Microsoft Flight Simulator Release Date and Pricing

[Karl]

Found this. It is only 30 days for $1. I read that there is a 90 day for $1. But that might be old.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/xbox-game-pass-ultimate/CFQ7TTC0KHS0/000F?ranMID=24542&ranEAID=oelFIBIMgTk&ranSiteID=oe lFIBIMgTk-BnE7QnsaaHXFm6_lmpI7UA&epi=oelFIBIMgTk-BnE7QnsaaHXFm6_lmpI7UA&irgwc=1&OCID=AID2000142_aff _7593_1243925&tduid=$ir__egao9ssuo0kft2vnxkedz1fqe m2xlwjz3x2apmkg00$$7593$$1243925$$oelFIBIMgTk-BnE7QnsaaHXFm6_lmpI7UA$$$&irclickid=_egao9ssuo0kft 2vnxkedz1fqem2xlwjz3x2apmkg00&ranMID=24542&ranEAID =50DJ9wK/dbY&ranSiteID=50DJ9wK_dbY-kM45l9zjk2sxj_yBbYgJKw&epi=50DJ9wK_dbY-kM45l9zjk2sxj_yBbYgJKw&irgwc=1&OCID=AID2000142_aff _7593_1243925&tduid=%28ir__mstrlv6fx0kftkv6kk0sohz g2u2xi1z6wxwbrskn00%29%287593%29%281243925%29%2850 DJ9wK_dbY-kM45l9zjk2sxj_yBbYgJKw%29%28%29&irclickid=_mstrlv6 fx0kftkv6kk0sohzg2u2xi1z6wxwbrskn00&wa=wsignin1.0& activetab=pivotverviewtab

[Waterman981]

How did you get that? Would love to try before I buy.

I got it when buying an AMD processor for my wife a couple months ago. Held off and finally redeemed it last month. Yeah the 30 days for $1 would be the way to try it out. Just make sure to do it closer to the release date. Then have a month of trying it out before you fork over the big bucks, or keep going with the pass... I have to admit there's some fun games there. Of course they distract from flying time. I lose so much due to my kids anyway.

[Waterman981]

Another option (last I looked it was limited to the US only) is Bing Rewards. Many of us used them to get gift cards that gave us all the Flight DLC for free. With ~21000 points you can redeem it for 3 months of Xbox Game Pass for PC (7000 for 1 month as well).

Also note the one you linked to is the Ultimate one, providing Xbox Game Pass for BOTH console and PC. It looks like the regular rate of the PC only is $4.99 while it is in beta, then will go to $10/mo when it leaves beta. One other thought is there are discounts (up to 20%) when buying games when you have Game Pass. It's possible you could spend $1 on Game Pass and get MSFS at a discount. I have already "downloaded" it, and it's not showing any discounts currently.

Edit, ah 31 days after release... https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/xb...b=pivot:faqtab

Love a game currently in the library and want to own it? You can buy it and save up to 20%, plus get up to 10% off related game DLC and add-ons. Discounts are based on the Microsoft Store price and are tiered based on the game’s global launch date. Between 31 and 90 days from a game’s launch date, members receive up to a 10% discount off the Microsoft Store price. After 90 days from a game’s launch date, members receive up to a 20% discount. For game DLC and add-ons, Xbox Game Pass members receive up to a 10% discount from the day the add-on is released. Xbox Game Pass discounts are not combinable with other offers and are not redeemable for cash; discount offers exclude games within 30 days of launch and are not available with select games; discounts based on Microsoft Store price.

[ak416]

Will it come to Steam, and do I want to purchase it there?

The one and only reason I am hoping for a Steam release is because of the issues I have had in the past with the Microsoft Store and their current Xbox App on PC.

I own both Forza Horizon games on PC and for the most part they work fine. In fact the games themselves are great, they run well, play great, everything you want out of a PC port. But when something breaks on Microsofts end, it breaks spectacularly. There was a period of about 3 months where the game would just refuse to open. You would click the shortcut and simply nothing would happen. The solution? Download any another app from the Windows store and install it. That seemed to be the only thing that would fix what I can only assume was some sort of authentication error that was preventing me from launching the game.

Another more recent issue I had was that the Microsoft Store simply refused to install a vital service, simply called "Gaming Services", which apparently all games that use the Microsoft Store rely on. The only way to install that service is via the Microsoft Store. Troubleshooting this issue was an absolute nightmare, the dozen or so different fixes suggested by Microsoft Community members did not work and I ended up just reinstalling Windows 10 entirely.

Most of my time with the Microsoft Store and Xbox App has been fine, it is a perfectly cromulent service, but when things go wrong it is by far the most frustrating experience I have ever had troubleshooting software.

[Wingman]

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cromulent
Thank you for embiggening my vocabulary.

I was afraid someone would say something like that about the Microsoft Store. I've attempted to avoid it at all costs, but would concede to it if for nothing else than Flight Simulator.

[ROBERT DUNN 2]

My etymological confidence is shaken to its core as I subsequently had to look up three of the words used to define this.

[Waterman981]

The only thing I've bought from the MS store was Sea of Thieves. Fortunately I haven't had any problems with it yet. No problems with the games I've played with Game Pass either (knock on wood). But if I had my choice I do think I would prefer Steam. Definitely had lots of problems with the now defunct Games for Windows Live.

[Karl]

I've watched this game developer's take on the FSXX release video. Like what his eye is seeing. Will have to watch the entire thing later.

[ROBERT DUNN 2]

Thanks, Karl, for the video recommendation. I found the video contained too much "wow - look at that" and not much information. I didn't finish it. Sorry.

I viewed a couple of Reaction Review (Gripper Sim) FSXX videos and found them crammed with information that comes at you fast and seems pretty accurate. The reviewer is a British RL pilot and flight instructor and his commentary is very easily understandable, altho rapidly presented.

Flight Simulator 2020 | Top 10 features | Full Preview from Pilot 30 min. July 10th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GetBM6jc-xI

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 | Pricing and release date 10 min, July 13th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXUU40t4ZiI

I don't see where the reviewer is a current tester or not (NDA may preclude such admission) but his information is accurate (from my perspective), voluminous, graphic (as in visually illustrated) and, again, rapidly presented. I'm still looking forward to the next "3 Grumpy Simmers" evaluation of FSXX, tho.

So... Hey ho, and Bob's your uncle ! (a Britishism, I guess)

[ROBERT DUNN 2]

As I alluded to in my closing of my above post # 24, I just viewed Three Grumpy Simmers' hour and a half discussion of FSXX. I stated in my video comment: "This broadcast felt like a really good conversation such as those we often enjoy during our group flights in our local simming community, only without the necessity of actually flying an aircraft."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBO4sJpxVe4

[ak416]

Microsoft has just concluded their "Xbox Games Showcase" where they announced a few new games and updated Steam to include store pages for said games. Flight Simulator was not one of those games, so I suspect it will not launch on Steam on the 18th of August and if it does come to Steam at all my best guess would be that it coincides with the console release date.

Still not going to preorder just yet, once it comes down to the wire I will end up preordering to take advantage of preloading the game so that I can play as soon as it's released. Here's hoping for a smooth launch.

[ROBERT DUNN 2]

Thanks, ak. For those of us who intend to purchase FSXX but are waiting to order or preorder, this Steam info really helps.

I saw just recently that VATSIM now has an official partnership with FSXX.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGgWSC1AcWs

[Wingman]

I just read an article somewhere online that indicates Microsoft flight simulator is now available for pre-order on steam! looking on steam for myself, I see the product page, but no pre-order option. Perhaps it'll simply be available for purchase on August 18th, per the announced planned release date on the product page.

[ak416]

In addition to availability on Windows 10 and Xbox Game Pass for PC (Xbox Game Pass for PC is currently in Beta), Microsoft Flight Simulator will also be coming to Steam on August 18. We are thrilled to announce that Steam pre-orders for the Standard, Deluxe, and Premium Deluxe editions of Microsoft Flight Simulator start today!

Listening to the community has been a priority for the development team since the announcement of Microsoft Flight Simulator in June 2019. Two of the most requested features we’ve been hearing about from the Community are TrackIR and VR support. Today we are excited to announce that Microsoft Flight Simulator will have TrackIR support available on day one, and VR support will be available later this year in time for the launch of the HP Reverb G2!



TrackIR

TrackIR is the premier head tracking solution delivering full six degree of freedom (6DOF) camera control for an ultra-immersive simulator experience. TrackIR allows simmers to enjoy a low latency mouse free look around with Microsoft Flight Simulator in full 4K/HDR, while still allowing easy interaction with a suite of hardware peripherals.

Additional information on VR support and original source here
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/07/...nd-vr-support/


I initially did not see the option to preorder on Steam, but that seems to be resolved now.

This is a big relief for me. While yes, the Steam version still heavily relies on Microsoft's back end to function, my issues have always been with the Microsoft Store itself and not their servers.

[ak416]

Digital Foundry has released their initial hands-on impressions of Flight Simulator.

An astonishing jump in graphical realism, Microsoft's new Flight Simulator delivers unprecedented visual fidelity and truly next generation visuals. In this video, Alex Battaglia discusses the technological make-up of the new engine - and the significant performance cost in delivering this generational leap.

Some basic benchmarks, much more in depth performance analysis when the game is out:
Ryzen 3900X and RTX 2080TI @ 4k Ultra, 30-40fps
I5 8400 RX 580 @ 1080p High, ~30fps
I5 8400 GTX 1060 @ 1080p High, ~35fps
I5 8400 RX 580 @ 1080p Medium, ~40fps
I5 8400 GTX 1060 @ 1080p Medium, ~50fps

"This game is heavy, and particularly heavy on AMD hardware in the current version with the current drivers."