I don't think buying the DVD Edition has any benefits, the files on there are propably so old that you have to download it completely anyhow.

Of course, some people collect these DVD editions, in that case it is different.

Get the Gamepass for PC for a Dollar to test it out via the MS Store/Xbox App. 
It also gives you 20% off the regular price when you buy it during the membership.

But don't buy an upgrade to the Premium or Deluxe. Buy the complete Premium or Deluxe. Otherwise after the Gamepass subscription ends, you will be missing the basic edition. (If you want the Premium or Deluxe at all, that is)

https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass/pc-game-pass

Edited June 17, 20223 yr by darshonaut

In any case, DO NOT buy a DVD!

 

I use the Store and never had a problem, no security issues, no installation issues, etc.

I wouldn't even touch Steam on such a product. Always go as direct to the source as possible. The store APP works flawlessly and the only issues i've had are server disconnections here and there that will affect all clients, no matter where the product was purchased.

Third-party distributors or added noise in the middle (SimMarket, etc) are best avoided at all times if the developers sell the product themselves.

22 minutes ago, Nuno Pinto said:

I wouldn't even touch Steam on such a product. Always go as direct to the source as possible. The store APP works flawlessly and the only issues i've had are server disconnections here and there that will affect all clients, no matter where the product was purchased.

Steam has been around nearly two decades, and I've used it for 17 years. I have around 200 games I've bought on Steam over the years, and I've had maybe 2-3 issues with downloading/updating my game installations that were easily fixed. So for me, Steam is extremely reliable, and I like the convenience of managing all downloads/updates in one place.

10 minutes ago, JacquesBrel said:

Steam has been around nearly two decades, and I've used it for 17 years. I have around 200 games I've bought on Steam over the years, and I've had maybe 2-3 issues with downloading/updating my game installations that were easily fixed. So for me, Steam is extremely reliable, and I like the convenience of managing all downloads/updates in one place.

Same here, and it is indeed nice to have all products in one place, but the simulator is a whole different story. Still, great that it works for you.

4 minutes ago, Nuno Pinto said:

but the simulator is a whole different story

Because...?

6 minutes ago, JacquesBrel said:

Because...?

I just find it easier to manage separately. I use steam for my games (download, play, uninstall) and that's it.

If i want to get rid of steam by some reason like i did in previous occasions, i can do it and still have the simulator working.

Edited June 17, 20223 yr by Nuno Pinto

Steam here, as I am a long-time Steam user. I bought MSFS last December and not a single problem with any of the simulator or world updates from that day to this.

99% of the time each ways work flawless. 
That dumb „MS Store bad“ narrative - but this is how humans are. 
„my way is the best“

I was a gamer in the years when Steam came up.
Can't just see them and Valve without one sideffect they had: It killed the second hand Game DVD Market on PC.

This is always in my picture. If possible I buy games at GOG, some you can even just run locally without internet.
I do use Steam however. I just try not to give them a monopol in PC Gaming Sales.

So I did go with MS Store/Xbox on this one. 
Once you figure out how it installs and where and so on, I never had issue other than a year ago, there was at times a delay in SImupdates being shown as available.

Other than that, it's smooth. You can install mods and stuff from outside just fine. 
I don't think the actual handling of the software differes that much between MS Store/Xbox and STeam installation.

if you buy directly in MStore/Xbox the license is valid on PC and Xbox for that account. Not if you buy on Steam. However relevant that is for you.

If something sells on the ingame MSFS marketplace (aircraft,airport and so on), Steam also get their cut before Microsoft, then the dev gets his. The Steam part obvsiously is not paid if you have MSFS directly at MS Store/Xbox.

So it's more like 'Burger King' or 'McDonald's Question'.

 

 

Edited June 17, 20223 yr by darshonaut

Bought the Store version initially, was a headache with updates at times and you can't even use ReShade with it. Re-bought it on Steam, much better. 

12 minutes ago, Sethos said:

Bought the Store version initially, was a headache with updates at times and you can't even use ReShade with it. Re-bought it on Steam, much better. 

What's ReShade?

sp

3 minutes ago, Sky_Pilot071 said:

What's ReShade?

sp

A fairly popular post-process injector, that allows for hundreds of filters, both official and community made, to dial in the look of your games. I personally find it absolutely essential. 

reshade.me

The Store version's .exe is locked down due to the obnoxious way it encrypts files, so something like that can't be used. 

10 hours ago, JacquesBrel said:

Because...?

Because the licensing can be - and frequently is - different on Steam versions of third party products. A good example of this was the Steam-enabled version of Active Sky for FSX-SE. This version did not qualify for upgrade discounts on newer versions of Active Sky like you could get when you bought it externally direct from the developer because of the way serial numbers were registered, which is a good example of why cutting out a middleman such as Steam can sometimes be a wise choice if dealing with a product which may be enhanced with TPD stuff, not always sold via Steam exclusively.

Another example is that some add-on aeroplanes for FSX-SE found themselves being chopped down and/or modified to suit Steam's tighter licensing agreements, for example, the FSX Virtavia B1 Bomber was available externally from many online stores, or directly through Steam; being unaware at the time of the difference this could make, I bought it for the SE version of FSX via Steam, only to find that it lacked some of the features and paint jobs which were included the package when bought not via Steam as a result of different licencing agreements which had to be a catch-all package for literally every country where Steam can download these things from.

One more example would be the Just Flight Douglas DC-3 from some years ag, which later became ludicrously referred to as the 'McDonnell-Douglas DC-3' when sold via Steam because of them being terrified of legal repercussions, as though Boeing would ever bother going after someone, for calling the DC-3 by its original name.

All of this stuff is why, even though I have had a Steam account for many years and have literally hundreds of games and applications on it and am usually happy to use it for that kind of thing - there are some other simulators with suffer similar issues as the above; Auran Trainz for example, which is severly hamstrung in its Steam version to the point that I actually bought it again direct from the developer site - I decided right from the off to pre-order MSFS via the MS Store rather than via Steam, and I'm not sorry I did that either because I've not had any issues with it to speak of, in fact, it has actually got better at updating as time has gone on and is now generally faster than it used to be.

I like Steam, but it's definitely not the best place to buy MSFS from and sooner or later, people are going to find that out when dealing with TPD add-ons.