I’ve wanted to write about Microsoft Flight Simulator and the 2024 announcement, however, rather than writing immediately about it I wanted to know more first. Fortunately, thanks to Flight Sim Expo 2023 and the presentation the MSFS team, we know quite a bit more about the newly announced sim. So, here are my thoughts about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

What is it?

In-case you’ve missed the news, Microsoft have announced that the next generation of Microsoft Flight Simulator will release in 2024. The release will be a new version of the sim, sold separately from one that released in 2020, and packing new features, new things to do, and enhancements across the board.

Microsoft have released and then updated a FAQ that details what they are doing with the new release and I encourage everyone to read it. I also encourage everyone to watch the FSExpo 2023 keynote presentation because Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Sebastian Wloch, CEO of Asobo Studio give great presentations on what they are doing.

Elephant in the room: 10 year plan

I’ve read comments and received comments about the 10-year plan for Microsoft Flight Simulator and I thought that it was something that I wanted to address first because I don’t think we’re all talking about the same thing and our understanding of what this means may be evolving in the wake of this news.

I start by going back to an interview that was done with much of the Microsoft Flight Simulator leadership done in September of 2019. In that interview, Robert Jerauld, listed as Director of Production for the “Microsoft Flight Simulator” franchise for Xbox Games Studio Publishing, can be quoted as saying, “I hope its something that we can all grow with over the next decade.” His answer given in response to questions about how reliant the sim would be on data from external servers and how long the sim would live.

Similar messaging from Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, whom we’ve gotten to know in the preceding three years since launch, has convinced many of us of the longevity of the sim.

I think here that we all diverge a bit in what our expectations are meant to be. When they announced that MSFS 2020 would be a platform that they were sticking with for a decade I wondered what that would exactly mean. Was this going to be a live service product that evolved over that time, ala IL-2 and DCS World, or would it leapfrog versions in a semi-traditional manner the way X-Plane does it, the way P3D does it, and the way Microsoft Flight Simulator has done it in the past. Turns out… its the later.

Does that invalidate or make false the 10-year support plan? I don’t think it does. MSFS has, broadly speaking, delivered on all of the big items on their list. The sim has evolved significantly since launch and adding a ton of content and bug fixes along the way. They also delivered on gliders and helicopters in the 40th Anniversary update. That’s not to say that its perfect or that its bug free. I don’t think software on this scale or scope can ever achieve those things.

The 2020 release of Microsoft Flight Simulator won’t be shutting down the moment that 2024 releases. The lights won’t be going out on 2020 and I expect that the servers and systems that support the sim will go on until 2030 – to achieve that goal of 10-years of support. Even more encouragingly, Jorg stated in the keynote at FSExpo that they would be doing their best to back-port some new 2024 features to 2020. Hypothetically, I could see core systems like avionics updates such as the work done by Working Title being updated across both products as they already appear to be relatively modular in nature.

The business and the software

We have to always remember that these sims we play and enjoy are ultimately part of a complex business and software ecosystem. Businesses both small and large are obligated to make money and Microsoft is no different.

While some may feel like the current product deserves to live on longer under active development, I think the harder reality is that these jumps and eventual needs to infuse more cash are important for the series to live over the long term. Bottom lines have to be met, shareholders need to see profits, and the business side of the sim has to succeed. I think it is already but its not way of things to be satisfied with “enough.”

This all said, I think its software over business that is ultimately driving the change over to 2024 though we’d be wise to keep both in mind.

The presentation at FSExpo had me legitimately excited about the possibilities offered by the new sim and the big change that they are making is that the MSFS client will become more of a “thin client” (words used in the presentation). That means more of the sim is going to be streamed in from Microsoft’s servers. The result is a big change in how the sim works and the promise that the sim will continue work on lower spec machines, remain accessible to Xbox and Xbox live streaming service, and still improve in visuals and simulation fidelity.

Why do this? Well I turn to Sergio at HeliSimmer and the recent interview he did with Jorg and Seb on all things MSFS. In there, he quotes Jorg as saying:

So when I think when we started Microsoft flight simulator, the thought was, oh, we’re building a platform, the forever platform. And I think that’s ultimately maybe a little bit innocent because technology changes too fast and data is massive.

Jorg Neumann in the HelSimmer.com interview

The big problem is that MSFS is getting better and better and to do that its taking up more room on our local drives making it harder for many players to stay up with the latest version. Centrally stored data, streamed out, seems like the only way to continue to achieve what they want to achieve.

The updated MSFS 2024 FAQ backs all of that up with the following:

One of the biggest priorities for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is to improve the simulator’s data management. One of the major changes to the simulator’s architecture being made is using Cloud streaming to help ensure that the client becomes thin. When users load into the sim, only the textures, meshes, and map data that they need will be downloaded to avoid unnecessary bandwidth and disk space usage. 

MSFS 2024 FAQ

That’s not the only change but it is a huge architectural one and it already suggests to me that making a big version change here makes sense. They could have elected to not sell it and just upgrade all MSFS 2020 clients to the new version – and they could – but again this is a business and the sim needs to make money to continue to be developed.

Some of the things that I’m excited about

Gameplay

Both gameplay and core sim systems appear to be a big focus here for Asobo and Microsoft.

While I’ve had no shortage of things to do, places to explore, and ways to fly, having some defined mission types could be quite a bit of fun and it seems that Microsoft have taken that desire for more structure to heart.

The missions and activities that are being included in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are authentic re-creations of those performed in real-live aviation fields. We are working with a variety of organizations — such as firefighting, search and rescue, and coast guard organizations — across the planet to make these activities as accurate as possible. 

MSFS 2024 FAQ

If these missions end up being limited or restricted then I may not feel as excited but if you can queue up a Medivac mission or a search and rescue and then perform that anywhere in the world – I’d be overjoyed if that’s the case.

I also fully expect that Microsoft and Asobo will, like with their landing challenges, expand these missions and types over time.

Core of the sim

The core of the sim is getting some big updates too and these will affect everyone who upgrades to the new sim.

The first big cluster of features revolves around performance and simulation. Improved multi-threading, faster download, load and install speeds all speak to the performance of the sim. I always like to see the sim strive to run better while doing more.

Then another big item: Improved aerodynamics and physics simulation. These speak to the actual experience of flying airplanes in the sim and here we got a shout out by Jorg, during the FSExpo 2023 presentation, to Andrey Solomykin, whom some of you may remember “AnPetrovich” or as the lead engineer on the 1CGS IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles Team. His aerodynamics work was cited as being a key part of the upgrades being made to MSFS 2024 and if his work in IL-2 Great Battles is anything to go by, we’ll be seeing airplanes that live and breath in a more convincing way.

During the presentation, Seb shared the graphics visualizing the before and after of their physics upgrades to show the level of detail potentially available.

That’s not all because improved aircraft systems are also a big focus here. Electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulics as well as a new wear & tear system are all mentioned. And during the presentation Jorg and Seb were keen to point out that developers will have more control over this stuff than ever.

Then there’s the world itself which is getting some big upgrades. Machine learning is now being used to layer details over the top of the satellite imagery to improve the look of everything. There’s new 3D trees, 3D tessellated ground materials, improved cliffs, animal herds, worldwide live ship traffic, accurate live air traffic including models and liveries, and improved vehicle traffic. Full seasons, Auroral activity, tornadoes and improvements to storms.

A lot is changing and improving and while the sim as it exists now already does some incredible things, it’s clear that the 2024 edition will be doing some potentially groundbreaking new things. A new version seems earned, if not necessary to do these things.

Final thoughts

I hesitated to write anything about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 until I knew more and now that I do know more I’m very excited!

Yes the 2020 version has bugs and some of those bugs will be solved and some of them won’t be. Its inevitable from business and software perspectives that eventually things will move on. A 4-year cadence between versions also seems very reasonable and its clear too that 2020 isn’t being abandoned as the sim seems likely to go on for many years more and even gain some additional new features if all goes to plan.

We already know from past updates that most marketplace items will be also be making the jump from 2020 to 2024 without issue. A growing number of top developers have already released statements to the effect that the 2024 announcement doesn’t dramatically shift their plans and that they intend to continue on developing and providing free upgrades to the new version when the time comes.

I’m legitimately excited about the new features, the new content, the core changes, and everything else that they have already talked about. With the low cost of Gamepass subscription I also think that a 2024 upgrade remains within reach for most flight simmers and that makes the cost factor a bit more limited than if something like that didn’t exist.

Microsoft Flight Simulator has now reached 12-million people and a new version will continue to grow and reach more people which is perhaps the most exciting thing. From casual to enthusiast, this sim series continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in home flight simulation and simultaneously open the door to new simmers and I applaud both the effort and the joy of flight that they have brought to our PCs and consoles.