List of X-plane releases

X-Plane 9's default Cessna 172 at Attu Island

X-Plane is a flight simulator created by Laminar Research. These are the version releases.

Version 1.0

Released: 1993

X-Plane V1 was a beta for Macintosh-only originally designed to simulate the Piper Archer.

Version 2.0

Released: 1996

First Microsoft Windows version.

Version 3.0

Released: 1997

• Removed the 256-color mode requirement when working under Windows.
• Added World-Maker, Weather-Briefer.

Version 4.0

Released: 1998

Version 4 added:

• Textured graphics and hardware acceleration using the cross-platform OpenGL graphics library.
• In World-Maker, users can now:
  • Make photo-real terrain textures.
  • Create structures such as airport buildings, Empire State Building, Sears Tower, World Trade Center, Statue of Liberty.

Version 5.0

Released: 1997

Version 5 added:

• Version 5.32 adds Airbus aircraft to the X-Plane CD.
• Version 5.6 adds United Airlines Boeing 747-400.

Version 6.0

Released: 2001

• Aircraft bitmaps are replaced by paints.
• Version 6.10 fully supported:
  • Mac OS 9
  • Mac OS X
  • all then current Windows
• Mac OS 8.6 and prior was no longer supported.

Version 7.0

Released: 2003

Changed to a new game engine, .png texture format, and icon.

Version 8.0

Released: 2004

Features of version 8 of the X-Plane series include:

• First DVD version.
• Ability to read .dsf scenery format.
• Version 8.20 adds a new .obj format supporting animation.
• Version 8.40 fully supports Intel Macs.
• Aircraft have improved 3D cockpits.
• First Linux version.

Version 9.0

Initially released: 2009.
Latest Stable Release: June 2011 (9.70).

• Memory management gains.
• Shader support: Users with high-end computers can see rippled shadows and reflections on water.
• A new installer automatically downloads and installs updated modules over the Internet.

Version 10.0

Initial release: November 2011.
Latest Stable: February 27, 2016(10.45)

• Improved flight model including wing flex
• Support for Foreflight
• Better use of multi-core processing for AI aircraft
• Improved air traffic control coordinated with AI aircraft above
• Global weather engine with advanced 3D cloud rendering
• Global scenery generated (in part) from OpenStreetMap data allowing accurate placement of roads, rivers and plausible auto-placement of buildings
• Better use of graphic processing units to replace all orthophoto textures representing 3D objects with full 3D objects such as buildings, freeways, streetlights and trees
• Global illumination and shadowing^[1][2]
• 64-bit support added, 32-bit version still included

References

1. X-Plane Congress 09
2. X-Plane Version 10 Summary