As a newcomer to the MSFS world, I want to make sure that any service updates, which are not ready for prime time, do not make it into the product so I want to be prepared when installing the product.  I will be installing the MS Store version so please provide some guidance with the following:

• When I download and install the product, at what software level will the product be ?  Will it have all of the SUs or is installing SUs done after the initial install.  I want to make sure the software level is SU10 and nothing more.
• In general how is SU installation managed ?  Download .exe and run, automated installer in the product where updates are done by the product 

Any suggestions you might have on best practices on software installation and updates would be appreciated.

The SU's are automatic. There is no way around them. If there is a SU available, and you start MSFS, it will not fully run until you install said SU, for better or for worse. Most of the SU's have been very positive, in my experience, but there have been a couple that were not the best. That said, SU10 has been generally well received and has worked out really well for my experience. I am sure some others will chime in with some additional comments and information for you. Welcome to MSFS 🙂 

As Sniper said, the SUs are automatic. When you start MSFS you will be instructed to start the SU download, and it installs with no further input from you. When this is completed, the now-updated MSFS will start as normal. Note: World Updates require a further step, namely going into the Marketplace and installing from there. They are free, and are optional (unlike the SUs) and can be uninstalled in Content Manager if desired.

Edited October 28, 20223 yr by cobalt

But SU 11 beta will not install unless you beforehand ask for it. Only offiicial releases are mandatory, never betas. So SU 10 will be what MSFS runs at for now until 11-11 day. 

Thank you all for the information.

I can see the logic behind this mandatory updates policy similar to Windows but the quality/readiness of the SUs for prime time might be an issue per some of the posts on this forum and others.  Hopefully as the product matures, it will continue to stabilize.    

1 hour ago, zachlog said:

Thank you all for the information.

I can see the logic behind this mandatory updates policy similar to Windows but the quality/readiness of the SUs for prime time might be an issue per some of the posts on this forum and others.  Hopefully as the product matures, it will continue to stabilize.    

Asobo started doing public betas of these SU's a few months ago, and since that time the "not ready for prime time" thing has been much reduced.

A lot of the bad press was with earlier SU's is as @sniper31 notes, some of them could have been baked a little longer...

3 hours ago, zachlog said:

Thank you all for the information.

I can see the logic behind this mandatory updates policy similar to Windows but the quality/readiness of the SUs for prime time might be an issue per some of the posts on this forum and others.  Hopefully as the product matures, it will continue to stabilize.    

That’s why we have an open beta now. Since the open betas started, every SU has been decent (for PC users anyways).

1 hour ago, abrams_tank said:

That’s why we have an open beta now. Since the open betas started, every SU has been decent (for PC users anyways).

Aside SU7 that was an absolute disaster for VR users...!

Whilst I agree they've been gradually getting better with Beta Periods, they still fall way way short compared to other titles I've been apart of over the decades in many areas as well, it's a slow process and it baffles me that a company like MS are still failing at it. 

Also as has been discussed many times before, the better SUs are the ones that don't have a specific deadline to meet, whereby they can delay the release and beta test more, thats not happening with SU11.

10 minutes ago, MarcG said:

Aside SU7 that was an absolute disaster for VR users...!

SU7 didn't have an open beta though. It was the SU7 hotfix that had an open beta, but not the original SU7 release.

But yes, I agree with you that if the SU isn't ready, it should be pushed back.  Unfortunately, SU11 cannot be pushed back because it's a special release of MSFS.

Edited October 28, 20223 yr by abrams_tank

Just now, abrams_tank said:

SU 7 didn't have an open beta though. It was the SU 7 hotfix that had an open beta, but not the original SU 7 release.

Aahh yes thank you that was it, baffling they didn't have a beta test for SU7 then! 

IIRC SU7 did have a beta, it just wasn't an open beta.