Pacific Operations Assets Pack | Mission Save Development Progress | New Free Trials

[Graphics]

 

08 August 2025

Dear Fighter Pilots, Partners and Friends,

It is with great pleasure that we share a more complete list of the modules coming to the Pacific Theatre of Operations (PTO) Assets Pack. In parallel with other modules like the DCS: F4U-1D Corsair, the free DCS: Marianas WWII Map, and the upcoming DCS: F6F-3 Hellcat, the PTO Assets Pack is designed to provide a rich and detailed array of United States and Imperial Japanese air, ground, and naval units in the summer of 1944 PTO. Many of these units are finished, and others are still in progress; we look forward to your feedback.

We are steadily progressing on our earlier released Mission Save State function. Please read the report below to learn about how we are improving this very useful feature.

Additionally, we have added several fantastic modules to our Free Trial Program. You can try these aircraft and maps at no cost or obligation. Take them for a spin today!

Thank you for your passion and support.

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics

 

Pacific Theatre of Operations 1944

Assets Pack Update

Since the release of the free DCS: Marianas WWII map and the Magnitude 3 DCS: F4U-1D Corsair, we want to provide an update on the extensive effort being devoted to bringing this scenario to life with the PTO Assets Pack. Learning from some of the European Theatre of War scenarios, the PTO scenario is focused on providing an extensive order of battle for both US and Imperial Japanese forces in the summer of 1944 and to offer an accurate representation of the battle for the Mariana Islands and the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

New player aircraft coming for this scenario will include both the F6F-3 Hellcat and the A6M5 Zero. 

Since our last update on this project, we can now share with you the specific air, land, and sea units being developed for the PTO Assets Pack, which owners of the existing World War II Assets Pack will be able to purchase with a 30% discount:

PTO AI Assets:

United States Aircraft

• F6F “Hellcat”
• SB2C “Helldiver”
• TBF “Avenger”
• SBD-5 “Dauntless” 
• PBY “Catalina”
• P-38L “Lightning”

United States Ships

• Enterprise aircraft carrier 
• Casablanca-class light aircraft carrier 
• Independence-class light aircraft carrier 
• New Orleans-class heavy cruiser
• Baltimore-class heavy cruiser 
• Cleveland-class light cruiser
• Fletcher-class destroyer 
• Liberty-class transport 
• Cimmaron-class oiler

United States Ground Forces

• M4A2 Sherman
• M3A1 “Stuart” light tank 
• LVT-4 tracked landing vehicle 
• LVT(A)-4 tracked landing vehicle 
• DUKW-353 amphibious truck 
• US Marine Corp infantryman
• US Navy Carrier personnel 
• US Navy seaman

Imperial Japanese Aircraft

• A6M5 “Zero”
• D4Y “Judy” 
• D3A “Val” 
• B6N “Jill” 

Imperial Japan Ships

• Shokaku aircraft carrier 
• Chitose light aircraft carrier 
• Kongo battleship 
• Mogami heavy cruiser 
• Agano-class light cruiser 
• Yugumo-class destroyer 
• Kagero-class destroyer 
• Kashino-class transport 

Imperial Japanese Ground Forces

• Type 94 Tankette 
• Type 95 Ha-Go tank 
• Kurogane Type 95 car 
• Type 97 Te-Ke tank 
• Type 97 Chi-Ha tank 
• Type 97 ShinHoTo tank 
• Type 2 Ka-M amphibious tank 
• Type 1 47mm anti-tank gun 
• Type 98 20mm anti-aircraft gun 
• Type 91 10cm towed artillery 
• Type 92 70mm towed artillery 
• Type 10 120mm anti-aircraft gun 
• Imperial Japanese Army Infantryman 
• Japan Navy seaman 

 

Mission State Save 

Development Progress

Following the initial release of the Mission Save state feature, we have gathered your feedback for further improvements. Based on this, we delivered an API feature request to our talented scripting community which was well received. 

Moving forward, a common request has been saving destroyed unit states on the battlefield. We have now tackled this issue, and destroyed static objects will be created in place of each destroyed ground vehicle, aircraft, infantry unit, or static building (not terrain/map buildings) in the Mission Save state. In this sense, the battlefield wreckage remains where the destruction took place. With the Mission Editor, these objects will be automatically given a "hidden" parameter to not clutter the map view. However, if you want to remove them from the mission because of your plot choice, you can find them in the Mission Editor units list and delete them. We will be releasing this improvement in an upcoming update once testing is fully complete. 

Based on your feedback, our next task for Mission Save state improvements will be to save a group’s waypoint parameters. This work is ongoing and includes the ability to save specific ground vehicles parameters such as ROE and more.

 

New Free Trial Modules

Explore new aircraft and terrains for free

To help you explore new content, we are expanding our Free Trials Program. You can now try the additional following modules free of charge for 14 days every six months.

New modules on Trial:

• South Atlantic Map
• Kola Map
• Sinai Map
• CH‑47F
• F‑5E Remaster
• NS 430
• F‑5E Flaming Cliffs
• MiG‑15bis Flaming Cliffs
• F‑86F Flaming Cliffs
• Flaming Cliffs 2024

Simply navigate to the Try ‘n’ Buy page in the Launcher and look out for a TRY button! You can also activate free 14 day licenses from the Free Trials on the DCS website. Once you've made your selection, proceed to install the chosen module through our module manager. For more details read the How to install Modules guide. We hope you enjoy this opportunity to explore new modules and terrains completely free.

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Yours sincerely,

[Heimz]

Wow, I knew about the Hellcat coming, but is this the first announcement for the Zero?   

[virgo47]

Assets Packs are "necessary evil", although I'm not sure about necessary. In any case it splits the community when it comes to MP server access and adds another barrier for entry when it comes to a new theater, e.g. when buying a campaign... But that's part of DCS.

GOOD NEWS are those new modules on trial. That's a great news! I love trial program and most modules I've bought were after a trial. (Not all trials turned to purchases, of course.) Trial is a great bonus. Sometimes it's also a great distraction from a routine.

[razo+r]

Will it still be a requirement for everyone to must have the PTO Assets if one wants to join a multiplayer server that uses these assets in a mission, or have you found a way yet of not splitting the community behind these "paywalls"?

[RedeyeStorm]

I read as AI only that includes the Hellcat. hellcat as a module is in progress.

 

nope i am wrong. Nice!

Edited 13 hours ago by RedeyeStorm

[Gunfreak]

Wow. That looks like a fantastic list for PTO. And the subtle drop of full fidelity Zero was a nice surprise.

It feel kinda greedy to ask. Vuti do hope you'll add infantry on both sides with machine guns. This is something i miss almost every time i made an ETO ground attack scenario. Forced to use the German halftracks or add a bunker to get machine guns. Isn't always a good thing to do. So i do hope since you've invented so much time into the PTO pack. That you can add two extra units. It would make it soo much easier to make realistic scenario. 

But credit to ED for adding  stuff like P38s, stuart tanks and catelina.

[Yurgon]

Youtube recommended this video to me; haven't watched it yet, but seems fitting.

 

[Draken35]

Yeah... ED Just keep up working hard and gives us the stuff for free... /sarcasms in case it flew over your heads...Pun definitely intended.

Can't wait for the PTO , Hellcat and Zero... My wallet is READY
 

Edited 10 hours ago by Draken35

[dsc106]

Did we just get an official Zero announcement slipped in there??

we know the Full Fidelity F6F is coming and the sentence makes it sound like we will be seeing the Zero as well.

Would love clarification from ED! And to know, will it be Full Fidelity or Flaming Cliffs fidelity?

[CommandT]

Are we going to see any sort of major AI improvements in the sim in the near future?

Glad to see the WW2 Pacific Theatre is finally getting a cohesive set of period-correct units so that we can simulate immersive battles! Only shame is there seems to be no mention of period-correct soldiers?

[DD_Fenrir]

2 minutes ago, CommandT said:

Only shame is there seems to be no mention of period-correct soldiers?

Have another read of the list, old boy; apparently you missed a couple of points...

 

[peachmonkey]

superb!

[MiGCap1]

Can‘t wait! Please hurry with the Pacific asset pack!

[BIGNEWY]

21 minutes ago, dsc106 said:

Did we just get an official Zero announcement slipped in there??

we know the Full Fidelity F6F is coming and the sentence makes it sound like we will be seeing the Zero as well.

Would love clarification from ED! And to know, will it be Full Fidelity or Flaming Cliffs fidelity?

Hi 

Quote

 

New player aircraft coming for this scenario will include both the F6F-3 Hellcat and the A6M5 Zero. 

 

Confirmed, the Player FF Zero is planned for the future. 

thank you 

bignewy

[dsc106]

24 minutes ago, BIGNEWY said:

Hi 

Confirmed, the Player FF Zero is planned for the future. 

thank you 

bignewy

Just made my day (year?). Fantastic news!

[CommandT]

38 minutes ago, DD_Fenrir said:

Have another read of the list, old boy; apparently you missed a couple of points...

 

Oh yeah, doh!! My bad. 

[MAXsenna]

58 minutes ago, virgo47 said:

Assets Packs are "necessary evil", although I'm not sure about necessary. In any case it splits the community when it comes to MP server access and adds another barrier for entry when it comes to a new theater, e.g. when buying a campaign... But that's part of DCS.

You expect all this stuff for free?  

I do however agree with @razo+r that it would be nice if only the mission creators need to purchase the asset packs for MP. As we've been told that SP dwarves MP in any case ED should really look into a way of not "splitting" the MP guys. I'm sure the reward will come later. As for those of you that wants the pack with a 30% discount, get the WWII asset pack for 20 bucks next sale. 

Cheers! 

[ThorBrasil]

 

[joker62]

A very pleasant newsletter. Thank you ED for your hard work on so many projects, modules, and terrains. Reading about the PTO Assets Pack really got me excited, as did the new modules in our Free Trial Program. I've done a few parachute jumps from the CH-47C, so it will be interesting to fly F version of this helicopter in Free Trial. (It's a shame, though, because I was expecting the OH-58D to be included in the Free Trial list. Perhaps in the future)

[MAXsenna]

5 minutes ago, joker62 said:

It's a shame, though, because I was expecting the OH-58D to be included in the Free Trial list. Perhaps in the future

According to PC, never. And no sales ever. You can hope though.  

[Rudel_chw]

1 hour ago, Graphics said:

which owners of the existing World War II Assets Pack will be able to purchase with a 30% discount

 

good to know, guess I will have to purchase it then  

 

1 hour ago, virgo47 said:

Assets Packs are "necessary evil", although I'm not sure about necessary. In any case it splits the community when it comes to MP server access and adds another barrier for entry when it comes to a new theater, e.g. when buying a campaign... 

 

I'm so glad to not be a fan of the MP scene, so I couldn't care less of this so-called "community splits", if they don't want to purchase it is their choice, just don't ask to use them even if they chose to not buy.

[pepto]

47 minutes ago, BIGNEWY said:

Hi 

Confirmed, the Player FF Zero is planned for the future. 

thank you 

bignewy

Genuinely cannot tell you how happy I am to hear this, the zero is my absolute favorite warbird and it's so exciting to see such a fascinating and underappreciated piece of aviation history being represented at DCS's level of quality. Thank you!!

[Omega417]

I really hope someone plans to take the TBF Avenger, and SBD-5 Dauntless and making them player flyable. All I used to do in WarThunder was torpedo runs, and would love to do that again in a better SIM.

[BIGNEWY]

I will quote Wags here from our discord to give some more insight

https://discord.com/channels/542985647502393346/543014378643914752/1403419297602338876

Quote

To be perfectly clear, today’s newsletter regarding the PTO was provided to outline our larger plans for Mariana Islands scenario for the summer of 1944. This includes both the new full-fidelity, player-controlled aircraft modules like the Hellcat and Zero, but just as importantly, the PTO Assets Pack to provide order of battle frameworks to create realistic and engaging missions. While the PTO Assets Pack list is rather complete, it is not set in stone and may still vary a bit (like a USN BB) as we complete the remaining units. Once we are very confident on a release date, we look forward to announcing that then. Thanks.

Thank you 

[Northstar98]

That's a very impressive list for PTO! The most comprehensive set of assets we've ever seen.

Apart from the odd ship, we can make the majority of the various task group 58 formations with the all aircraft carriers, all aircraft, the dominant destroyer, light cruiser and heavy cruiser types.

The main thing missing for the USN is the Atlanta CL which features in the screen of most task groups and for the IJN, perhaps more crucially - a 10-gunned IJN heavy cruiser like the Takao, Myōkō (or even the other Mogamis) as I fear the current Mogami is at somewhat of a disadvantage. The IJN though is more annoying to flesh out compared to the USN due to the increased number of classes.

What's currently there is IMO workable*.

The only thing I'm a little sorry to see the Iowa being dropped (though without the a suitable IJN battleship counterpart that's similarly armed, like a Nagato or even better the Yamato-class).

 

The other things I'd like to ask:

• Will we see improvements to ship AI? Primarily when it comes to manoeuvring defensively (something pretty relevant in WWII naval battles) and opening up arcs of fire for defensive weapons.
• Will we see multiple ammunition types for dual-purpose guns? At the moment WWII-era naval guns only have a time-fused shell which is often ineffective against surface and land targets (and will especially be so against armoured ones like battleships and cruisers) - we ideally need a point-detonating shell and/or armour piercing shell and an AA shell with either a time fuse or (preferably) a proximity fuse (proximity fuses were introduced and in circulation among Allied warships by 1943 and proximity fuses are relevant to near enough every ship currently in-game with a naval gun with a calibre of 76 mm/3-inches and above). There's also bugs that currently absolutely cripple the ability of dual-purpose guns to effectively engage aircraft.
• Will we see improvements to ship damage modelling to at least account for armour? Though ideally we'd have internal components modelled and maybe some flooding and fire-propagation model.

Edited 9 hours ago by Northstar98