Looks like we are all reading something different into what Luthier has posted. As I read it C.o.D. will be abandoned after the final "Steam" patch, no more content just as the original Il2 was.
The sequel with the new engine will include the content from C.o.D. (or most of it) as a stand alone with further expansion being able to merge with this (as in FB, AEP and Pacific Fighters).
What we need is a playable demo of the new sequel to gain some confidence back that it will perform as advertised before we lay out our hard earned dollars for it. Most of us, especially those with Sli/Crossfire have been extreemly disappointed with the support we have had with this sim especially after the promises going back to April 2011.

I don't know if the sequel will give, free of charge, CoD to the sequel buyers or of it will benefit CoD by simply overwriting the core elements. Personally I have invested too much time and wishful thinking to abandon CoD if buying the sequel means not only an extension to the series but a fixing of core issues in CoD. Luthiers comments about 'no more fixes under the CoD project' seems to be talking about 'project funding' and no more is available for CoD but under the sequels's project funding it sounds as though things are being done to improve many aspects that will also benefit CoD.

And yes, a playable demo or even a limited beta accessible by registered testers (as was MS Flight and World of Planes) would be nice.

Uh, guys? Luthier has stated that the sequel will not merge into CLOD.

CLOD is dead. Give it up.

Here's my take on things, Luthier has already stated that he is a business man, its all about the money, this is why CLOD will be abandoned. So it would make no financial sense at all to have a sequel that features the content of CLOD, the sequel if installed over CLOD will give you all content and update/fix CLOD (we hope), if you dont have CLOD you just get the Russian stuff, I bet later down the line you will be able to buy the merged pack too. It makes a lot of financial sense for Luthier to not fix CLOD, if CLOD was fixed and working fully right now with a better netcode how many of us would buy the Russian add on?? Now we have no choice but to buy it if we want to get our game working, like Luthier said, ITS BUSINESS.

COD doesn't have to merge with the Sequel. The Sequel will have all of COD's content, which amounts to exactly the same thing as a merge. It will include the COD maps and missions, Russian maps and missions, and whatever improvements they've made to the game engine/features like the, AI, AI Commands, FM, DM, GUI, Clouds/Weather, and SDK etc. If the improvements are good enough the Sequel will sell, if they aren't the Sequel will join the dead Standalone COD.

I certainly hope that is the case.. but it is all as clear as mud. As is apparent from different people's interpretation.

If the sequel does not include the map & planes for a BoB scenario they will loose a lot of potential sales. Me for one. I want to fly Spitfires & Hurricanes over England.. simple as that. I have no interest in a Russian front.

err couldn't disagree more with your evaluation of what is good for their business. They don't have to fix CloD to include the maps & planes from CloD in the sequel. The present FM issues in CloD are due to the borked backbone of the game. Which they will have to fix for the sequel, therefore adding the planes & map should not be of any real expense to them and will only increase the appeal of the sequel and therefore increase sales, its all business.

If they don't fix the backbone of the engine the sequel will be a disaster anyway. Hence why there is no way in hell i'll be buying the sequel on release. I'll be eagerly waiting for impartial reviews before i touch it with a 10 foot pole.

Wow, sounds like you are very good with finances.

I don’t understand what all the confusion is about, perhaps reading too much into luthier’s syntax. He has stated many times that their intention was to continue with this series the same way they did with the original one, whether this will happen will only be known in the future.

The original IL2 was ‘abandoned’, wasn’t it? You had to buy the sequel to get an update. Pacific Fighters was also ‘abandoned’ in that it cannot be updated beyond 4.07 – you need to buy ’46 to get any further updates. And the last version included the content of all of the previous versions.

I don’t think that this term is particularly apt in these circumstances, although it probably sounds suitably dramatic from a certain viewpoint.

Your opinion, stated as fact, as usual.