MSFS will never allow users to stay on an older version

[abrams_tank 7,426]

So as a software developer myself, I always suspected there was no way Asobo would allow users to stay on an older version of MSFS.  Anyways, we don't need to guess why anymore.  Matt from Working Title has provided a technical answer on why Microsoft/Asobo cannot allow users to stay on older versions of MSFS, and why users must update to the latest version of MSFS each time an update is released:

Quote

There are no plans to allow running on previous versions at this time.

The sim uses a number of cloud services that are synchronized with the sim (not just scenery data services, but also auth, profile, marketplace entitlements, settings storage, etc) and the team does not have plans to maintain the multiple versions of the large amount of backend infrastructure that would be required or take each service and abstract in into a cacheable model.

We understand sometimes that updates can cause unintended issues, but the team strongly believes that having the full community (which will now also include XBox) on the same version ensures the best possible feedback and telemetry to the team to get those problems sorted quicker, and avoids the user confusion of having multiple versions of the product running side by side.

Matt | Working Title

So for those who want to stay on an older version of MSFS because you think it's more stable, forget it, it will never happen.  Instead, if you want a more stable release, the most productive way forward is to push Asobo to implement an "opt in" beta for every player in MSFS, so that the beta testing can be expanded to every player who wants to "opt into" the beta (you can vote for the "opt in" beta request here: https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/add-a-beta-version-players-can-enable-before-releasing-a-patch/277648/42).

Edited August 16, 2021 by abrams_tank

[Ricardo41 5,955]

...and that's a good thing. 

[leprechaunlive 1,859]

Yea, nothing new here.

[bean_sprout 1,201]

You can stay on an older version now with the caveat that you won't be able to fly the sim.  🤠

bs

 

[6297J 692]

Fine by me 

[Paladin2005 441]

Why should i stay on an old version?

Automatic online updates are the best invention since the invention of the computer! 🙃

[Glenn Fitzpatrick 3,798]

8 minutes ago, Paladin2005 said:

Why should i stay on an old version?

Automatic online updates are the best invention since the invention of the computer! 🙃

Dang ... and I thought it was Korean High School Romantic Comedies in 3D VR .

[RobJC 2,069]

Staying on an older version really means maintaining multiple older versions, and that would fragment the development team's time in a way that progress would quickly come to a screeching halt. No thanks.   

[Silicus 881]

9 minutes ago, Paladin2005 said:

Why should i stay on an old version?

On paper, yes, but in reality, EVERY SU so far had major issues. I don't know of ANY software that forces you to update NOW. Even mother Windows gives you opt-out to a point.

They have to up their game when it comes to quality control. The 300 beta tester approach clearly does not work. 

The opt-in beta option seems to be a step in the right direction.

Having to update MSFS in three different places (Store, Sim, Content Manager) is another booh booh that I will never understand and is totally and completely user unfriendly....

[fppilot 4,387]

19 minutes ago, Paladin2005 said:

Automatic online updates are the best invention since the invention of the computer! 🙃

Except that they have previously broken key elements of the sim until a hotfix is provided.  Recent SU5 as a clear example.  Would be nice to see an option to defer for a finite period of time.  Or upon update issues provide the ability to roll back until a hotfix is issued and confirmed. 

I have kept a previous sim installed at the ready for just such occurrences.

[abrams_tank 7,426]

14 minutes ago, Silicus said:

On paper, yes, but in reality, EVERY SU so far had major issues. I don't know of ANY software that forces you to update NOW. Even mother Windows gives you opt-out to a point.

They have to up their game when it comes to quality control. The 300 beta tester approach clearly does not work. 

The opt-in beta option seems to be a step in the right direction.

Having to update MSFS in three different places (Store, Sim, Content Manager) is another booh booh that I will never understand and is totally and completely user unfriendly....

Yes, I don't even know why the "opt in" beta test request only has 400 some votes, since September of last year.  The "opt in" beta test is the single most important request if we really want stability for each update (vote here for it if you haven't voted for it yet). 

[bean_sprout 1,201]

Personally I appreciate the FREE updates and look forward to them - mostly good and maybe some temporary not-so-good.

When you consider all the people time that goes into these updates we should all stand in awe.

Cheers

bs

[penta_a 429]

1 hour ago, abrams_tank said:

So for those who want to stay on an older version of MSFS because you think it's more stable, forget it, it will never happen.  Instead, if you want a more stable release, the most productive way forward is to push Asobo to implement an "opt in" beta for every player in MSFS, so that the beta testing can be expanded to every player who wants to "opt into" the beta (you can vote for the "opt in" beta request here: https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/add-a-beta-version-players-can-enable-before-releasing-a-patch/277648/42).

I was stuck on MSFS 1.17.3 when SU5 came out, I did fly this version until 13 Aug, for some reason MS store did not see any update that needs to be installed, and I honestly didn't pay much effort to solve the issue until HF2 came out with (mostly) positive reactions, then I found a solution to the issue of MS store and updated to SU5HF2 directly and enjoying it since.

again, a big thank you to MS/ASOBO and the sim community for all the efforts from every one (even the angry ones) to get this Sim better and better with each update.

[jcomm 5,939]

I'm perfectly fine with that !

Keep it simple... keep it coming... keep it shining !!!!

Edited August 16, 2021 by jcomm

[Cognita 1,089]

Yes, I agree with Matt, despite the difficulties that come immediately after an update, automatic updates and keeping everyone on the same version is, in the final analysis, the best way to go. This is 2021, it is a cloud based platform, there really is no other way I could see it being and the benefits far outweigh the temporary inconveniences.