I think they used some kind of filter effect to do this. In one of the clips it looked that way to me at least.
But it was very well done, I think I would be very happy with that!
Edit:
Watched it again on a bigger screen and it looks really great. From what they showed I’d say it is pretty much perfect for what you can expect from a flight sim.
Snow video is the game changer.
Well, it does look great, but it is possible with X-Plane too, admittedly with an expensive plugin (X-Enviro).
If they do it the way I think they do it, then it will be no issue at all bandwidth wise.
Man, I am really curious how it will end up looking, and what performance will be possible with a non high end rig.
I think one of the biggest differences for MSFS2020 will just be what the expectations on default scenery will be. XP and P3D can be made to look really nice with OrthoXP and custom layers, plus there is always Orbx scenery, but to get it all by default for the included price will make a difference I think.
Via Google Maps in Earth mode:
Via X-Plane 11 default scenery:
MSFS2020 public image via reddit of the same place:
Including all the worldwide scenery, 11 decent aircraft, ATC, Traffic, Clouds/Weather and a graphics engine that works solidly at 4k/60fps for $60 will shake things up, even if the sim doesn’t end up being perfect in every way.
I’ve put my 3rd party purchases on hold for a bit.
Can make snow by reducing the RGB curve of the textures in real time, as snow builds you see more white and less, color.
I am afraid this holds true for many simmers for the moment (I have not stopped but reduced purchases significantly).
I only hope this will not hurt the industry. Many 3rd party devs are doing great job and it would be pitty to see them go.
I think it will just reset the value proposition a bit. Charging $80 for clouds, $60 for ATC, $50 for traffic and $50 for a (relatively) small region of scenery that takes up a lot of SSD space might be harder to justify. There will always be ‘gaps’ but perhaps they’ll just get more specialized?
I do think XP 12 will benefit from all this for sure. What MSFS has done isn’t impossible for others to implement as well, so hopefully we see lots of new things to buy from lots of places.
If people want custom walk-around quality accurate airports (that aren’t in the top 1000 in the world etc), super detailed but rarer aircraft and even scenery objects that no AI could ever do (and doesn’t come from the streamed scenery) then I’m pretty sure it will be there in MSFS2020 and in XP11 etc as a 3rd party offering. There will be an active marketplace around the new sims I feel.
Looks like the engineers almost underestimated what they needed for the enclosure glass. Luckily the Gorilla decided one whack at it was enough.
Wheels
If Mudspike had a motto, I think that might be it. Let’s put some of that into Latin
or words to that effect 
On behalf of the entire MSFS team, we wish you and your loved ones the very best for 2020!
Starting next week (01.13 – 01.17) we will be sending out the second wave of invitations for testing Tech Alpha 1. If you’ve registered for Tech Alpha 1 but have not been selected, make sure to keep an eye on your inbox starting next Monday!
We are in the final testing phase for Tech Alpha 2 and expect to have the build ready for release shortly. We are currently tracking to the following timeline:
As a reminder, if you are already participating in Tech Alpha 1 testing, you will automatically be granted access to Tech Alpha 2.
Next update – 01.16!
Sincerely,
Microsoft Flight Simulator Team
Those lists look promising as at least it has all been acknowledged.
Let’s see how this progresses!
The questions and wishlist lists being read as alphabetical and not in order of priority is important too (please don’t launch without TrackIR or VR, pleeeaaaseee). 
If I had to order them (assuming for a moment that they would all be doable and I would have the resources available) my order would be:
The first three are a necessity to get going with an immersive single player experience IMO.
I would push TrackIR down after seasons.
While I absolutely love the camera freedom, I currently miss FSX’s pretty good ATC and AI traffic. Seasons can make or break the choice to fly in a particular area, and don’t require additional hardware - benefits everyone.
I could work with a hat switch at first. Nostalgia alone would allow for that! In FSX I didn’t move the camera alot, unless I was in an external view.
That’s just me though!
I don’t want to be “that guy”, in fact I do, I do want to be that guy… I ain’t buying until it at least has TrackIR 
American Truck Simulator has TrackIR for Fs sake (–>flightsim’s sake)
Also VR 
… that’s right! is it any better? as last time I tried, months ago, it wasn’t great (sry do not want to hijack this FS2020 thread)
I really like it and the VR works quite nicely now (on an overly expensive PC). I put on some country music, drink beer through a straw, pick up a delivery of hogs at 9PM from Redding CA and drive overnight to Albuquerque NM until dawn. It’s relaxing in a weird sort of way. 
