Bug description: Normal maps are either not displaying at all on objects, or are so faint as to be nearly imperceptible
Repro steps: Scenery that contained objects that used normal maps in their materials is copied from the Community folder of MSFS2020 to the equivalent folder in FS2024 with no re-exporting.
Attachments:
Scenery in MSFS2020 (note normal map on parquet floor in foreground):
Can you indicate some Marketplace package name + object name to look into please?
I checked some of the sceneries I already have installed but normals seem to be fine.
I can’t tell yet how much of it comes from the new lighting and if this is something we will be able to address but I forwarded the info to our engine team.
@iBlueYonder@FlyingRaccoon I am having a same issue with my aircraft (Rans S6S). Converting the normal map from 8bit to 16bit seems to sort out the problem. In fs2020 8bit worked just fine and I am wondering why does the new sim handle it so differently.
You guys maybe look for a fix in that general direction if possible. There will be probably a lot of add ons that are having this issue. I already know couple of devs who are dealing with this.
I add to the problem, an example of imperceptible normals from one simulator to another (not to mention the worsening quality of PBR textures from MSFS2020 to 2024):
The problem, apart from the normal ones that I mention, is that when calibrating a metallic or a rough or an ambient occlusion, they look very different between both simulators. I could assure that a rough one is rougher in 2024 compared to 2020.
What I’m saying is that taking into account that backward compatibility must be respected, if we now start calibrating the PBR values of our textures so that they look good in MSFS2024, the result will be the opposite in MSFS2020, they will look much worse. And I don’t think I speak for myself alone: I think we’re all reporting the same thing: what looks good in 2020 doesn’t look good in 2024.
Maybe what I say could sound stupid, but you should take any plane (I say plane as I can perfectly say airport) developed in 2020 and try to calibrate the values so that it looks as similar as possible (I know that they are two different graphics engines, But if I had to choose right now, I think MSFS2024 seems like a step back from MSFS2020).
I am told by our Lead Technical Artist that the issue has been fixed on our development branch - unfortunately the fix came too late to be tested & integrated in the latest DevAlpha or in the launch build.
I’ll check today with the appropriate persons if the fix can be integrated for the first patch/update.
If we compare both images, it is not only an issue that affects the normals, but also the COMP. Basically comparing both captures, the ambient occlusion is null in MSFS2024 compared to 2020, and the reflections of the pots on the ground are also affected (basically it is as if the roughness was at maximum, it is totally matte).
Sorry for being pushy, but I hope that the fix does not consist only of repairing the normal ones.
However, I’m glad to know that you are working on it.
Any update on this? It’s been 20 days and we are approaching patch 3.
This severely impacts the look of a lot of models (especially cars, trailers, etc.) And makes the scenery feel a lot lower in quality than it actually is!
I, and many other devs, would appreciate this to be fixed
Yep, all the interiors of planes (including some that have been delivered from the store) look flat and without life. That’s really impacting the quality rendering.
It’s been 20 days and we are approaching patch 3.