SamD

I just downloaded, installed and tried X-Plane 12. I have to say that I quite like it, the visual engine has had a nice upgrade and performance wise I'm also quite happy with the fluid experience I got. My PC has a i7 9700k and a RTX 2080, so not new and fancy. I waited so long because I was reading many complaints about performance of former X-Plane 11 users who have made the switch, but I'm positively surprised. If MSFS2020 would not exist, I think we would all be very happy with this new version, which is an upgrade in many regards, compared to the already good X-Plane 11. The scenery and the clouds could be better, but I like the atmopheric haze very much, it's quite realistic. The flight dynamics are as always real a pleasure, and I'm saying this as a former licensed private pilote.

I like X-Plane, the company behind it, the high quality add-ons, the community and XPlanereviews. Your analysis is unbiased and correct in my opinion, and that‘s the scarry part. If Lamminar does not come up with a better overal scenery, X-Plane will keep on bleeding users to MSFS2020, especially this year, as more and more complex aircraft will hit the market. I also fear that X-Plane is well on it‘s way to get back into it‘s niche it once was. The Mac and Linux Users have no serious alternative, so they will stay. I think also that a lot of people who like complex airliners will still feel attracted to X-Plane. But most of the people are visual beings, and in this regards X-Plane has lost the battle. Maybe they should strike a deal with Google, in order to get access to their wonderful Google Earth satellite imagery, letting users the choice between stock scenery and Google Earth streaming. I hope they will make it somehow.