With the upcoming release of the PMDG 777-200ER for Microsoft Flight Simulator, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about how developers handle aircraft variants. On paper, the 777-200ER is a big deal—another addition to an already iconic lineup that includes the 777-300ER and the 777 Freighter (777F).
But when you step back and look at it critically, a question bubbles up: Are these separate releases really all that different? And more importantly: Are they different enough to justify another full-price purchase?
Let’s taxi through this one.
The Business of Variants
First, I get it. Developing high-fidelity aircraft for flight simulators isn’t exactly cheap or quick. These aren’t just 3D models slapped together with fancy textures. We’re talking about thousands of hours of coding, testing, tweaking flight models, refining systems, and polishing performance across multiple sim platforms.
And yes, from a business standpoint, selling variants makes total sense:
– New marketing opportunities
– Appeals to aviation fans of specific models
– Generates fresh revenue without rebuilding from scratch
PMDG isn’t the only developer following this approach either. Fenix is doing it with their A320 family—rolling out the A321 and A319 to complement the base A320. (Granted, Fenix is offering a discount to existing customers, which softens the blow a bit.)
What’s Actually Different?
When you really dig into these “new” variants, the differences are often… well, subtle.
– The 777-300ER is longer, handles a little differently, and has different performance profiles compared to the 777-200ER.
– The 777F is, obviously, a freighter—no passenger windows, different weight and balance characteristics, a few tweaks in the systems related to cargo operations.
– The 777-200ER slots neatly into the lineup with slightly different range, engines, and weight characteristics.
But—and it’s a big but—the cockpits are nearly identical.
The systems are, for the most part, unchanged.
The operating procedures? Pretty much the same.
So unless you’re obsessed with tiny operational nuances or diehard loyal to a particular variant (no judgment if you are!), the day-to-day experience for most simmers isn’t going to feel radically different.
Why It Matters (Or Doesn’t)
This is where the conversation gets personal.
For me, I struggle to see the point of buying a near-identical aircraft unless the differences are significant, not just in the numbers on the spec sheet, but in how it feels to fly, how it challenges my workflow, how it changes my sim experience.
And honestly, I’ve lived this.
When the PMDG 737 series launched, I bought the 737-700 as soon as it was released. I skipped the -600, thinking it was too niche, and later picked up the 737-800 when it became available.
Since then?
I haven’t touched the -700. Not once.
There’s nothing about it that draws me back when the -800 offers everything I want for my sim flying. And the -900? Frankly, I’m not even interested.
If I’m dropping another full-price payment, I want something that demands learning something new—not just adjusting my takeoff roll by 500 feet or burning 10% more fuel at cruise.
That said, flight simulation is a huge tent.
– Some simmers want every variant because they love realism and variety.
– Some want specific aircraft for virtual airline operations or because they’ve flown them in real life.
– Others just like collecting beautiful models.
And that’s fine. There’s no “wrong” way to enjoy the hobby.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, I understand why developers release close variants as separate products. It’s smart business, and for many people, it adds real value. But for me personally, unless the variant brings significant differences in systems, cockpit layouts, or flight dynamics, I find it hard to justify another purchase.
Different strokes for different folks, as they say.
Will I be curious about the PMDG 777-200ER? Absolutely. Will I buy it on day one? Probably not.
Curious to hear your thoughts: Are you someone who picks up every new variant, or do you stick with the ones that feel genuinely different?
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