Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Review (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud Gaming & PC)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 was supposed to be a big upgrade for flight simulation fans, but things didn’t exactly take off as planned. The game was highly anticipated, with promises of better graphics, more features, and a more immersive flying experience. However, upon launch, many players found themselves stuck on the runway, dealing with frustrating bugs and server issues.

While the visuals and new content are impressive, the game’s rough start has left many players feeling disappointed. Nevertheless, there’s potential for it to soar to greater heights if the developers can fix the issues holding it back. In this review, we’ll find out whether Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 can live up to the high expectations set by its predecessors.

A Rocky Takeoff

As with any ambitious launch, things didn’t go exactly as planned for Flight Simulator 2024. The game experienced a lot of server issues during the official launch, leaving players grounded, literally. Many found themselves stuck at 97% loading or unable to connect to the game altogether. That was not the dream flight experience people had been expecting.

To make matters worse, even when the game did manage to start, users faced a variety of other technical hiccups. Players experienced glitchy scenes, missing planes, and character creation errors. Microsoft swiftly acknowledged the server capacity problems, but the larger question remained: Why did they release it in such a state?

While things have improved significantly for some, the launch still left a sour taste for many. The promise of a smooth, cutting-edge flight simulation experience was quickly grounded by a bunch of technical issues that should never have made it to the runway. In fact, the game’s Steam reviews were quickly flooded with complaints about server errors, missing content, and poor game performance. At the time of writing, the game was sitting at a ‘Mostly Negative’ score. Although the game has improved since then, it’s far from the ideal release many were expecting.

Cloudy Skies

One of the biggest issues players faced early on was the game’s reliance on cloud streaming for much of its content. Now, in theory, this sounds like a great idea, but in practice, it caused more issues than it solved. For starters, due to the overloading of the servers, most players couldn’t even access the game. Consequently, it left players with nothing but a spinning loading screen to keep them company. This reliance on cloud storage also meant that with unstable connections, you would get poor-quality assets, miss some planes, or, even worse, no planes at all.

While the server issues were eventually addressed, it’s clear that the cloud-based approach is a double-edged sword. Many players have voiced concerns over how much of the game’s core functionality depends on an external service. The experience of “not being able to fly” due to server hiccups or cloud delays is frustrating, to say the least. 

Mission Impossible

Even when the servers weren’t acting up, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has been dealing with an additional number of glitches that made the experience more frustrating. For instance, the mission markers sent players flying to the wrong locations. On top of that, the helicopters couldn’t complete training missions due to game-breaking bugs. For some players, the game would not progress, leaving players in a loop of frustration.

Let’s talk about the parking spots. Have you ever wanted to land your plane only to discover that the parking spot is on top of a building? If so, Flight Simulator 2024 has just the mission for you. Essentially, this kind of bizarre issue should have been caught during testing. Unfortunately, they ended up turning some players’ long flights into long nights of troubleshooting. If you managed to get through the mission without a hiccup, consider yourself lucky.

A Sight to Behold

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is nothing short of a visual masterpiece. If you thought the 2020 version was impressive, this new release takes it to the next level. The game offers more stunning landscapes, realistic weather effects, and breathtaking lighting.

The world in MSFS 2024 is a sight to behold. The level of detail in the terrain is extraordinary. Everything looks incredible, from the mountains to the forests and the sprawling cities. Additionally, the ground textures have been improved significantly. Now, the game features more realistic mountains, rivers, and fields that create an immersive experience.

The game’s lighting system has also received a major upgrade. For instance, daylight shifts throughout the game, casting warm golden hues during sunrises and sunsets. Similarly, the shadows and reflections adjust naturally with the time of day.

The clouds are also impressive, realistic, and varying in type. They change depending on the weather conditions. Flying through them is a real treat, as you feel the differences between fluffy cumulus and ominous storm clouds. Ultimately, the visuals in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are nothing short of breathtaking. 

The most exciting feature of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the ability to land anywhere and exit your aircraft. For the first time, players can leave the cockpit and explore the world on foot. 

After landing, you can explore 27 highly detailed biomes. These biomes include forests, deserts, mountains, and coastlines. Thumbs up to Asobo Studio for crafting a unique design offering fresh and fantastic scenery no matter where players land.

The detail in these environments is remarkable. There are hundreds of plant species scattered across the landscape. This new feature allows players to get closer to the world than ever before. You can walk through dense jungles, hike up mountains, or explore peaceful fields.

What’s New

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 brings several exciting new features to the table, improving on its already impressive predecessor. One of the biggest changes is the introduction of a Career Mode. This mode offers a more structured and engaging way to progress in the game. Instead of just free-flying or completing random challenges, players can now undertake specific missions. The missions include flight tests, cargo delivery, and rescue operations. It adds a sense of purpose and direction to your flights, making the experience more immersive.

For the first time in the franchise, helicopters are now part of the lineup. Players can take control of various helicopters, including training models, offering a completely new experience. 

Additionally, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 introduces more advanced AI-driven voices for air traffic control and in-flight communication. These voices are more natural and varied, providing better immersion. You can now interact with the AI in a more dynamic and realistic way.

As expected, there are new aircraft to fly, ranging from light planes to larger commercial jets. The game also adds new airports around the world. Some of the airports feature detailed interiors, offering more locations for your virtual adventures. The game also improves its multiplayer and community-based systems, allowing you to fly with others more seamlessly. On top of that, the marketplace is growing with new downloadable content, including planes, liveries, and more.

The Good

Despite the rocky launch, MSFS 2024 has some truly remarkable features that stand out and offer a compelling experience. The flight models in MSFS 2024 are highly realistic. Each aircraft, from small Cessnas to massive airliners, feels unique. The physics behind the flight, including turbulence and weather effects, adds to the immersion. The attention to detail in the cockpits is another highlight. Every button, switch, and gauge faithfully recreates the flight simulation experience.

MSFS 2024 introduces new gameplay modes, such as missions and career options. These give the game more structure and offer a sense of progression for those who want more than free flight. Additionally, the new photography mode allows players to capture stunning screenshots of their flights, which is so cool. 

Another new feature is the advanced flight planner. It supports both IFR and VFR map layers, allowing for detailed route planning. You can plan fuel, payload, and vertical profiles. The planner also includes ETOPS planning for long-haul flights. It provides essential airport information, such as weather updates and NOTAMs. What’s great is that you can access the flight planner within the simulator and on mobile devices or web browsers. This feature makes it easy to plan your flights even when you’re away from the sim.

Verdict

Can Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 ever truly live up to its potential? The short answer is maybe. There’s still a lot of room for improvement. Microsoft and Asobo have committed to patching the game, and some fixes have already made a noticeable difference. Once the marketplace is fully online and the devs get to fix the game’s various bugs, Flight Simulator 2024 could easily become the ultimate flight simulator. However, there’s a lot of work to be done before that happens.

Players who can take a few glitches and technical problems for the promise of future fixes will likely find enjoyment in the sim. But players expecting a polished, bug-free experience right from the start might want to wait a few more months for the dust to settle. As of now, the flight’s a bit bumpy.