Where is the best source to buy msfs from as far as receiving updates, downloads and such?  I will be using it on a PC..  And is it even worth getting the deluxe versions or just get the basic?   Because I doubt most of the aircraft offered have good realism qualities as of yet.. I am waiting on developers like A2A, which will be coming soon I hear. 

Thank you!

Edited November 21, 20214 yr by Saucey12

Purchase it at Steam. The history of this forum of people having problems updating, shows that they were almost exclusively MS Store customers. It comes to a point where some bought a second copy at Steam 😄 ! 

The version choice is purely a question of  preference (and budget) but do not expect a better quality of aircraft.

7 hours ago, Dominique_K said:

It comes to a point where some bought a second copy at Steam 😄 ! 

 

I did that, and I really wish I could have the Logbook back, from the MS Store version

I'm using the same Xbox username, ingame as well.

 

17 minutes ago, Dominique_K said:

Purchase it at Steam. The history of this forum of people having problems updating, shows that they were almost exclusively MS Store customers. It comes to a point where some bought a second copy at Steam 😄 ! 

The version choice is purely a question of  preference (and budget) but do not expect a better quality of aircraft.

I thought so!  This is pretty much what I have read online but I wanted to hear it from some Avsim guys.. One other question before I pull the trigger.. The version you buy will not effect any future ability to download mods or 3rd party software would it?  

Thank you

1 minute ago, Saucey12 said:

. The version you buy will not effect any future ability to download mods or 3rd party software would it?  

Thank you

No. The only version which precludes downloading mods and independent 3PD addons is the Xbox one.

4 minutes ago, Dominique_K said:

No. The only version which precludes downloading mods and independent 3PD addons is the Xbox one.

Awesome.  While I have you on the line de France lol.  I see that your system specs are similar to what I have I believe.. What graphics level do you run MSFS?  Medium or high quality?  

Mostly on high, clouds on ultra I guess. Only thing at medium is the gauge refreshing rate but it is still very smooth. I am on iPad right now not at my desktop to check.

What is nice with MSFS is that you can get a smooth experience at quite high settings with a weak machine.

4 minutes ago, Dominique_K said:

Mostly on high, clouds on ultra I guess. Only thing at medium is the gauge refreshing rate but it is still very smooth. I am on iPad right now not at my desktop to check.

What is nice with MSFS is that you can get a smooth experience at quite high settings with a weak machine.

That's great to hear. I have been a long time FSX user and it is hard to try and perfect it with a stronger machine due to its older framework.  

Steam without question.

2 hours ago, Saucey12 said:

Where is the best source to buy msfs from as far as receiving updates, downloads and such? 

Steam

Steam for sure. Also the only of the two digital versions that allow access to the .exe, in case you want to use ReShade or something. 

3 hours ago, Sphynnx said:

I did that, and I really wish I could have the Logbook back, from the MS Store version

I'm using the same Xbox username, ingame as well.

 

I don't care too much about the logbok and the lost hours, but was asking myself the same thing when I purchased on steam after using gamepass. Would be interesting to see if the old hours are still in there if we would install the ms store version or if they really just reset them.

On topic: (x) Steam 🙂

 

I have the store version and I'm not going to dispute people who prefer steam.

I wonder what makes the Steam version easier/better than the Store version.

Can you install steam on a custom location?

 

 

I have both versions ( as a developer, I need to test both ), and these are the differences:

- Both the MS Store and the Steam version will allow you to choose an install location. However, this is not really relevant because, that would be the location of the fairly small executable, the bulk of the program (99% of its size) is in the content folder which is asked later on during the installation, which also works the same on both version.

- The MS Store version has the executable folder encrypted in a mounted Virtual disk you have no access to, not even in read only. This doesn't really affect normal users but, if you are a developer too, there are some interesting packages there you can look at (mostly related to the html/js interface), to supply to the lack of an official documentation and you can't see those files on the MS Store version, that's another reasons why I had to buy another copy on Steam, that doesn't restrict access to that part of the program.

- Add-ons bought from the MS Marketplace are not cross-compatible between the MS Store version and the Steam version of the sim. Which means, if you want to switch from a version to the other one, you'll lose all the **Marketplace** add-ons. Add-ons bought on 3rd party sites are not affected, of course.

- If you use VR, depending which headset you have, you might prefer one version or the other. For example, if your headset works natively with SteamVR (Valve Index, Pimax), you might prefer the Steam version, since you'll have to launch SteamVR anyway. Something like the ReverbG2 but also the Oculus, which can work directly with OpenXR without starting SteamVR, might be easier to work with the MS Store version. 

- The Steam version has a better/easier update process, while the MS Store version sometimes requires logging out from the store, or restarting Windows before seeing the update. This is usually more of a problem if you also test Betas. However, this again refers only to the main and small executable "core" set of files. The bulk of the updates are done in the same way in both versions, through the in-game update process. The Xbox version (which is, in fact, an MS Store version too), instead, has the better/faster update system of all, because it does most of it externally through the normal Xbox update process.

- The MS Store version will let you use the Xbox version too, at no extra charge.

- The MSFS Store version can be TRIED for as little as $1, by purchasing a one-month Gamepass Trial. Of course, if you already are a Gamepass subscriber, getting the MS Store version should be a no-brainer. Getting a Gamepass just for MSFS might be overkill but, if you play other games or, you have kids, it's the best deal in the industry right now. With two kids in their full gaming age (12 and 14), I don't even remember the last time I bought a game at full price.

- When you buy a 3rd party add-on from the Marketplace and your MSFS was bought on Steam, the 3DP gets less money, because there's another middleman involved. So, if you are worried about supporting 3DP, you should prefer the Store version. However, if you are *really* worried about supporting 3DPs, the version won't matter, if you buy all your add-ons directly...

Edited November 21, 20214 yr by virtuali

Just to add another data point I bought the store version in the sale last month (yes I know the steam version was on sale as well).  I too had read all the sob stories about the store version but thought I'd go for it to see what all the fuss was about.  Unfortunately, it installed with no issues and I've just completed the goty update without problems.

58 minutes ago, hansb57 said:

Can you install steam on a custom location?

From what I've read, yes, just like the store version. The only difference seems to be that it's a standard executable not a Win10 app, which means that the .exe is accessible and unprotected - may be useful for things like reshade, but there's probably a reason why MS is pushing its app format.  All you get from steam is the executable and supporting files, about 8Gb in all.  All the content - the 170Gb or so - is identical, and downloaded from the MS servers, so you gain absolutely nothing by having steam there.