[klem]

I wouldn't want to see an independent third party given access to the CoD code. TD may have a good reputation in IL-2 '46 but that is only part of the story. The code is 'out there' and there are/were the Ultrapack mods, the HSFX mods and the AllAircraft guys mods before that. The online servers became a mess and the community fragmented.

We need one constant playing field.

Even if 1C were to use third party developers tied by their small tender parts to a nasty contract, the code would inevitably escape somehow.

Luthier's answers on BoM and merging with CoD did become a little confusing but my last understanding was that any improvements in the 'core' element would also be available to CoD play because they would all sit under the same game/file structure, like IL-2 did. As for unique CoD elements like the map and the BoB era aircraft, its not clear if those aircraft files (e.g. a BoM Hurricane) would be separate from CoD aircraft and, if so, if they would then also take the opportunity to overwrite the CoD files with ones containing the latest FMs etc.