[Official] Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 Information & Discussion Thread

[Supercrumpet]

So I've been following along with this thread for quite a while now, and you guys have passively made me pretty interested in flight sims lol. Couple questions: If I did pick it up during the summer sale on Steam, should I just get the base game and see how I like it, or is additional content really worth it? Additionally, do you guys use HOTAS controllers for this? I have a cheap one, but the convenience of a good 'ol Xbox controller is always tempting, and I'm used to it since that's all I had when I picked up Elite Dangerous. Never got used to HOTAS for that game.

[Andrew]

32 minutes ago, Supercrumpet said:

So I've been following along with this thread for quite a while now, and you guys have passively made me pretty interested in flight sims lol. Couple questions: If I did pick it up during the summer sale on Steam, should I just get the base game and see how I like it, or is additional content really worth it? Additionally, do you guys use HOTAS controllers for this? I have a cheap one, but the convenience of a good 'ol Xbox controller is always tempting, and I'm used to it since that's all I had when I picked up Elite Dangerous. Never got used to HOTAS for that game.

Go for the normal version of the game imo. The planes that come up the upgrades aren't worth it. Not now with the much better third party content that's available.

Here's the planes you get:

 

 

For third party content, if you want airliners go for the Fenix A320, PMDG 737 (I recommend the 800 over the others), Just Flight BAe 146, Fly The Maddog X as far as paid for content goes. For free content, the FlyByWire A320, Headwind A330-900, Sukhoi Superjet 100 (available in the Headwind installer).

For GA planes, anything from Black Square from Carenado are good choices. These are pretty much all I know about GA planes because I don't really use GA planes all that much.

 

For controllers, I just use an Xbone controller. I've not really had any issues with it. I've not used actual flight controls, so I can't recommend/not recommend any specific ones.

[J7SC_Orion]

10 hours ago, Supercrumpet said:

So I've been following along with this thread for quite a while now, and you guys have passively made me pretty interested in flight sims lol. Couple questions: If I did pick it up during the summer sale on Steam, should I just get the base game and see how I like it, or is additional content really worth it? Additionally, do you guys use HOTAS controllers for this? I have a cheap one, but the convenience of a good 'ol Xbox controller is always tempting, and I'm used to it since that's all I had when I picked up Elite Dangerous. Never got used to HOTAS for that game.

 

...I got the premium deluxe version on day one. By and large, @Andrew 's comment above makes sense though; still, I prefer some of the rarer models that are included with the top version. Re. controller, I use both the X-box controller and the Logitech Extreme3D Pro simultaneously - more than enough control, IMO.

Edited July 10, 2023 by J7SC_Orion

[Supercrumpet]

9 hours ago, Andrew said:

Go for the normal version of the game imo. The planes that come up the upgrades aren't worth it. Not now with the much better third party content that's available.

Here's the planes you get:

 

 

For third party content, if you want airliners go for the Fenix A320, PMDG 737 (I recommend the 800 over the others), Just Flight BAe 146, Fly The Maddog X as far as paid for content goes. For free content, the FlyByWire A320, Headwind A330-900, Sukhoi Superjet 100 (available in the Headwind installer).

For GA planes, anything from Black Square from Carenado are good choices. These are pretty much all I know about GA planes because I don't really use GA planes all that much.

 

For controllers, I just use an Xbone controller. I've not really had any issues with it. I've not used actual flight controls, so I can't recommend/not recommend any specific ones.

 

6 hours ago, J7SC_Orion said:

 

...I got the premium deluxe version on day one. By and large, @Andrew 's comment make above sense though, still I prefer some of the rarer models that are included with the top version. Re. controller, I use both the X-box controller and the Logitech Extreme3D Pro simultaneously - more than enough control, IMO.

 

Sounds good, thanks guys! I hadn't found a comprehensive graphic or list of what comes with the base game, very good to know. Also good to know on the controller. I'll keep thinking on it more.

[iamjanco]

I was looking at this, but then I learned MicroSoft is working on a new 2024 version. I've held off this long, so...

 

[J7SC_Orion]

53 minutes ago, iamjanco said:

I was looking at this, but then I learned MicroSoft is working on a new 2024 version. I've held off this long, so...

 

  

 

Microsoft *might* offer FS 2024 as an upgrade (for mucho $s) for FS2020, but at least there is a lot of carry-over in addition to the new stuff. I currently have FS 2020 on two separate systems in different rooms (one with a 3090, the other with a 4090). If FS2024 is more than *an upgrade*, I probably will just add FS2024 on the 4090 and leave the FS 2020 on the other setup as is, at least until all the bugs are ironed out. FS2020 took a long time and a gazillion patches to become the super-smooth DX12 DLSS (2)3 it now is .

 

Edited July 10, 2023 by J7SC_Orion

[J7SC_Orion]

some speed junky fun...

 

[speed_demon]

Somebody called me?

 

Have been eyeing up a new GPU as my current 1660 super doesn't cut it for FS2020. Had a blast playing FS at a buddies house though.

[J7SC_Orion]

On 13/07/2023 at 15:46, speed_demon said:

Somebody called me?

 

Have been eyeing up a new GPU as my current 1660 super doesn't cut it for FS2020. Had a blast playing FS at a buddies house though.

 

...yeah -  FS 2020 is a lot of fun, even more so with a decent 4K GPU. I like it because I can use an electric Volocopter for 'low and slow', do some stunt flying over our neighborhood in a Pitts Special, pilot an Airbus A320 over Northern BC - or choose something a bit faster 

 

Ranked by speed:

 

...34 KT

 

 

 

...121 KT

 

 

 

...~ 309 KT

 

  

  

 

... Mach 1.46 --- inverted 

 

  

  

Mach 3.79...

 

 

 

[J7SC_Orion]

Another mandatory FS2020 patch > extra scenery for E.Europe....so I checked out Vienna instead 

 

 

[J7SC_Orion]

...looking for the Loch Ness monster on a sunny Sunday afternoon 

 

[J7SC_Orion]

...the hotter it gets for real outside, the colder my FS2020 destinations... Close to Mt. Asgard on Baffin Island

 

 

[Andrew]

I really do need proper controller for this. I've been using my Xbone controller, but I'm unable to get one that lasts more than a year before it breaks. I'm not even abusing it, it seems like Microsoft aren't making controllers like they used to.

 

I'm thinking of getting the full Honeycomb setup because it's great for GA planes as well as Boeings. It's going to be a while before I'm able to buy one, so it looks like no MSFS for me for a while.

[iamjanco]

19 hours ago, J7SC_Orion said:

...the hotter it gets for real outside, the colder my FS2020 destinations... 

 is that like saying it can be cool down this rabbit hole?

[schuck6566]

On 14/08/2023 at 14:08, Andrew said:

I really do need proper controller for this. I've been using my Xbone controller, but I'm unable to get one that lasts more than a year before it breaks. I'm not even abusing it, it seems like Microsoft aren't making controllers like they used to.

 

I'm thinking of getting the full Honeycomb setup because it's great for GA planes as well as Boeings. It's going to be a while before I'm able to buy one, so it looks like no MSFS for me for a while.

The wifes controllers seem to last a couple years max before the buttons or stick * the bed on her(she uses them for at least a couple hours most days) We just replaced ps4 and xbox1s controllers last week, we're probably gonna spend the extra for the elite on the next xbox controller 'cause you can replace buttons and sticks on them. Oh, xbox lower the warranty time on the standard controller down to 3 months now that the elite is out. Use to be 1 year, Walmart offers a 3 year 3rd party warranty on new xbox wireless controllers for $7.00 Might just start going with that.

[J7SC_Orion]

5 hours ago, schuck6566 said:

The wifes controllers seem to last a couple years max before the buttons or stick * the bed on her(she uses them for at least a couple hours most days) We just replaced ps4 and xbox1s controllers last week, we're probably gonna spend the extra for the elite on the next xbox controller 'cause you can replace buttons and sticks on them. Oh, xbox lower the warranty time on the standard controller down to 3 months now that the elite is out. Use to be 1 year, Walmart offers a 3 year 3rd party warranty on new xbox wireless controllers for $7.00 Might just start going with that.

 

My Microsoft XBox controller is still hanging in there (~ 2 years) but I mostly use the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro for FS2020 (in conjunction with the XBox controller). BTW, I have three of those Logitech joy sticks (10, 3 and 2 years old at this stage) and they all still work (different rooms & machines) but are useless for certain other games where you need a reliable controller pad

[J7SC_Orion]

FYI, as mentioned a while back, if your system you use for FS2020 runs into some CPU or RAM limitations, you can always set 'Priority' to high in Task Manager / Details for the relevant .exe file 

 

...approaching Svalbard

 

 

 

...back in town, checking if I am home...

 

 

 

...flying WNW from Vancouver at sunset

 

[J7SC_Orion]

 

...just finishing setup of a 7950X3D; that VCache is perfect for FS2020 and its weird coding

 

 

[J7SC_Orion]

...new patch today (DLSS update ?). After downloading a new driver for Cyberpunk 2077 w/ DLSS 3.5 ray reconstruction and path tracing, still found the time for a quick local flight...below is a parking lot of a nice pub.

 

[J7SC_Orion]

DLSS3.5 coming for FS2020  

 

...some Vancouver fly-bys

 

 

 

...and some Miami / Miami Beach

 

 

[J7SC_Orion]

 

...had a little bit of fun with DLAA, Frame Gen and 8K max settings in MSFS 2020; never seen this much VRAM allocation before...

 

 

[Andrew]

It doesn't look like the FBW A380 is releasing in 2023 after all.

[J7SC_Orion]

...some quiet posting time here as I was out of upload space, but that's fixed now 

 

MSFS2020 had another update today, but at least it was speedy 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 2 by J7SC_Orion

[J7SC_Orion]

@Andrew et al - MSFS 2020 now got a 'Dune' patch with an 'ornithopter' to fly...even more fun with CL38 8200 setting on the 7950X3D 

 

 

 

[Andrew]

I don't have FS2020 installed anymore because of how much storage it takes up, but that new aircraft does look really fun to fly.