Which Version Is Best MSFS 2020?

[Gary1124 181]

Is it best to purchase MSFS 2020 straight up from MS or another retailer or is Steam okay? Disc or download better? 

Thanks

[Ixoye 1,821]

I bought it from Steam and I never regret it, if you read all the forums it seems like most people have had problems with MS.

[ryanbatc 12,854]

5 minutes ago, Ixoye said:

I bought it from Steam and I never regret it, if you read all the forums it seems like most people have had problems with MS.

That's probably somewhat accurate ha.  I got from MS store and I'm not sure why...  Their entire ecosystem is quirky for updating etc.  I also use Steam for many other games...not sure why I didn't for this one.

[in2tech 588]

I bought it from the MS Store cause I did NOT want the Steam version. If or when I have problems I don't want to have to worry about Steam. Plus I was wondering about purchases in the Market Place, which is where I plan on making all my purchases. Also, in the last Live Stream, they mentioned, mainly for X-Box owners, and I could be wrong about this. Since they own both that if you bought an item from the Market Place on PC or X-Box, you would have access to both and only buy it once. Also, that internet Play Anywhere stuff too. I just did not want a conflict. And of the few games, sim's, I have, they are on Steam. Didn't want all my eggs in one basket. If there was/is a problem I only look at MS/Asobo,

But that's just me! Main thing is you have a choice, and that's what people wanted, and got!

Edited May 6, 2021 by in2tech

[Car147 2,278]

I bought from the MS Store, never had an issue with installation or updates. It's quite simple, go to the store, download the initilal 1gig or so, run sim, and boom ! the rest of the install starts/ completes.. go play!

[Alpine Scenery 1,609]

The MS store version is better for developers, if you will ever develop stuff (at least to me). This is mainly due to the Steam version having some weird things you have to do in some cases in dev mode. For standard use, I prefer the MS version, but it doesn't really matter (I've run both).

[Gary1124 181]

Could non Steam play offline if desired?

[jimcarrel 688]

YOur play on Steam or MS is the same. The only thing to be aware of on  Steam is to NOT  do the "verify files" thing. It will erase MSFS2020. I use steam, You can install it on any drive you wish (steam library), your community folder will be on the drive you installed the steam library, not on the C drive. (which can be helpful if you C drive is tight) 

Edited May 6, 2021 by jimcarrel

[pmb 5,137]

Another happy Steam user. Initally bought the MS Store version, had terrible trouble with it when I tried to install it (that was the pre-release version) to a drive different from C (details in an older thread). Never had an issue with the Steam version. You may also consider that the base files of the MS Store version go into access-restricted directories.

Kind regards, Michael 

[Glenn Fitzpatrick 3,798]

I bought the MS Store version and have not had any issues with it. Mine is installed on a different drive without issues. As far as I know the default aircraft market place files are encryted in either version. MS does have some permissions issues with the default location of the community folder as by default it is stored in your Windows AppData but you can put the community folder somewhere else or get around the community folder issues entirely with products like addon linker.

Though to be honest my decision to go MS was more a political decision.  I have had long standing issues with Valve and the high handed way they do business and the toxic nature of their childish almost Apple like community. I only use Steam if I am forced to for particular games where they have a monopoly and it is unavailable elsewhere.

Ironically as it turned out the MSFS main forums have just as many toxic entitled posts and 14 year old brats mouthing off as Steam does, in fact the MSFS forums seem to be worse 😄

In the end it is the same game though ...

• MS install gets updates a fraction quicker than the steam version but only by a few hours
• things like the community folder are not protected in steam and can be accessed easier if you have limited PC knowledge

Edited May 7, 2021 by Glenn Fitzpatrick

[Dominique_K 10,144]

I went with Steam because since the beginning I’ve  had the perception through the forums I read that everything Microsoft around the sim (site, forum, shop), as the sim itself, was fragile and unstable. Like run by amateurs.  On the other hand, Steam is now an old house (everything is relative) and the largest game software distributor. 

Edited May 7, 2021 by Dominique_K

[pmplayer 9,459]

7 hours ago, Car147 said:

I bought from the MS Store, never had an issue with installation or updates. It's quite simple, go to the store, download the initilal 1gig or so, run sim, and boom ! the rest of the install starts/ completes.. go play!

Same for me, never had install problems so far.. 

cheers 😉

Edited May 7, 2021 by pmplayer

[Gary1124 181]

I just looked at the MSFS 2020 Steam page. In the extras toward the top where it says multiplayer, ingame purchases etc. it says at the bottom 

Requires xbox live account.

Does that mean that even though you buy it from Steam a live account is still need to download/install/ and or use the sim?

Thanks

[pmb 5,137]

6 minutes ago, Gary1124 said:

Does that mean that even though you buy it from Steam a live account is still need to download/install/ and or use the sim?

Thanks

Yes. As it's stated, this is required for several features.

My gross impression - also from other threads/fora - is 50% vote for Steam and 50% for MS Store. So you have to decide yourself.

Kind regards, Michael

[wim123 763]

11 minutes ago, Gary1124 said:

I just looked at the MSFS 2020 Steam page. In the extras toward the top where it says multiplayer, ingame purchases etc. it says at the bottom 

Requires xbox live account.

Does that mean that even though you buy it from Steam a live account is still need to download/install/ and or use the sim?

Thanks

yes, indeed