Digital Combat Simulator


Digital Combat Simulator World is a free-to-play combat flight simulator. It includes a free simulation of the Sukhoi Su-25T Frogfoot attack aircraft and TF-51D Mustang, an unarmed training variant of the P-51D Mustang. DCS is expandable through additional official "modules" as well as user-made add-ons and mods.

Gameplay

DCS World includes mission and campaign editors; online multiplayer; a large inventory of air, land and sea combat units; AI opponents; a mission generator; dynamic weather and seasons; training missions; a replay system; and a pilot log book.
The mission editor utilizes Lua support and a campaign editor for user created tasks. This allows users to extend provided missions with content created independently from module publishers, or create their own unique scenarios. Users of DCS World can host their own servers with user-made missions for co-operative and/or adversarial multiplayer missions with or against AI units.

Setting

DCS World includes one free map, which features a large area of the Caucasus region that encompasses much of Georgia – the location of the Russo-Georgian war in 2008, as well as a portion of Crimea, the site of a Russian Annexation in 2014, and a portion of Russia's southern border. Additional maps include:

''DCS: Black Shark 2''

A simulation of the Russian Kamov Ka-50 single seat attack helicopter, Black Shark was originally released in October 2008 as a stand-alone simulation, with the updated Black Shark 2 released in 2011 to upgrade the simulation, and to change it to an expansion module for DCS World. The Black Shark 2 module incorporates Eagle Dynamics' Professional Flight Model, the Advanced Systems Model, and presents the player/pilot with the full six degrees of freedom style cockpit.

''DCS: A-10C Warthog''

Released on April 22, 2011 DCS: A-10C Warthog is a PC simulation of the Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II. This is the second aircraft in the DCS lineup, following DCS: Black Shark. DCS: A-10C Warthog provides a simulation of a modern fixed wing combat aircraft in regards to flight dynamics, avionics, sensors, and weapon systems. The player also has the option to play Warthog in "Game" mode for a casual game experience. Players can fly missions against a wide array of air, land and sea forces under AI control. Users can create and share their own missions and campaigns with the included mission and campaign editors, and fly with and against other people online.

Development

DCS World traces its lineage directly from the Flanker series of combat flight simulator games. Eagle Dynamics published DCS World's direct predecessor with Ubisoft as. The aircraft from are still available as part of the Flaming Cliffs 3 module.
The first module added to DCS was DCS: Black Shark as a stand-alone simulation of the Kamov Ka-50. It was originally an add-on for the previous Lock On: Modern Air Combat series, but it was deemed necessary to use a different engine instead.
The second module added to DCS was DCS: A-10C Warthog. Originally released as a stand-alone simulation, but offering multiplayer compatibility with Black Shark, it was one of the first native 64-bit flight simulators.
In 2011, DCS World was launched with concept of plug-in "modules". This allowed using previously stand-alone simulations in same scenario while sharing assets. DCS: A-10C Warthog was made available as plug-in module, while DCS: Black Shark became DCS: Black Shark 2 as part of an upgrade to the simulation.
In October 2015, DCS World was relaunched under the guise of DCS World 1.5 via a free update. 'DCS World 1.5' brought all the current aircraft, ground units, and terrain into the new Eagle Dynamics Graphics Engine featuring DirectX 11.
In November 2015, DCS World 2.0 was released in open alpha format via a free update. 'DCS World 2.0' gained the ability to add new theaters of war, such as the new Nevada Test & Training Range. The Caucasus map was in the process of being updated, and was not yet compatible with DCS 2.0.
In May 2017, DCS World 2.1 was released in early access which includes support for Nevada and Normandy maps and new rendering.
In January 2018, DCS World 2.5 was released into open beta testing, which allowed for migration to 2.5 on Steam and from 2.2 Open Alpha. It included an updated, more detailed map of the Caucasus region along with a plethora of other changes and additions. The release version of 2.5 was published in April 2018.

List of modules

NameModule typeRoleApp. historical yearDeveloperRelease dateStatusFlight modelSystems model
DCS: CaucasusTerrainEagle Dynamics2 November 2008Released
DCS: Ka-50 Black Shark 2AircraftAttack helicopter1987Eagle Dynamics2 November 2008ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: A-10C WarthogAircraftClose air support
Ground attack		2005Eagle Dynamics22 April 2011ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
MiG-29 for DCS WorldAircraft Air superiority
Multirole		1982Eagle Dynamics10 October 2018ReleasedProfessionalStandard
Su-33 for DCS WorldAircraftAir superiority
Carrier-based		1998Eagle Dynamics22 September 2017ReleasedProfessionalStandard
Su-27 for DCS WorldAircraftAir superiority1985Eagle Dynamics11 November 2014ReleasedProfessionalStandard
Su-25 for DCS WorldAircraftClose air support
Ground attack		1981Eagle Dynamics26 July 2013ReleasedAdvanced +Standard
A-10A for DCS WorldAircraftClose air support
Ground attack		1977Eagle Dynamics26 July 2013ReleasedAdvanced +Standard
F-15C for DCS WorldAircraftAir superiority1976Eagle Dynamics26 July 2013ReleasedProfessionalStandard
DCS: P-51D MustangAircraftFighter1945Eagle Dynamics12 September 2012ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: Flaming Cliffs 3Aircraft1995Eagle Dynamics30 April 2013ReleasedMixedStandard
DCS: Fw 190 D-9 DoraAircraftFighter-bomber1944Eagle Dynamics14 August 2014ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: Bf 109 K-4 KurfürstAircraftFighter1944Eagle Dynamics12 December 2014ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: Spitfire LF Mk IXAircraftFighter1943Eagle Dynamics16 December 2016ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: L-39 AlbatrosAircraftTrainer
Light ground attack		1971Eagle Dynamics19 February 2016ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: Combined ArmsLand combat2005Eagle Dynamics25 December 2012ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: World War II Assets PackAir, ground and sea assets1944Eagle Dynamics26 May 2017Early access
DCS: NEVADA Test and Training RangeTerrain2017Eagle Dynamics30 November 2015Released
DCS: Normandy 1944Terrain1944Ugra Media26 May 2017Released
DCS: Persian GulfTerrain2018Eagle Dynamics25 May 2018Released
Hawk T.1A for DCS WorldAircraftTrainer
Light fighter		1976VEAO Simulations16 March 2015No Longer AvailableExternalAdvanced
DCS: M-2000CAircraftMultirole1987RAZBAM25 December 2015ReleasedExternalAdvanced
DCS: UH-1H HueyAircraftUtility helicopter1967Belsimtek19 April 2013ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: MiG-15bisAircraftLight fighter1950Belsimtek11 March 2016ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: F-86F SabreAircraftLight fighter1953Belsimtek1 April 2016ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: F-5E Tiger IIAircraftLight fighter1972Belsimtek11 November 2016ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: Mi-8MTV2 "Magnificent Eight"AircraftUtility helicopter1990Belsimtek5 September 2013ReleasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: AJS 37 ViggenAircraftInterdictor
Strike fighter		1993Heatblur Simulations
27 January 2017Early accessExternalAdvanced
DCS: MiG-21bisAircraftLight fighter
Interceptor		1972Magnitude 3 LLC
19 September 2014ReleasedExternalAdvanced
C-101 Aviojet for DCS WorldAircraftTrainer
Light ground attack		1980AvioDev21 January 2015ReleasedExternalAdvanced
DCS: SA342 GazelleAircraftUtility helicopter1973Polychop-Simulations29 April 2016ReleasedExternalAdvanced
DCS: AV-8B Night Attack V/STOLAircraftV/STOL
Ground attack
Carrier-based		1991RAZBAM29 November 2017Early accessExternalAdvanced
DCS: F/A-18C Hornet AircraftMultirole
Carrier-based		2005Eagle Dynamics1 June 2018Early accessProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: MiG-19P FarmerAircraftLight fighterEarly 1950sRAZBAM1 March 2019Early accessExternalAdvanced
DCS: F-14A/B TomcatAircraftInterceptor
Air superiority
Carrier-based		Late 80s - mid 90sHeatblur Simulations15 March 2019Early accessExternalAdvanced
DCS: Yak-52AircraftTwo-seat trainer1979Eagle Dynamics3 August 2018Early accessProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: Fw 190 A-8 AntonAircraftFighter1944Eagle Dynamics07 June 2019releasedProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: I-16AircraftFighter1939OctopusG10 May 2019Early accessExternalAdvanced
DCS: Christen Eagle IIAircraftAerobatic1977Magnitude 3 LLC18 January 2019Early accessExternalAdvanced
DCS: F-16CM Fighting Falcon/Viper AircraftMultirole2007Eagle Dynamics3 October 2019Early accessProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: JF-17 ThunderAircraftMultirole2007Deka Ironwork Simulations3 December 2019Early accessExternalAdvanced
DCS: SuperсarrierOtherCarrierEagle Dynamics22 May 2020Early access
DCS: F-15E Strike EagleAircraftMultirole
Strike fighter		1985RAZBAMUnreleasedIn developmentExternalAdvanced
DCS: MiG-23 MLA FloggerAircraftFighter1985RAZBAMUnreleasedIn developmentExternalAdvanced
DCS: F-4E Phantom IIAircraftInterceptor
Fighter-bomber
Carrier-based		1970Eagle DynamicsUnreleasedIn developmentProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: F-8J CrusaderAircraftFighter1969Magnitude 3 LLCUnreleasedIn developmentExternalAdvanced
DCS: F4U-4 CorsairAircraftFighter-bomber1945Magnitude 3 LLCUnreleasedIn developmentExternalAdvanced
DCS: Bell OH-58 KiowaAircraftScout Helicopter1983Polychop-SimulationsUnreleasedIn developmentExternalAdvanced ?
DCS: A-10C Warthog 2AircraftClose air support
Ground attack		2005Eagle DynamicsUnreleased, scheduled 2020In developmentProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: Ka-50 Black Shark 3AircraftAttack helicopter1987Eagle DynamicsUnreleased, scheduled 2020In developmentProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: Mi-24P HINDAircraftAttack helicopter1981Eagle DynamicsUnreleased, scheduled 2020In developmentProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: Marianas IslandsTerrain2018Eagle DynamicsUnreleasedIn development
DCS: The Channel MapTerrain1939-1945Eagle Dynamics05 June 2020Early Access
DCS: P-47D ThunderboltAircraftFighter-bomber1944Eagle Dynamics05 June 2020Early AccessProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: De Haviland Mosquito FB MK.VIAircraftFighter-bomber1942Eagle DynamicsUnreleasedIn developmentProfessionalAdvanced
DCS: Falkland IslandsTerrain1982RAZBAMUnreleasedIn development
DCS: SyriaTerrainUgra MediaUnreleasedpre-order
DCS: BO-105P AH1-A1AircraftMilitary helicopter1991RAZBAM & Miltech-5UnreleasedIn developmentExternalAdvanced ?
DCS: A-7E Corsair IIAircraftLight ground attack
Carrier-based		1967FlyingIron SimulationsUnreleasedannouncedExternalAdvanced ?

Reception

PC Gamer reviewed the DCS: A-10C Warthog module with a rating of 92/100. IGN praised the care and attention to detail, though remarking a level of inaccessibility: "Yes, there is a 44-page "Quickstart" guide and yes, there are tutorials – a bevy of lengthy, highly instructive tutorials, actually – but precious little of this is designed for the neophyte or even the marginally experienced jet jock." Rock, Paper, Shotgun although praising the module, noted that "The Hog is a fascinating creature no doubt, but by sending it to the Caucasus and involving it in a characteristically skeletal canned campaign, the devs don’t display it in a particularly fresh or alluring light.". The absence of an instructive tutorial and the length of the included instruction manual and the presence of bugs and crashes were also criticized.