Change Log

8/19/2026 - Version 1.2.0 released

ATMOS-X v1.2.0 Change Log

Special Considerations

• ATMOS-X v1.2.0 adds several new visibility range options to DCS. This increases the render distance of trees, terrain, buildings, clouds and effects. This of course is resource intensive and not recommended for those on lower-mid range hardware. You can balance FPS and render distance by selecting one of the new ATMOS-X Visibility Range options and then lowering tree visibility distance in the DCS graphics options.

Major New Features

Mod Manager

• Added a complete Mod Manager for DCS installation and Saved Games mods.

• Install mods from ZIP files or folders.

• Enable, disable, uninstall, search, sort, rename, and drag-and-drop mods.

• Added support for multiple mod-library folders.

• Added Custom Install for packages requiring a specific destination.

• Warns before a mod overwrites ATMOS-X-managed files.

• Detects conflicts between installed mods and safely restores overwritten files during uninstall.

Expanded ATMOS-X Effects

Effects can now be installed or removed individually:

• Enhanced Ocean Effects

• Water Droplets

• Lightning

• Missile Launch Smoke & Contrails (WIP)

• Enhanced Stratosphere

• Rain & Snow

• Extended View Distance

• Adds new Visibility Range options in DCS graphics options

All components are enabled by default for new installations.

Enhanced Ocean Controls

• Added selectable Ocean Conditions:

  • Gentle Swell

  • Moderate Swell — default

  • Heavy Swell

  • Long Swell

• Added a Whitecap Intensity slider, defaulting to 100%.

• Expanded ocean rendering with improved swells, whitecaps, reflections (WIP). Improved ship wakes are planned for next update.

Lightning Controls

• Added a Lightning Intensity slider from 1x to 4x.

• 1x remains the default ATMOS-X lightning rate.

• The interface now displays the approximate near and distant lightning rates.

DCS Graphics Options Editor

• Added an in-app editor for DCS graphics settings.

• Covers resolution, anti-aliasing, upscaling, textures, shadows, visibility, clouds, water, lighting, environment, FOV, FPS limits, and more.

• Preserves settings not managed by ATMOS-X.

• Automatically backs up options.lua before saving.

• Retains the ten most recent graphics-settings backups.

Default Configuration Changes

• Atmospheric Conditions now selects ATMOSX Default whenever ATMOS-X is activated.

• Enabling Enhanced Stratosphere automatically selects ATMOSXUltra as the DCS visibility range.

• Ocean Conditions defaults to Moderate Swell.

• Whitecap Intensity defaults to 100%.

• Lightning Intensity defaults to 1x.

Faster DCS Shader Loading

• Added two precompiled fxo.edcz variants.

• The Enhanced Stratosphere cache is installed when that effect is enabled.

• The standard-atmosphere cache is installed when Enhanced Stratosphere is disabled.

• Switching the effect no longer requires the same lengthy shader compilation process.

Safer Backup and Upgrade Handling

• The stock DCS fxo.edcz is now included in activation, upgrade, and manual-backup handling.

• Existing stock FXO backups are refreshed during a manual backup.

• Added protection against accidentally recording an ATMOS-X FXO cache as the stock DCS backup.

• Existing v1.1.x installations are migrated to the new FXO system.

• Deactivating ATMOS-X restores the original stock DCS cache.

• FXO files are handled separately from general installation and restoration routines.

Interface and Performance Improvements

• Consolidated Cirrus Options, Special Effects, effect components, and Atmospheric Conditions into a redesigned ATMOS-X Effects page.

• Reworked effect tooltips to explain the visible in-game result.

• Improved application launch speed

• Added tooltips explaining visual impact of various parameters in Cloud Builder

Known Issues

• Displacement waves suddenly stop at 2km when viewed at grazing angle (ie: carrier deck). This is controlled game engine side and I haven’t found a workaround for it yet.

• Water droplets have strange behavior on some aircraft. This occurs with stock water droplets also and is not an ATMOS-X issue. On the Heatblur F-14 droplets move in opposite direction of wind/gravity on some areas of the canopy. On the F-4E droplets don’t work at all.

• Ships don’t ride the swell waves. Currently ship movement is tied to wind speed by the game engine.

• Cloud Presets “Scattered Thunderstorms 1” and “Scattered Thunderstorms 2” currently don’t produce lightning and thunder. To get thunder and lightning follow the steps to create thunderstorms in the documentation.

• If Cirrus clouds base altitude is set below 40000ft they may suddenly disappear when viewed from 10000ft above the layer at certain angles.

 4/08/2026 - Version: 1.1.0 released

NEW - Added "atmosx-cli". This powerful cli tool will allow users to automate functions of ATMOS-X

NEW - [Atmospheric Effects] Added new "Heavy Haze" atmospheric conditions option

NEW - [Cirrus Clouds] Added new "Auto" mode that is enabled by default. 

NEW - [Preset Builder] Added ability to load METAR from past time, up to 30 days in the past

NEW - [Preset Builder] Added three new options for METAR time conversion in Date/Time panel

NEW - [Preset Builder] Added fallbacks for when METAR data isn't available. Current conditions are fetched from alternative sources

NEW - [Preset Builder] Added Iraq and Afghanistan airfields. 

NEW - [Settings] Added update check button in help/about section

NEW - [Settings] Activate button now restores original ATX - TSTORM presets

NEW - [Settings] Added DCS Install profiles in Settings for users with multiple DCS installs  

NEW - [Cloud Builder] Added import/export buttons for clouds.lua file. Easier for users to share their cloud presets with others

NEW - [Cloud Presets] Added eight new cloud presets in the mission editor

IMPROVED - [Preset Builder] Improved logic that selects cloud preset from METAR cloud layer data

IMPROVED - [Atmospheric Effects] Improved "Ultra Clear" atmosphere preset

FIX - [Cloud Builder] When switching cloud presets, automatically loads the preset (load preset button was removed)

FIX - [Preset Builder] When setting cloud base altitude from METAR data, preset logic now takes into account the airfield's elevation

FIX - [Preset Builder] Save to Mission is not updating the set time

FIX - [Preset Builder] Tuned the fog/visibility logic when importing from METAR

FIX - [Preset Builder] Manual input ICAO malforms the upper level wind fields in the mission file

FIX - [Settings] When saved ATMOS-X profile is loaded, it doesn't automatically install the settings

FIX - [Settings] Minimize to tray setting isn't being retained between app sessions

2/24/2026 - Hotfix Version 1.0.1 released

-Fixed bug affecting users in countries where comma-decimal is default in Windows, causing cirrus.fx shader crash.

-added block to cirrus options while DCS is running

-adjusted cirrus coverage parameters

-adjusted aurora setting parameter thresholds in the UI 

2/24/2026 - Initial Release version: 1.0.0