Expanded Standards Support

• HLA 4 (IEEE 1516-2025) Support: VR-Forces 5.2 adds full support for the new HLA 4 standard, continuing MAK’s leadership in simulation interoperability. Of course, VR-Forces remains fully compatible with earlier standards, including DIS and HLA Evolved (IEEE 1516-2010).
• C++ 20 API Support: The API has been modernized for full C++ 20 compatibility. Deprecated language features have been removed, ensuring customers can use modern compilers and development environments. (Note: HLA Evolved’s legacy requirements may still require older language features.)

Simulation Intelligence & Vehicle Movement Overhaul

This release introduces a massive redesign of ground-vehicle movement — one of the largest single system upgrades in VR-Forces history.

• Ground path planning is now enhanced with vector-based terrain data, improving movement accuracy for all vehicle types.
• Vehicles now use the MAK Behavior Tree System, enabling more intelligent reactions to obstacles and dynamically blocked paths.
• Task naming and UI organization have been streamlined for consistency and ease of use.
• Platoon-level tasking has been improved, allowing smoother coordination of small units.

These changes dramatically improve realism and operator productivity; full details are provided in the product release notes.

Terrain & Environment Enhancements

• Procedural Earth 2 (PE2) now enables procedural road and bridge generation, adding realism and connectivity to any terrain dataset.
• CDB Terrain Performance: Major internal optimizations deliver faster load times and smoother frame rates.
• Intersection Engine Upgrades: Refined algorithms improve performance and accuracy for large-scale procedural environments, supporting complex ground and air scenarios.
• Terrain Paging Diagnostics: New UI metrics expose paging performance and help users pinpoint terrain-loading bottlenecks.

Improved Modeling, Simulation, and Systems

• Perceived vs Ground Truth Location: VR-Forces 5.2 introduces the concept of perceived location — distinct from true position — allowing developers to model GPS error, jamming, spoofing, and other EW effects with unprecedented fidelity.
• IFF Manipulation in LUA: Identification-friend-or-foe data can now be programmatically altered in the LUA scripting framework, supporting advanced EW and deception training.
• Multi-Hit Actuator: Targets can now sustain multiple hits before destruction, enabling more realistic damage modeling.
• Resource & Fuel Tracking: Centralized APIs and enhanced UI views make it easier to monitor and manage logistical data in real time.
• ATGM Model Enhancements: Anti-tank guided missiles now support both top-attack and direct-attack modes.
• Expanded SMS Library: Hundreds of new models have been added. Many existing models have improved physical and behavioral parameters for greater realism.

System, Networking, and Integration Upgrades

• HLA Object Transfer: Entities can now be transferred between simulation engines. This capability is powerful but complex. Please consult the documentation for caveats and usage guidance.
• Database Export Improvements: Simulation Engine data can now be exported to MySQL servers, allowing multiple back-ends to share a single centralized database (previously limited to individual SQLite files).
• Enhanced Startup Configuration: New pre-configured startup profiles simplify launching multi-application MAK ONE environments. Shared configuration files make it easy to align FOM modules and start multiple instances with a single click.
• Operator Text Chat: VR-Forces operators can now create chat channels to communicate directly with other VR-Forces stations or VR-Engage users.

Security and Maintenance Enhancements

• Numerous third-party libraries have been upgraded to improve security and stability.
• Hundreds of bug fixes, refinements, and performance improvements have been applied across the product.

Expanded Sonobuoy and Maritime Systems

• Sonobuoy Deployment & Tracking: Improved logic allows aircraft and ships to more reliably detect and report sonobuoy activity, making ASW training more consistent and realistic.

Aggregate / Constructive Modeling

• Expanded Aggregate Simulation Model Set: New units for NATO and Russian formations extend VR-Forces’ constructive simulation capabilities, enhancing support for large-scale force-on-force and wargaming scenarios.

This is the most exciting VR-Forces release in years!

VR-Forces 5.2 represents a leap forward for synthetic training and experimentation. From deep simulation intelligence to procedural terrain realism and interoperability with the newest standards, it reaffirms MAK’s commitment to making VR-Forces the premier virtual world simulation platform.

Questions or comments? Connect with the MAK team anytime at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or explore MAK Customer Support through our Support Portal and Self-Help Resources.

Link, Visualize, and Simulate Your World — with MAK ONE.