What Heatblur Simulations does

Heatblur Simulations (legal entity Rental Punkt Suprema Sp. z o.o., registered in Świnoujście, Poland) is a privately held, founder-operated developer of high-fidelity digital flight simulation modules, classified in the 11–50 employee band and active since 2015. The company builds paid add-on aircraft for two consumer simulation platforms: DCS World (Eagle Dynamics) and Microsoft Flight Simulator. Released modules include the MiG-21, AJS-37 Viggen, F-14 Tomcat, the F-14B(U) upgrade and F-14 Ultimate Edition bundle, and the F-4E Phantom II. The MSFS F-14 Tomcat was co-developed with IndiaFoxtEcho and launched in December 2023; announced upcoming modules include the MSFS F-16A, DCS Eurofighter Typhoon, DCS A-6 Intruder, and an MSFS version of the F-4 Phantom. In March 2025 Heatblur disclosed a strategic partnership with Embraer to develop the Praetor 600 for Microsoft Flight Simulator's Expert Series, marking its first civilian-aviation product.

Heatblur's technical differentiators are concentrated in a proprietary technology stack: a component-based simulation framework called Heatblur FORGE that models each aircraft as a network of thousands of state-bearing components with their own wear and tear; HBUI (Heatblur UI), a Chromium Embedded Framework backend integrated into DCS World that powers interactive in-game manuals, browsers, tooltips, and the JESTER wheel; and JESTER AI 2.0, a behavior-tree-driven AI companion system that fills the WSO/RIO seat in two-seat aircraft and supports vision-conditioned situational awareness, a comprehensive voice-acted dialogue library, and aircraft-agnostic extensibility via Lua. Visual fidelity is built from laser scanning and photogrammetry of museum-preserved aircraft combined with pilot-verified flight models.

Revenue is generated exclusively through one-time perpetual digital license sales, with no disclosed subscription component. Pricing is premium: $34.99 for the MSFS F-14 Tomcat, $79.99 for the DCS F-14 Tomcat and DCS F-4 Phantom (single-seat), $109.99 for the F-14 Ultimate Edition bundle, $149.99 for the F-4 Phantom crew pack, and $56.99 for the F-14B(U) upgrade. Distribution is multi-channel: direct via the Shopify-powered Heatblur Store, Steam for DCS, and the MSFS Marketplace. The customer base is exclusively consumer enthusiast flight simulators, concentrated in geographies with strong flight-sim communities (USA, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Sweden). Reported revenue, headcount composition, and funding round history are not publicly disclosed; the company appears to be bootstrapped and founder-led, with CEO/Founder Nicholas Dackard.

Name

Heatblur Simulations

Legal name

Rental Punkt Suprema Spółka z Ograniczoną Odpowiedzialnością

Website

https://store.heatblur.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heatblur Simulations is a privately held Polish-registered developer (founded 2015) that builds premium, high-fidelity digital flight simulation modules for consumer DCS World and Microsoft Flight Simulator enthusiasts, monetized through one-time digital license sales of its own and co-developed aircraft add-ons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flight Simulation Software

akta.pro primary industry

Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise) (MPAFAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Modeling, Simulation, Digital Twins & Mission Rehearsal Systems (IMABAOAL)

Keywords

• Flight simulation modules
• DCS World add-ons
• Military aircraft simulation
• Microsoft Flight Simulator add-ons
• Digital aircraft simulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Swinoujscie

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Digital Module Sales: Heatblur generates revenue primarily through the direct sale of digital flight simulation modules and upgrades via its own e-commerce storefront (store.heatblur.com). Customers purchase perpetual license keys for specific aircraft modules for DCS World or Microsoft Flight Simulator. No recurring subscription fees are charged; each module is a one-time purchase.
2. Module Upgrades and Ultimate Editions: Revenue is also generated through the sale of expansion upgrades (e.g., DCS: F-14B(U) upgrade) and bundled Ultimate Editions that combine multiple variants of an aircraft in one package at a premium price. Crew packs offer discounted multi-seat licenses for multiplayer scenarios.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Heatblur Simulations develops and sells high-fidelity digital flight simulation modules (add-ons) of iconic military aircraft such as the F-14 Tomcat, F-4E Phantom II, and AJS-37 Viggen for the DCS World platform, and an F-14 Tomcat module for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Each module is sold as a one-time perpetual license key via the company's own Shopify storefront, Steam (for DCS), and the MSFS marketplace, with paid expansion upgrades (e.g., the F-14B(U)) and discounted multi-seat "Crew Pack" bundles for multiplayer two-seat cockpits.

Product overview

Heatblur Simulations is a flight simulation developer offering high-fidelity aircraft simulation products for DCS World (Eagle Dynamics) and Microsoft Flight Simulator platforms. The portfolio includes released modules for DCS World: F-14 Tomcat, F-4 Phantom, and AJS-37 Viggen, with the F-14B(U) Upgrade as an expansion pack and Ultimate Edition bundle. For Microsoft Flight Simulator, the MSFS F-14 Tomcat is available in partnership with IndiaFoxtEcho. Announced upcoming products include DCS: Eurofighter Typhoon, DCS: A-6 Intruder, and MSFS F-16A. The company is known for its proprietary JESTER AI companion system, next-gen component-based simulation frameworks, and HBUI (Heatblur UI) technology built on Chromium Embedded Framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Heatblur Store: The company's official e-commerce store for selling digital flight simulation products
• JESTER AI
• JESTER 2.0
• HBUI (Heatblur UI)
• JESTER
• Heatblur FORGE

Products and services

• DCS: F-14 Tomcat High-fidelity DCS World simulation module of the F-14A and F-14B Tomcat fighter aircraft, featuring AN/AWG-9 radar with Pulse Search, Pulse Doppler, RWS, TWS and STT modes, AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, variable-geometry wings, the JESTER AI RIO companion, and multiplayer two-seat crew capability for individual hobbyist flight simulation enthusiasts who own DCS World.
• DCS: F-14B(U) Upgrade Paid expansion module for existing DCS: F-14A/B Tomcat owners that introduces a modernized VDIG-R HUD with LANTIRN, JDAM, and RWR integration, replaces the classic TID with the Programmable Tactical Information Display (PTID) enabling simultaneous raster video and symbology, and adds updated cockpit and exterior art.
• DCS: F-4 Phantom High-fidelity DCS World simulation of the F-4E Phantom II featuring dual-crew JESTER AI 2.0 WSO companion, the next-generation Heatblur FORGE component-based simulation framework, AN/APQ-120 radar simulation, AN/AVQ-23 Pave Spike targeting pod, and an extensive weapons suite including AIM-7, AIM-9, AGM-65 Maverick, and the M61 Vulcan cannon.
• DCS: AJS-37 Viggen High-fidelity DCS World simulation of the Swedish AJS-37 Viggen attack aircraft, featuring the CK-37 aircraft computer, PS-37/A radar, advanced navigation with terrain contour matching (TERCOM), and a weapons suite including the RB-15F anti-ship missile and BK-90 cluster munitions.
• MSFS: F-14 Tomcat High-fidelity Microsoft Flight Simulator simulation of the F-14 Tomcat developed in partnership with IndiaFoxtEcho, featuring both F-14A and F-14B variants, the JESTER LITE AI crew companion, and a detailed flight model based on laser scanning and photogrammetry of museum-preserved aircraft.

Quantifiable outcome

• Heatblur Simulations has been developing flight simulation products since 2015 and has launched multiple modules including the MiG-21, AJS-37 Viggen, F-14 Tomcat, and F-4 Phantom II.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• EmbraerflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2025Heatblur announced a strategic partnership with Embraer to develop the Praetor 600 as part of Microsoft Flight Simulator's Expert Series. This was revealed during the March 2025 Microsoft Flight Simulator Developer Live Stream. The Praetor 600 will be developed within the Expert Series lineup for MSFS.
• IndiaFoxtEchocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeatblur partners with IndiaFoxtEcho (IFE) for Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft modules. The partnership combines Heatblur's aircraft fidelity expertise with IFE's deep knowledge of the MSFS platform. The first co-developed product is the MSFS F-14 Tomcat (released December 2023), followed by the announced F-16A module. IFE handles MSFS platform-specific development while Heatblur provides aircraft research, modeling, and flight simulation expertise.
• Eagle DynamicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeatblur develops simulation modules for DCS World, the combat flight simulation platform by Eagle Dynamics S.A. Heatblur is one of the premier third-party module developers for DCS World, with products including the F-14 Tomcat, F-4 Phantom II, and AJS-37 Viggen. The partnership provides access to the DCS World platform ecosystem and player base.
• The Fighter CollectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fighter Collection is listed as a development partner for the AJS-37 Viggen module. TFC contributed to the research, development, and authenticity verification of the Viggen simulation for DCS World.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Polychop Simulations: French third-party developer of high-fidelity DCS World modules including the de Havilland Mosquito and Supermarine Spitfire. Directly comparable as a DCS third-party studio competing for the same enthusiast-paying customer base.
• Razbam Simulations: DCS World third-party developer known for the AV-8B Harrier and Mirage 2000 modules. Directly comparable as a peer DCS module studio targeting the same high-fidelity combat flight sim niche.
• EDGE Simulations: Developer of high-fidelity DCS World modules. Directly comparable third-party DCS studio with the same target customer (study-level combat sim enthusiasts) and similar premium digital download distribution model.
• IndiaFoxtEcho: Developer of high-fidelity aircraft modules for Microsoft Flight Simulator and DCS World, and Heatblur's co-development partner on MSFS F-14 Tomcat and the upcoming F-16A. Closely comparable as a peer MSFS/DCS module studio.
• PMDG: Long-established developer of high-fidelity airliner modules (737, 777) for MSFS and DCS. Directly comparable as a premium-priced third-party developer of study-level aircraft modules serving the same enthusiast market.
• Aerges: DCS World third-party developer behind the C-101 Aviojet and MB-339 modules. Directly comparable peer DCS studio with similar high-fidelity, premium-priced digital distribution model.
• FlyByWire Simulations: Open-source and commercial developer of high-fidelity aircraft (notably the A380) for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Directly comparable as a peer MSFS aircraft developer competing for the same hobbyist base.
• iniBuilds: Developer of high-fidelity airliner modules (e.g., A340, A350) for MSFS, with established digital distribution. Comparable as a peer premium MSFS module developer in the same enthusiast market segment.

Broad incumbents

• Eagle Dynamics: Developer and platform owner of DCS World, on which Heatblur's core products are sold. Acts as both platform incumbent and indirect competitor (Eagle Dynamics also develops first-party DCS modules that compete with third-party studios).
• Aerosoft: Long-established flight simulation publisher distributing aircraft, scenery, and infrastructure across MSFS, DCS, and Prepar3D. Comparable as a broader incumbent that sells and publishes similar products to a similar enthusiast market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hbsimulations
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HeatblurSimulations
• Facebookfacebook.com/heatblur
• Instagraminstagram.com/heatblur/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heatblur-simulations

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Heatblur Simulations