So first things first, I want to emphasize that it’s not the end of MSFS 2020 or anything like that because Jorg said MSFS 2020 will continue to be supported, some features in MSFS 2024 may be back-ported to MSFS 2020, and MSFS 2020 will continue to receive Sim Updates.

Having said that, as the countdown to MSFS 2024 is coming to the final days before its release, MSFS 2020 is closing out with a bang and encore in the last month before MSFS 2024!

In the last month, we had the iFly 737 Max release, the FBW A380 release, the Fenix Sharklets release, and the Just Flight RJ Professional release!  This has been the most stacked month of top tier releases, since the spring of 2022 when the PMDG 737, Leonardo Maddog, Fenix A320, and Just Flight BAe 146 were released within about a one month timespan.

And I am only considering the releases in the last one month. Because if we go further than one month out and look at the last several months, that would include the PMDG 777 release, the TDFi MD-11 release, the Fenix A321 and A319 release, and the FSS 727 release.

Now that is an encore by MSFS 2020!

Edited November 10, 20241 yr by abrams_tank

Indeed! It went exactly the other way around than I had expected, which made the wait for 2024 so much easier.

Yeah it’s funny, normally this close to a release like 2024 I’d be super excited, reading everything I can about it etc but not with how good 2020 is right now.  It’s not that I’m not looking forward to 2024, but the current awesome state of 2020 is a very nice distraction on this home stretch.

2 minutes ago, regis9 said:

Yeah it’s funny, normally this close to a release like 2024 I’d be super excited, reading everything I can about it etc but not with how good 2020 is right now.  It’s not that I’m not looking forward to 2024, but the current awesome state of 2020 is a very nice distraction on this home stretch.

I think users with an ISP data cap, better think about the issue with exceeding that cap with 2024. MIght cost you some  money every month. 

48 minutes ago, regis9 said:

Yeah it’s funny, normally this close to a release like 2024 I’d be super excited, reading everything I can about it etc but not with how good 2020 is right now.  It’s not that I’m not looking forward to 2024, but the current awesome state of 2020 is a very nice distraction on this home stretch.

Yep, quite frankly I could wait another year and still be stoked every time up!  Love this sim!  Oh, but it's not a real flight simulator because its ATC isn't there yet...

The  Flying Iron Fw-190 was released quite recently too. I can't keep up, but I'm not complaining. 🙂 

50 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

I think users with an ISP data cap, better think about the issue with exceeding that cap with 2024. MIght cost you some  money every month. 

To be honest if I had a data cap on ISP I probably would not consider using MSfS for real. Its not worth it

I'm actually surprised. I thought it would slow down in the lead up to 2024's release, calm before the storm and everyone investing their resources on making sure it was running under 2024 the second it was out. Instead, the scene just explodes in some amazing releases. So that was interesting to see.

41 minutes ago, Sethos said:

I'm actually surprised. I thought it would slow down in the lead up to 2024's release, calm before the storm and everyone investing their resources on making sure it was running under 2024 the second it was out. Instead, the scene just explodes in some amazing releases. So that was interesting to see.

I think all the 3rd party developers working on so many projects, and then there are some top tier 3rd party developers in that group, all delivered on their projects before MSFS 2024 was released.  This is a nice benefit of using MSFS, in that the 3rd party developer scene is excessively strong for MSFS - I think it's probably the strongest 3rd party development scene ever for a civilian flight simulator.

And once MSFS 2024 is released, I think the top tier releases will continue into next year.  There are still some top tier companies that haven't released anything for MSFS yet like Majestic, Bluebird, and FSLabs (Bluebird is a potentially top tier company but we will see when they release their 757 and 767).

And if MSFS 2024 is as good as the previews and reviews of it, and the major bugs are sorted out after the first several months of MSFS 2024's release, IMO, I think the 3rd party developer scene will grow even stronger for MSFS 2024.

That's crazy, that the MSFS 2024 3rd party developer scene could end up being stronger than the MSFS 2020 3rd party developer scene, given that no other civilian flight simulator has seen a 3rd party developer scene as strong as MSFS 2020.

Developers have no real incentive to delay products that are finished. Microsoft is telling them that their products will work on both simulators without additional work on their part, so there's no reason to hold off releasing and then having to work for a while to implement FS2024 native features before being able to actually release "for 2024". That'd be a net loss for them, as they'd basically have to do more work to release a similar product later. 

On top of that, like all "next generation" products, it'll be adopted somewhat gradually by users, which means that the addressable market for MSFS2024 will be smaller than the addressable market of MS2024 and MSFS2020 combined for quite a while. It's the same reason why console developers still release games for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S now that the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S have been out for four years. 

By releasing for 2020 now, they can still sell it for both simulators, and on top of that, they have the opportunity to release an upgrade for MSFS2024 which they will either charge for or get the PR benefit for releasing it for free (while still benefiting from sustained sales). 

Basically, releasing a product that's finished now without waiting is 100% a net win for a third-party developer, so it's not so surprising. Great to see though.

Edited November 10, 20241 yr by Abriael

Agree!  But mainly, because in anticipation of FS 2024, I bought myself a new PC.

As a result, I am now flying MSFS in all its glory.. The sim has never looked better and my aircraft have never handled as well as now...  It is like a new sim 🙂

23 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

Agree!  But mainly, because in anticipation of FS 2024, I bought myself a new PC.

As a result, I am now flying MSFS in all its glory.. The sim has never looked better and my aircraft have never handled as well as now...  It is like a new sim 🙂

Ooooooo!

What are your new shiny specs?

Congrats Bert! Enjoy!

1 hour ago, Bert Pieke said:

Agree!  But mainly, because in anticipation of FS 2024, I bought myself a new PC.

Congratulations! After much debate I did the same and just half an hour ago brought home my new PC! This week I will work through setting it up and have it all ready for 2024 next Tuesday! 

So, much has come out in the past six months it is hard to keep up and sometimes I spend half the time I have to fly deciding what aircraft to load. There really are some well done aircraft now, a good time for our hobby.

4 hours ago, Bobsk8 said:

I think users with an ISP data cap, better think about the issue with exceeding that cap with 2024. MIght cost you some  money every month.

I really can't fathom that in 2024 in North America there are data caps! Our family uses over a TB per month and not uncommonly that pushes close to 1.5 TB. I have not thought about data usage for years now. That kind of cap should just be legislated out of existence!

11 minutes ago, Cognita said:

 

I really can't fathom that in 2024 in North America there are data caps! Our family uses over a TB per month and not uncommonly that pushes close to 1.5 TB. I have not thought about data usage for years now. That kind of cap should just be legislated out of existence!

Unfortunately, Comcast, ( now Xfinity) who I am stuck with has a 1.3 TB cap and I already exceeded that so now I have to pay an extra $30 a month for unlimited data. 😡

Edited November 10, 20241 yr by Bobsk8