With the 1.0 release of Juno: New Origins (which is really fun, you should go buy it if you haven't yet), Andrew has stated that he and the rest of the dev team plan to give SimplePlanes some more attention soon. Disclaimer: All of this is my personal speculation, and is not confirmed to even be planned for a future update.
Though even Andrew himself mentioned the possibility of a "SimplePlanes 2", I personally think a large v2.0 update to SimplePlanes would be far better than a separate successor game, for a few reasons that aren't particularly relevant here. That aside, for this post I'll be assuming that future updates are in fact updates to the original game instead of being incorporated into a successor, mainly because I think I have at least a passable understanding of what would and would not be possible to incorporate into the existing game (and with a sequel, pretty much anything can be on the table, which doesn't make speculation very useful).
Anyway...
Likely
(Things I think would be likely candidates to be added in a near-future update)
Contrails
It's a pretty basic feature (and already exists with mods, so it's definitely possible to do), and Juno proved that it can be done with minimal performance impact.
Reworked Engine Effects
Both in terms of visual exhaust and audio, particularly in the case of the larger jet engines. Again, definitely possible (and even just copying the engine VFX from Juno would be a big improvement).
Customizable Inputs for All Parts
Weapons, wheel brakes, RCS ports, etc. Pretty self-explanatory.
Ability to Pair VTOL Nozzles to Specific VTOL Engines
Another one that probably should already exist. Basically like what's already done with wheels/car engines, but with the VTOL parts.
Updated Tutorials
The current tutorials are from when the gun button still actually said "Fire Guns" on it, instead of the bullets icon. Enough said.
Possible
(Things that could conceivably be added, but which would require a lot more work. Suitable for a large, "v2.0" style update.)
Reworked and Improved Designer UI
One of the biggest complaints I've seen about this game is that the designer UI can be clunky, at best. Though the menus were overhauled back in, like, 1.4 or something (anyone remember when "Sandbox Mode" was a button instead of a category?), the designer UI itself has remained essentially unchanged, other than the occasional addition of more buttons and parts. It could definitely be cleaned up and made to operate a little more like Juno's designer interface.
Procedural Landing Gear & Engines
Probably the single most-requested feature after they were revealed for Juno. I could see these being added (probably the landing gear well before the engines), but it would require a lot of work and may not be possible without significant revisions to the game's underlying base code.
New Island
What would it be? I have no idea. Where would it be? Maybe somewhere south of Sky Park, I dunno. But a new island would be one of the things that could reasonably be expected in a large, "v2.0" update.
Unlikely
(Stuff that I think probably won't be added, at least not any time soon)
Digital Cockpit Displays
Pretty simple in theory, probably quite difficult in execution. Plus, you can do pretty much any digital display with a properly configured label (as a lot of really smart people have demonstrated).
3D Clouds
I think if it was possible without being hugely impactful on performance (like the modded ones are), they would have had clouds in Juno (which I... don't think they do. I haven't seen any, anyway). I just don't see clouds being officially added any time soon.
Career Mode/Tech Tree
It works for Juno, but I don't think SimplePlanes would support a career mode and tech tree as well.
People/First-Person Walking
Again, I just don't see this happening.
Thoughts? Again, this is purely speculation on my part (and I've probably forgotten a few things), but I'm interested to hear what other folks think.
Something I would like to see is vanilla tracks, they don’t even have to look good or detailed I just want track physics that don’t require alot of parts
@Planebuilder2123 yep
@Kittyhawk208 nice propellers in juno and incoming updates for simpleplanes
@Planebuilder2123 scroll down to the what is yet to come section
@Planebuilder2123
https://www.simplerockets.com/Blog/View/213294/UPDATE-0-9-999-99999
Ctrl c ctrl v
@Kittyhawk208 also where did you find out they where makeing a propeller part?
@Kittyhawk208 Andrew officially mentioned they will work on simpleplanes more this year
I don't believe any more updates will come to Simpleplanes.
the team is working hard on Juno on an update to the engines. they are working on a new propeller part for the game that will function like the wheel in that it can be paired to a motor as far as I know. This is the only knew part for update 1, but they have expressed interest in also developing procedural ICE Engines to supplement the electric motor.
While all this is going on, WNP78 is at UNI so their hands are kinda tied.
Are you leaving sp
I mean the Devs could surprise us and do both! @ZeroRaven87
@Numbers2 agreed that a new game could bring a lot of new features to the table. But my main point is, I don’t think SP is dead just yet. I mean Devs have been creating new content for games from 26 years ago in the case of Jedi Knight, or longer.
Yes but you need to look from a devs prospective yes this game might have some things to give but using newer codes imagine the possibilities @ZeroRaven87
@Numbers2 they just released SP VR. That alone should show that there’s a lot of life left in the game.
Not to mention I don’t know if I wanna shell out another $xx.xx on a new SP game for Mobile, PC, and VR that quickly 😅
refelction bug fix :((
I would like the devs to add realistic physics. Like when the plane is fast that creates sonic booms or heat up when it goes Mach 3 or above
fix spaghetti code
I think having a SP2 would be a better idea because simpleplanes is kinda outdated now no offence but sometimes you have to move on if you want to make bigger and better games and I think when we get a new SP2 it will be more then what anyone could have imagined
Maybe add preventbreaking for winches, theyre weak and useless
@V My thoughts exactly! There's so many new things that could be added, but there's also a bunch of small things that need to be fixed, tweaked, and updated first.
give simpleplanes bloom and vegetation, the graphics is so outdated
My idea for the next small update:
Update 1.13: just the little things
Invert how selecting parts works in the connection editor
Fix tons of bugs
Underwater camera, the deeper you go the darker it gets
Reworked tutorial
Rename the mods menu on mobile into the "advanced" menu
Add an in-game disclaimer that android and IOS does not support modding
All the small stuff essensially, simpleplanes is very rough around the edges, and needs polishing. Andrew should pull out a buffing wheel and smooth out those rough edges, adding tons quality of life changes and fixing many of the bugs present in the game
I'd really like the whole thing with the VTOL nozzles, than I could make more sophisticated effects for wing vapor and stuff
@winterro not-so-SimplePlanes
@HuskyDynamics01 agreed
i think if we revamp engines, do what they did with the legacy parts. keep em in the files to make sure that old builds aren't killed, but make newer and better parts out of it
@Kangy Yeah, there's quite a few things that would need a sequel since they'd break existing builds. And with the designer UI, I don't think it should be the same as Juno's (which I also have some quibbles with), but there are a few parts that could definitely be cleaned up and streamlined.