both will share the same storyline and missions making it possible to play from different perspectives.

Orbx has remained committed to continually providing frequent optimisation updates to the Kola Map. Please note that whilst in early access you can still enjoy a 20% discount!

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We hope you enjoy the latest DCS Update and we truly look forward to your feedback on the new enhancements to the F/A-18C, F-16C, F-4E Phantom II. Please make sure to read the full changelog for more details.

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics