ERJ FAMILY 2.0: Why We Chose Quality over 2025

At FSExpo, I announced that the ERJ Family 2.0 would be released in 2025. Well, looking at the calendar, it's the end of December, and the release hasn't happened yet. Despite our every effort, I failed to deliver on that promise, and for that I apologize.

It's my fault — I broke my own rule — Never, ever announce a release date!

If you have been subscribed to the Not-A-Newsletter for some time, you have likely learned about the various challenges and obstacles in flight simulation development. You now understand that it is nearly impossible to predict how long a project will take to complete. I had to decide, either we release an incomplete version of the ERJs and stress over the holidays, or we take a bit more time, tie all the knots, add the cherries on top, and also enjoy the holidays in peace. Option two seemed like a much better choice for keeping the harmony in the universe.

BUT! That's the end of the bad news. 

The good news is that the main reason for the delay was us pushing our limits further than ever before and aiming for a level of simulation I never expected for the ERJs. Our real ERJ pilot testers fly the jets just like in real life, with all the nuances of the real aircraft.

All systems are now custom and behave as on the real aircraft. 99% of all cockpit buttons are operational, except for the circuit breakers, or buttons that cannot really be practically simulated in a flight sim. Flight controls, flight directors, and autopilot modes are split between the left and right sides. We have an authentic FMS with holds, authentic avionics, accurate flight dynamics, and everything else in between.

To demonstrate this, we have an exclusive "First Look" video featuring an actual ERJ pilot testing every system of the aircraft. The video is organized into chapters that cover each aircraft system, beginning with a cold and dark state and finishing with an engine startup while showcasing the expected level of simulation from the new ERJs.

Introducing: AirComms™

Not all users may feel comfortable with such complex systems, which is why we are developing a new on-screen interface called AirComms™. 

This interface is designed to guide you through flying the aircraft, making the experience both easy and still super enjoyable! It will include interactive tutorials, offer tips on when to perform specific actions, and provide warnings if you forget to complete certain tasks. We want to make sure that everyone, no matter their experience level, loves flying these jets!

AirComms will first be introduced in the ERJs, but it will also be incorporated into our next-generation E-Jets later on. Here's a sneak peek:

I am honestly extremely excited that we have outdone ourselves once again, and I cannot wait to share these awesome aircraft with you!

I won’t make the mistake of providing an updated release date again. We only have a few features left to complete for the aircraft. However, I still need to create all the documentation, website resources, screenshots, and other materials to prepare for the release, and that all takes time.

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks! We should also soon start seeing YouTube reviewers getting their hands on these jets and hosting pre-release live streams.

Recap of 2025: What did we do?

A lot! This year, I really tried to laser-focus on just developing and on finding ways for our team to do it better and faster. That is why you might have seen less content from me, and I might have appeared quieter, but behind the scenes, we've been working nonstop!

In March, we released the E-Jets Family 2.0, a new generation of our E-Jets with loads of new, now very popular features, increased stability, and the brand-new Lineage 1000, which is becoming one of the most popular E-Jets in the community!

At FSExpo, I also announced that we will be releasing the E-Freighters, the cargo variants of the E-Jets. We have now completed the main part of the loading system, which will allow you to load different kinds of cargo into the E-Freighters. The next stage will involve completing the 3D models of the aircraft's interior and the supporting ground vehicles.

After the summer, we released the E-Jets Family 2.1 and also a new update to our Freeware E-Jets. In the meantime, we've been investing a lot of time in the next generation of E-Jets. But the majority of our team's resources have been spent on the ERJ Family 2.0.

Clearly, we have a lot of things in the oven!

Looking Ahead

I am really excited about 2026! We have welcomed a few new team members, and I'm very happy about it because each of them brings unique skills and perspectives, opening up new possibilities for us. We have a lot of projects in progress, and I love seeing them come to life.

We're only able to do this thanks to the community support, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone of our supporters from the bottom of my heart.

All the best in the New Year from the entire X-Crafts Team!

Marko Mamula | X-Crafts Director