Atlanta has been a long time coming. Back in August 2025, what was supposed to be the “third and final” development update for Orbx’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport pointed to a Christmas 2025 release. That window came and went, and so did a revised mid-April 2026 target. Now, developer Matteo Veneziani has shared another forum update with what sounds like genuinely encouraging news: beta testing is expected to begin the week of April 20, with a potential release before the end of the month if everything goes smoothly.
In his latest post, Veneziani says the 3D object placement phase is now fully complete, which was one of the most labour-intensive parts of the project. He describes the approach as methodical, with every ramp, corner, and less-visited part of the airport receiving attention, alongside a number of custom 3D objects built specifically for KATL. One example he highlights is the airport’s well-known parking shuttle buses, the kind of ground-level detail that makes Atlanta feel like Atlanta rather than a generic stand-in.
What remains before beta is a fairly defined list: finishing the placement of taxiway edge lights (of which KATL apparently has two distinct types, flat and tall), centerline taxiway lights, runway incursion lights, and a custom approach light system. The real airport has more than one approach light configuration to reproduce, and Veneziani says the intent is to replicate each one accurately. After that comes the AFCAD, GSX profile, animations, and other finishing touches.
The beta target is the start of the April 20 week, and if no major issues surface, Veneziani says a public release could follow before the end of April.
This is a project nearly two years in the making, with Veneziani working solo throughout the entire development cycle. Known for his previous work on Sacramento (KSMF) and Burbank Hollywood (KBUR), he has been tackling one of the most complex airport layouts in the world for this release. As we covered in our March update, KATL’s features include the animated Atlanta SkyTrain and Metro Train, detailed interior modelling, custom GSE, animated jetways, correct gate assignments for realistic AI traffic, and accurate ground elevation including Atlanta’s notably sloped runways.
No pricing has been announced yet. We’ll have more when a firm release date is confirmed.
