How we choose addons in X-Shop

There are thousands of addons in flight simulation - planes, airports, utilities, textures. We don't try to sell everything. Our goal is to only offer products that truly enhance the simulation experience and are worth paying for.

Each add-on in our catalog is tested according to several criteria. We test products ourselves, study community feedback, and communicate with developers. If an addon doesn't meet our standards, we don't add it - even if it's popular or sells well among competitors.

This is a principled position. We want every purchase in X-Shop to be successful, so that pilots trust our choice and know: if a product is in the catalog, then it is worth the money.

Criterion No. 1: Technical quality

The first thing we pay attention to is the technical performance of the addon. This applies to airplanes, airports, and any other products.

For aircraft we check:

• 3D model quality: exterior and cabin detail, textures, animation
• Correctness of systems: do all switches, indicators, automation work
• FPS performance: does the addon kill the frame rate
• Sound: realistic sounds of engines, systems, environment
• The physics of flight: does the plane behave believably

For airports:

• Accuracy of recreating a real object (we check with references)
• Optimization (the airport should not turn the simulator into a slideshow)
• Texture and lighting quality
• Correctness of markings, taxiing, parking

We do not add products with obvious bugs, defects or outdated quality standards. If an addon looks like it's from 2010, but costs something new in 2025, it's not our choice.

Criterion No. 2: Developer reputation

The name of the developer means a lot. Studios like PMDG, FlightFactor, iniBuilds, FlyByWire, FSDT have earned an excellent reputation for years of quality work. When we see their logo on a product, this is already a certain level of guarantee.

But we don’t ignore new developers either. If an independent creator releases a quality addon, we are willing to give it a chance. The main thing is that the product meets the standards.

What we consider:

• Release history: has the developer released quality products before
• Support: do they update their addons, do they fix bugs
• Communication with the community: do they answer questions, do they accept feedback
• Meeting deadlines: are projects abandoned halfway

There are studios that released one good addon and then disappeared. There are those who have been updating their products for years and adapting them to new versions of simulators. We prefer to work with the latter.

Criterion No. 3: Relevance and demand

We analyze what is interesting to our audience. What aircraft are popular in the community? Which routes fly most often? Which airports do pilots request?

We track:

• Trends in flight simulation: what types of aircraft are popular now
• Customer requests: what they ask in comments and messages
• Discussions on forums and in simulator communities
• Sales statistics for similar products

Sometimes we add niche products - for example, a rare regional airport or a little-known aircraft type. But only if you are sure that it has its own audience, albeit a small one.

Criterion No. 4: Price and value

Addons for simulators come in different prices: from a couple of dollars for a simple airport to hundreds for a flagship aircraft with study-level systems. We look at value for money.

On the other hand, we are not looking for cheapness. A cheap add-on that will spoil the impression of the simulation and cause dozens of complaints is worse than not selling anything at all.

We evaluate:

• Amount of content: what is included in the purchase
• Depth of development: how detailed the product is implemented
• Availability of additional materials: documentation, tutorials, liveries
• Compliance with the market price: is the cost overpriced

Criterion No. 5: Compatibility and technical support

The addon should work stably on current versions of simulators. If a product crashes every once in a while, conflicts with popular mods, or requires shamanic dances to install, we won’t take it.

Important points:

• Supports current versions of X-Plane, MSFS, Prepar3D
• Presence of an installer or clear instructions
• No conflicts with common addons
• Availability of updates and patches

This is especially true for aircraft with deep systems simulation. If a developer released a product a year ago and has never updated it since then, although the simulator has received several major patches, this is a red flag.

We also consider how easy it is to get technical support. If the developer has an active forum, discord server, or fast email support, this is a plus.

Criterion No. 6: Community reviews

We carefully read what real users write about products. Forums, Reddit, YouTube reviews, comments on X-Plane.org and FlightSim.to are all sources of valuable information.

If an addon looks great in the trailer, but pilots are massively complaining about bugs, poor optimization, or disappointing expectations, we will be careful. One negative review is not a problem. Dozens of similar complaints are a serious reason to think about it.

On the other hand, if an independent developer released an addon and received a lot of positive feedback from the community, we will definitely take a closer look at it.

We analyze:

• General tone of reviews: what prevails - praise or criticism
• Specific problems: are there any system bugs or shortcomings
• Developer’s reaction: how he works with feedback
• Dynamics of ratings: is the product improving over time

Criterion No. 7: Uniqueness and novelty

If there are already five great versions of the A320 on the market for X-Plane, is a sixth needed? Perhaps - if she offers something new. Deeper simulation, better graphics, unique liveries or a more affordable price. (example)

We do not add clones of existing products unless they are superior to the originals. Why offer a worse alternative to what is already in the catalog?

On the other hand, we are actively looking for addons that close gaps. Rare types of aircraft, little-known airports, interesting utilities - if it is done well and someone needs it, we will add it.

What we DO NOT sell

There are product categories that we do not add to the catalog as a matter of principle:

Abandoned projects. Addons that have not been updated for years and stopped working on new versions of simulators. Even if they were once good.

Outright slag. Products of blatantly low quality that are not even worth the minimum price. We don't want to make money from customer disappointment.

Dubious utilities. Software that promises miracles (“+200 FPS!”, “Realism as in reality!”), but in reality does not give anything or even harms the system.

How to get into X-Shop as a developer

If you are a developer and want your addon to appear in our catalog, contact us. We are open to suggestions and always welcome quality products.

What you need:

• Demo version or detailed product description
• Screenshots and videos
• Information about price and conditions
• Contacts

We will test the addon, evaluate it according to our criteria and give an answer. If the product meets the standards, we will be happy to add it to the catalog.

Conclusions

Selecting addons for X-Shop is not a random process. We carefully test every product to ensure quality and customer satisfaction.

Our goal is to be not just a store, but content curators who help pilots find the best addons and not waste money. When you buy from X-Shop, you can be sure that the product is tested, approved and truly worth the money.

We continue to expand the catalog by adding new add-ons and following trends in flight simulation. Your feedback and suggestions help us become better. Thank you for trusting X-Shop!