Ok, first question:  What are the differences between the standard, deluxe, deluxe premium, and aviator versions (aside from cost)?

Question 2:  Is the learning curve as extremely high as MSFS2020?  2020 was such a radical departure from FS2004/FFSX that it is difficult in the extreme to learn how to use (at least it has been for me!).

Question 3:  Have they returned to the FS2004/FSX keyboard commands (the major problem with leaning to fly 2020 is the fact that they completely did away with the 2004/FSX keyboard commands!).

Question 4: Are all my 2020 aircraft and scenery addons compatible with 2024 (or am I going to have to throw out all of my 2020 addons and spend hundreds of dollars to replace them with 2024 addons?

Question 5:Does 2024 come preprogamed with the major known control yokes and joysticks or am I gong to have to program it to work with my CH Eclipse and CH pedals (I'm still trying to figure out how to program 2020 to work with them!

As nice as the 2024 trailer is, if the answers to questions 2 through 5 is not YES! I may have to pass.  Given the aggravation I've experienced with 2020 I don't think it'll be worth upgrading to 2024 (especially considering the cost (which is even more expensive that 2020 was)! 

 

 

 

 

1 This gives a comprehensive list of the differences between the differing versions near the bottom. (And a good explanation of what to expect.HERE

2 Learning curve is as difficult or as easy you want to make it. There's training from learning to fly, and gaining your PP License. to multi engine airliners etc.

3 I don't have a clue, never used them.

4 As far as i am aware, your purchases in the Marketplace for MSFS2020 will move over fine, Addons from 3rd party devs,  may or may not. Some will likely update for little to no cost. Others may charge.

5 Not sure

Hopefully other's will comment, as the above's my understanding.

Edited October 5, 20241 yr by Simselli

Most of these questions are answered here already, but in short:

1. With every more expensive version you get more aircraft and handcrafted airports than the cheaper version.
2. Learning curve will probably be quite easy if you already are used to MSFS2020.
3. They will probably use the same keyboard assignments as in MSFS2020, but I hardly use those as I have all major functions assigned to controllers and stream deck, and use the virtual cockpit switches for the rest.
4. Most airport and aircraft addons will be compatible. Aircraft will probably be working as they do in MSFS2020 but airports could be affected by the new Bing maps (e.g. mesh). I don't expect problems but some airports might have some minor issues like bumps on taxiways. Other types of addons like traffic, seasons, weather etc. might work or require works. Some might be obsolete anyway.
5. They will probably have presets for all the well-known controllers. Those that are very old and not common might be left out. The whole controller setup has had a complete makeover. It might be easier than before but since there are more layers of controller configurations it might be more complex.

- 3: You can easily change each keyboard command to the same key press (or combo) that was used in FS2004/FSX in the control section under keyboard. This is already an option in FS2020. So instead of re-learning all the controls, reorganizing them to what was used in FS2004/FSX would have been an easier option.

The answer to 5 is Yes. all major controllers are preconfigured in 2024, just as they are in 2020.

The answer to 3 is No. The easier to remember FSX keyboard commands were done away with in 2020. And remain so in 2024 as best as I can see from the small peeks MSFS is providing.

They haven't said if they plan to publish a manual. The smart money is betting that no they won't in the Las Vegas Sports Books.

 

Thanks for all the replys, gu2  They all give me hope that 2024 will be worth getting (eventually).  I probably won't go for the aviator version ($200 is a bit too pricey for me), however, the $130 Deluxe Premium is probably what I go for  (that's about what I paid for MSFS2020.  MSFS2020 was not preprogramed for my CH Eclipse yoke (at least I couldn't find it if it were.  I'll have to take another look).  I've hardly used MSFS2020 because of this.  I have yet to complete a flight in MSFS2020 because of the difficulty I've had because all the FS2004/FSX keyboard commands were done away with (or I couldn't figure out how to use them with MSFS2020.

Why not start a topic like FSX keys vs MSFS2020/MSFS2024 keys and list your aircraft and current keys usage problems?