Microsoft Flight Simulator FAQ

Search for answers to your questions by entering keywords below, or look through our knowledge base.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 FAQ

Follow

General Sim Questions

When is the release date?

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is launching for Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Cloud Gaming on November 19, 2024. It will be available Day 1 on PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass UItimate.

 

Will Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 be a completely standalone sequel, or will it also be offered as a paid update for existing players?

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a standalone simulator and the next-generation sequel to Microsoft Flight Simulator that launched in 2020. Current aircraft and airports that are in Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020), as well as virtually all Marketplace add-ons, will be supported in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

 

What are the technical specifications for PC?

GX2yJNcWwAAEXQr.jpg

 

  Min Spec Recommended Spec Ideal Spec

AMD

NVIDIA/INTEL

AMD

NVIDIA/INTEL

AMD

NVIDIA/INTEL
MIN OS VERSION

Windows 10

With Latest Update

Windows 10

With Latest Update

Windows 10

With Latest Update

Windows 10

With Latest Update

Windows 10

With Latest Update

Windows 10

With Latest Update

DIRECT X VERSION DX12 DX12 DX12 DX12 DX12 DX12
CPU AMD Ryzen 2600X Intel Core i7-6800K AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Intel Core i7-10700K AMD Ryzen 9 7900X Intel it-14700K
GPU Radeon RX 5700 GeForce GTX 970 Radeon RX 5700 XT GeForce RTX 2080 Radeon RX 7900 XT GeForce RTX 4080
VRAM 4 GB 4 GB 8 GB 8 GB 12 GB 12 GB
RAM 16 GB 16 GB 32 GB 32 GB 64 GB 64 GB
STORAGE 50 GB 50 GB 50 GB 50 GB 50 GB 50 GB
BANDWIDTH 10 Mbps 10 Mbps 50 Mbps 50 Mbps 100 Mbps 100 Mbps

 

 Will there be an early release Alpha or Beta build we users can opt into?

We are planning to have a Tech Alpha prior to launch - likely in late October.

 

In-Sim Questions

What Aircraft are in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

MSFS2024_AircraftChart_V3_Final-Updated-3500px.png

 

AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER STANDARD DELUXE PREMIUM AVIATOR
L-39 Aero Vodochody Yes Yes Yes Yes
Optica AeroElvira Yes Yes Yes Yes
AT-802 Air Tractor Yes Yes Yes Yes
A310-300 Airbus Yes Yes Yes Yes
A320neo Airbus Yes Yes Yes Yes
A321LR Airbus Yes Yes Yes Yes
A330 (-200, -300, 300P2F) Airbus Yes Yes Yes Yes
A330-743L Beluga XL Airbus Yes Yes Yes Yes
A400M Atlas Airbus Yes Yes Yes Yes
H125 Airbus Helicopter Yes Yes Yes Yes
Skyship 600 Airship Industries Yes Yes Yes Yes
Midnight Archer Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pitts Special S1S Aviat Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pitts Special S2S Aviat Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bonanza G36 Beechcraft Yes Yes Yes Yes
King Air 350i Beechcraft Yes Yes Yes Yes
407 Bell Yes Yes Yes Yes
737 Max 8 Boeing Yes Yes Yes Yes
747-8i (-8F) Boeing Yes Yes Yes Yes
F/A-18E Boeing Yes Yes Yes Yes
152 Cessna Yes Yes Yes Yes
172 Skyhawk (G1000) Cessna Yes Yes Yes Yes
208 B Grand Caravan EX Cessna Yes Yes Yes Yes
400 Corvalis TT Cessna Yes Yes Yes Yes
Citation CJ4 Cessna Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hawk Arrow II CGS Yes Yes  Yes Yes
Vision SF50 (VisionJet) Cirrus Yes Yes  Yes Yes
NXCub CubCrafters Yes Yes  Yes Yes
XCub CubCrafters Yes Yes  Yes Yes
JN-4 Jenny Curtiss Yes Yes Yes Yes
TBM 930 Daher Yes Yes Yes Yes
CL-415 De Havilland Canada Yes Yes Yes Yes
DHC-2 Beaver De Havilland Canada Yes Yes Yes Yes
DHC-6 Twin Otter De Havilland Canada Yes Yes Yes Yes
DC-3 Douglas Yes Yes Yes Yes
Draco X Draco X Yes Yes Yes Yes
DG-1001E DG Aviation Yes  Yes Yes Yes
LS8-18 DG Aviation Yes  Yes Yes Yes
DA40 NG Diamond Aircraft Yes  Yes Yes Yes
S-64F Aircrane Erickson Yes  Yes Yes Yes
EXTRA-330LT EXTRA Yes Yes Yes Yes
A-10 Thunderbolt II Fairchild Republic Yes Yes Yes Yes
Flight Design CTSL Flight Design Yes  Yes Yes Yes
G-21A Goose Grumman  Yes Yes Yes Yes
Cabri G2 Guimbal Yes  Yes Yes Yes
ES-30 Heart Aerospace Yes  Yes Yes Yes
Hot Air Balloon Hot Air Balloon Yes  Yes Yes Yes
Hot Air Balloon FlyDoo Yes  Yes  Yes Yes
H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose) Hughes Aircraft Company Yes  Yes  Yes Yes
ICON A5 ICON Aircraft Yes  Yes  Yes Yes
Jetson One Jetson  Yes Yes  Yes Yes
VL-3 JMB Aircraft s.r.o Yes  Yes  Yes Yes
Joby S4 Joby Aviation Yes Yes Yes Yes
M-24 Orion Magni Gyro Yes Yes Yes Yes
MXS-R MX Aircraft Company Yes Yes Yes Yes
P-51 Mustang North American Yes Yes Yes Yes
T-6 Texan North American Yes Yes Yes Yes
PC-6 B2 Pilatus Yes Yes Yes Yes
PC-12 NGX Pilatus Yes Yes Yes Yes
Sky Rascal Powrachute Yes Yes Yes Yes
CAP 10 Robin Aircraft SAS Yes Yes Yes Yes
DR400-100 Cadet Robin Aircraft SAS Yes Yes Yes Yes
R66 Robinson Yes Yes Yes Yes
NYP “Spirit of St. Louis” Ryan Yes Yes Yes Yes
S12G Stemme Yes Yes Yes Yes
VoloCity Volocopter Yes Yes Yes Yes
Wright Flyer Wright Cycle Company Yes Yes Yes Yes
Edge 540 Zivko Yes Yes Yes Yes
Savage Cub Zlin Aviation Yes Yes Yes Yes
Albatross G111/HU16 Amphibian Aerospace - Yes Yes Yes
Baron G58 Beechcraft - Yes Yes Yes
152 Aerobat Cessna - Yes Yes Yes
172 Skyhawk Cessna - Yes Yes Yes
188 AGTruck Cessna - Yes Yes Yes
404 Titan Cessna - Yes Yes Yes
408 SkyCourier Cessna - Yes Yes Yes
DA40 TDI Diamond - Yes Yes Yes
DV20 Diamond - Yes Yes Yes
Seastar Dornier - Yes Yes Yes
H225 Airbus Helicopter - - Yes Yes
C90 GTX King Air Beechcraft - - Yes Yes
747-400 Global Super Tanker The Boeing Company - - Yes Yes
747-400 LCF Dreamlifter The Boeing Company - - Yes Yes
787-10 Dreamliner The Boeing Company - - Yes Yes
C-17 Globemaster III The Boeing Company - - Yes Yes
CH47D Chinook The Boeing Company - - Yes Yes
Citation Longitude Cessna - - Yes Yes
SR22 Cirrus Aircraft - - Yes Yes
PC-24 Pilatus - - Yes Yes
Taurus M Pipistrel - - Yes Yes
Virus SW121 Pipistrel - - Yes Yes
340B Saab - - Yes Yes
Savage Norden Zlin Aviation - - Yes Yes
Shock Ultra Zlin Aviation - - Yes Yes
Ae-45 / Ae-145 Aero Vodochody - - - Yes
An-2 Antonov - - - Yes
An-225 Antonov - - - Yes
42-600 / 72-600 ATR - - - Yes
Bonanza V35 Beechcraft - - - Yes
Model 17 Staggerwing Beechcraft - - - Yes
Model 18 Twin Beech Beechcraft - - - Yes
47J Ranger Bell Helicopter - - - Yes
307 Stratoliner  The Boeing Company - - - Yes
707-320C The Boeing Company - - - Yes
195 Businessliner Cessna - - - Yes
207T Curtiss - - - Yes
C-46 Commando Curtiss - - - Yes
DHC-4 Caribou De Havilland Canada - - - Yes
Do J Wal Dornier - - - Yes
Do 31 Dornier - - - Yes
Do X Dornier - - - Yes
C-47D Skytrain & CG-4A Douglas Aircraft Company & Waco - - - Yes
FW 200 Condor Focke-Wulff - - - Yes
F.VII Fokker - - - Yes
4AT Trimotor Ford - - - Yes
Gee Bee R2 / Z Granville - - - Yes
F13 Junkers - - - Yes
JU 52 Junkers - - - Yes
631 Latécoère - - - Yes
MU-2 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries - - - Yes
17 B Saab - - - Yes
S.55 Savoia-Marcketti - - - Yes
SC.7 Skyvan Short - - - Yes
Scout / Wasp Westland - - - Yes

 

Will my Premium or Premium Deluxe Edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) carry over no matter what edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 I purchase?

If you own Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) Deluxe Edition or Premium Deluxe Edition the additional aircraft and airports unique to these editions will automatically work in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

 

Will the missions and activities in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 be like video game missions?

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.

 

Can you do career activities (e.g. firefighting, aerial advertising) outside of Career Mode?

All career activities can only be played in Career Mode.

 

What aircraft will I have access to in Career Mode?

Career Mode is open for all kinds of aircraft that are appropriate for the various aviation activities. Most but not all of the aircraft from the various editions of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will be utilized in the Career and the system is also open to 3rd parties if they want their aircraft to participate.

 

Technical Questions

Will Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 have improved loading times?

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.

 

This will keep the minimum specifications of the sim as low as it is now and will also reduce update and load times.

 

Will there be improvements to the core simulator technology in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

The development team is improving almost every aspect of the simulator. Some examples include:

  • Improved multithreading to improve performance
  • Faster download, load, and installation speeds
  • Improved aerodynamics and physics simulation
  • Improved aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel, and hydraulics
  • New failure and wear & tear system
  • Deeper and wider avionics systems
  • Cockpit tablet available by default
  • Worldwide Vertical Obstacles
  • Worldwide Oil Rigs
  • Worldwide Glider Airports
  • Worldwide Heliports


Will there be changes to the scenery and terrain in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

We are improving the global digital twin in three different ways:

 

1. Static World:

- Improved ground details

- 3D tessellated ground materials

- Enhanced 3D trees with greatly increased diversity

- Improved cliffs

 

2. Living World:
- Animal herds and migrations
- Worldwide live ship traffic
- Accurate live air traffic (models, liveries)
- Improved vehicle traffic

- More diverse character models

 

3. Dynamic World:
- Full seasons
- Aurora Borealis / Aurora Australis
- Tornados
- Storms

Marketplace Questions

Will all purchases users have made from the Marketplace be transferrable to the new simulator?

With very few exceptions, virtually all add-ons that work in Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) today will function in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Add-ons that were purchased from the in-simulator Marketplace will not need to be re-purchased in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

Owned MSFS 2020 Content

  • For any content you purchased outside of the simulator, the Community Folder will continue to work as it did in MSFS 2020. Any content in your MSFS 2020 Community Folder can simply be copied over to the new MSFS 2024 Community Folder, and the vast majority of that content should work in MSFS 2024.
  • For any content you purchased in the Marketplace in MSFS 2020, that content will show up as owned in the Content Manager (in MSFS 2024 called “My Library”) at launch for you to use in MSFS 2024, and the vast majority of that content should work in MSFS 2024. This availability does not require developers to sign off on their content.

Owned MSFS 2020 Content that has been Upgraded* for MSFS 2024

  • For content you already purchased in MSFS 2020, upgrades to Microsoft-produced content (e.g. Reno Air Races, Local Legends, Famous Flyers, Expert Series) will be free to you.
  • For content you already purchased in MSFS 2020, upgrades to all other (non-Microsoft) developers’ content will have two potential options based on each developer’s discretion:
    1. The developer can make the upgrade free.
    2. The developer can choose to charge a fee for the upgrade.

Non-owned Content: Availability in the MSFS 2024 Marketplace

  • For any content, including existing MSFS 2020 content, developers must sign off that the content is functional for it to appear for sale in the Marketplace.

*Upgraded = built with the MSFS 2024 SDK, Not Upgraded = built with the MSFS 2020 SDK

 

With the new Marketplace Gifting feature, will gifting Marketplace content work between Microsoft Store and Steam users?

Yes, Marketplace gifting is cross-compatible between MS Store and Steam.

 

Support Questions

What kind of support can Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) players expect to see once Flight Simulator 2024 has been released?

We will continue to deliver our Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) Roadmap which has content ranging from Aircraft and Avionics Updates, Sim Updates, City and World Updates, and also the free Dune DLC. We will continue to support Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) post the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launch.

 

How many people are working on Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

We have over 500 team members across several teams who are working to make Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 the biggest and most advanced consumer flight simulator ever released.

 

What aircraft partners are you working with for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

Announced partners:

  • On March 13, 2024, we announced our partnership with FlightFX and confirmed the following aircraft: Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet and Jetson ONE
  • On March 24, 2024, iniBuilds were announced as our latest partners, and will be creating the Airbus A400M and Airbus BelugaXL for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
  • On June 5, 2024, we announced three partners, and the aircraft they are creating for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024:
    - Carenado – Cessna 188 AGtruck
    - Blackbird – Erickson S-64 Skycrane
    - DC Designs – Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II
  • On June 22, 2024, we confirmed the following list of partners (with more to come):
    • ATSim
    • Aeroplane Heaven
    • Blackbird Simulations
    • Bluemesh
    • Carenado
    • Climax
    • Flight Control Replay
    • FlightFX
    • Gaya Simulations
    • Henrik Nielson (of Global AI Ship Traffic)
    • Got Friends
    • Humain
    • Kai Patrick Kamjunke (of AIG)
    • iniBuilds
    • Maxar Technologies
    • Mike Patey
    • National Championship Air Races
    • Nemeth Designs
    • Orbx
    • Puffin Flight
    • Red Bull
    • S&H
    • Vexcel Imaging
    • Working Title
Was this article helpful?
38 out of 48 found this helpful

Comments