I use Steam and no problem and I find two advantages:
1/ you can choose the disk and path of your choice to install Steam and MSFS which allows you to dissociate Windows from MSFS, for example disk Y:
It will install a part in:
    - C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\
The rest will be in two folders:
    - Y: \Steam\steamapps\common\MicrosoftFlightSimulator
    - Y: \Microsoft Flight Simulator

2/ you can save all your personal configuration which is in the folder:
Y::\Steam\userdata\ID Num perso\
NB: the keyboard, joystick, etc. profiles are there: Y:\Steam\userdata\ID Num perso\1250410\remote\
NB: this personal backup can be interesting because if you make a mistake and exit MSFS the error will go into the cloud and will be irrecoverable.

Edited September 24, 20241 yr by Area

3 hours ago, Area said:

1/ you can choose the disk and path of your choice to install Steam and MSFS which allows you to dissociate Windows from MSFS, for example disk Y:
It will install a part in:
    - C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\
The rest will be in two folders:
    - Y: \Steam\steamapps\common\MicrosoftFlightSimulator
    - Y: \Microsoft Flight Simulator

I use the MS Store and...

Like you, I have a small bit of info in C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\

And, like you, the rest of the install is in the main install folder that I spec'ed: D:\msfs
My community folder which people claim is so horrible to find in the store version is in D:\msfs\community\

Don't know why all the angst about MS store folders.  You can do the install anywhere you want, on any drive you want, just like Steam.

 

Scott

5 hours ago, tttocs said:

I use the MS Store and...

Like you, I have a small bit of info in C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\

And, like you, the rest of the install is in the main install folder that I spec'ed: D:\msfs
My community folder which people claim is so horrible to find in the store version is in D:\msfs\community\

Don't know why all the angst about MS store folders.  You can do the install anywhere you want, on any drive you want, just like Steam.

 

Scott

The simple fact is that some are massively infatuated with Steam. Valve can do no wrong and all that. You just need to look at the massively disproportionate pushback there is against stores that DARE to compete with Steam, all the time. 

I've seen console word not allowed. I've seen word not allowed of games. I've seen word not allowed of a simulator. Yet the word not allowed of a store are the funniest of them all.😂

11 minutes ago, Abriael said:

You just need to look at the massively disproportionate pushback there is against stores that DARE to compete with Steam, all the time. 

It's not because they're competing with Steam, it's just they're usually pretty bad compared to steam feature wise, consumer friendliness, easy of access etc.

Edited September 25, 20241 yr by Tuskin38

2 minutes ago, Tuskin38 said:

It's not because they're competing with Steam, it's just they're usually pretty bad compared to steam feature wise, consumer friendliness, easy of access etc.

I use all stores. I play games, not stores. Literally no issue they may have (which are comparable to issues Steam had in similar timeframes) justifies the absolute hatred a lot of people throw their way. It's not even close to proportionate or rational.  Let's not hide behind a finger.

Edited September 25, 20241 yr by Abriael

I picked Steam because it's convenient. I'm a gamer and I already had it. The fact that I can buy prepaid cards to purchase things via the MSFS market place made it a simple choice. I'm not opposed to either store and you can't go wrong with either.

1 hour ago, Abriael said:

You just need to look at the massively disproportionate pushback there is against stores that DARE to compete with Steam, all the time.

My issue with Epic in particular is that exclusivity contracts have no place in PC gaming. I get it, sometimes they help with funding. But you can get around that by launching the games for more money in other stores. The PC is an open platform, and most of the pushback toward Epic is because they try to transform the PC into a closed platform like the consoles. I don't have the Epic Game Store on my PC and just deal with waiting a year every time they screw over customers with exclusivity periods.

The other issue with all of these different "stores": they're just another place for your data to get compromised when they eventually get hacked. Pretty sure my EA account was compromised because of a data breach in the past. At least sticking to only a few stores lowers the number of places your personal info is stored.

That said, as someone who owns most things through Steam, I purchased 2020 through the MS store and will do the same for 2024. The same reason I purchase CDPR's games through GOG: they develop some of my favorite games and I want them to get the highest cut of profits so they can continue making those games.

19 hours ago, Area said:

I use Steam and no problem and I find two advantages:
1/ you can choose the disk and path of your choice to install Steam and MSFS which allows you to dissociate Windows from MSFS, for example disk Y:
It will install a part in:
    - C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\
The rest will be in two folders:
    - Y: \Steam\steamapps\common\MicrosoftFlightSimulator
    - Y: \Microsoft Flight Simulator

2/ you can save all your personal configuration which is in the folder:
Y::\Steam\userdata\ID Num perso\
NB: the keyboard, joystick, etc. profiles are there: Y:\Steam\userdata\ID Num perso\1250410\remote\
NB: this personal backup can be interesting because if you make a mistake and exit MSFS the error will go into the cloud and will be irrecoverable.

That's precisely what is possible with the MS Store version as well.

Steam all the way, all installation and profile problems I have read from people on this forum have been from Store users.

On 9/23/2024 at 7:59 PM, Cavemanhead said:

I've bucked and kicked and resisted relinquishing control of my PC to spyware (STEAM) for so many years...

But after the hours of aggravation with an MS Account / Gamepass nonsense, I decided to reconsider my stance and choose the lesser of 2 evils:  STEAM.

Is it a mistake?  What are your thoughts about STEAM vs Gamepass?  What pros/cons are there for each - especially as they relate to MS 2024?

Any/all thoughts are appreciated - thanks in advance! 

 

I would use the gamepass version.  You dont have to deal with the file structure of steam.

The file structure of Steam? 

On 9/25/2024 at 12:06 PM, Lotharen said:

I picked Steam because it's convenient. I'm a gamer and I already had it. The fact that I can buy prepaid cards to purchase things via the MSFS market place made it a simple choice. I'm not opposed to either store and you can't go wrong with either.

Is MSFS available on Steam yet?   Link?

The link would be ...... Steam. As I type this it's still in my Wishlist. 

Steam PD user but planning on using my gamepass this time, so Standard edition and I'll take the hit on lost marketplace stuff and whatever else comes out of the woodwork to start with. 

I can always buy Steam PD again if need be, but would rather save the £££

Most of my content was bought through Orbx l, with a few others elsewhere.

1 hour ago, Aidenverse said:

I ended up switching because it felt simpler day to day. I still don’t love extra clients, but the easier updates and fewer account hiccups made the tradeoff worth it for me.

Hi: Welcome to this Forum, this being a 1+ year old thread...

Anyway, did you mean, you switched from Game Pass 2024 to Steam MSFS2024, or the other way from Steam to Microsoft Store?

I started with Game Pass first in MSFS2020, and then purchased it outright from MS Store, no issues so far. I'm on Xbox.

 

Edited February 22Feb 22 by P_7878