X-Plane 12
X-Plane 12.2 Beta Adds New Weather Radar, Improved Clouds, and Better Performance
By Matt Henderson · · 2 min read
Laminar Research has released X-Plane 12.2 public beta, introducing a new weather radar simulation with actual reflectivity data, plus optimised cloud rendering and CPU multi-threading. Early tests show significant frame-rate gains on AMD systems.
Laminar Research has opened the public beta for X-Plane 12.2, bringing a suite of fixes and enhancements aimed at both realism and performance. The headline feature is the new weather radar simulation, which now uses real-time reflectivity data from the sim’s weather engine, displaying precipitation intensity and movement on aircraft EFIS displays. This is a major upgrade for airliner simmers who rely on radar to navigate convective weather, as it no longer simply draws a static green blob.
Alongside the radar, Laminar has reworked the cloud rendering pipeline to reduce the 'bubble' effect seen at certain angles, and introduced a new CPU multi-threading model that distributes weather and AI traffic tasks more efficiently. Early user reports indicate a 10-15% frame-rate improvement on systems with AMD Ryzen processors, and a smoother experience when flying into busy airport environments. The beta also includes fixes for the G1000 NXi and improvements to the default flight model for the Boeing 737-800.
Version 12.2 is available now through the public beta channel, and Laminar has cautioned that it is not yet optimised for all graphics drivers. They encourage users to report any anomalies to the official forum. This update is particularly welcome for X-Plane 12 users who have been waiting for a more robust weather radar, and it underscores Laminar's commitment to refining the sim's core systems. As always, third-party developers like ToLiss and FlightFactor are already testing compatibility, and we can expect updates to their aircraft to take advantage of the new radar API in the coming weeks.
Tags: Laminar Research, X-Plane 12, Weather Radar, Clouds, Performance