Hello all,

Long story short, purchased MSFS2020 on Steam when it came out, played mostly over lockdown like probably every simmer was, but only a year later realised my hard drive space was filling up and it just wasn't suited, so I uninstalled and decided to wait until I get a new PC which I was going to do at somepoint anyway. So new PC arrives, I have a 4TB Corsair SSD drive for it to go on, but then I read how MSFS2024 is progressing and then I find out when it's due, so I think I'll hold back...but I won't buy it on day 1 either, I never buy big releases on day 1, I hold back let everything crash and crumble then I'll come back after the storm, but having delved into a lot of YouTube videos in the past few days to see what's going on, it seems it's still not quite right...and third parties like PMDG don't seem to support it yet, and A380 is 2020 supported.

So now I'm thinking as MSFS2020 is still on Steam, Should I just re-download that instead? I'd like to get back into getting the A32x's and 737's and flying for Virtual Airways on VATSIM again, I can't see 2020 support for those or associated tools being stopped for a long time?

What I don't want to do is install 2020, get a load of addons start building up the collection and then suddenly everyone's on MSFS2024, everything's going onto there and it works with no server lag at all, that's going to be some time away yet surely?

 

If you had a situation where you haven't got the sim on your PC yet, you own MSFS2020 but not MSFS2024, which one would you install and start getting addons purchased/installed for?

Avsim is the wrong place to ask this. 
 

This forum has become so polarized that reasonable discussion is no longer possible. 
 

You’ll soon have the partisans arrive and start the fight. I suggest you make up your own mind based on other sources. 
 

If you want to try 2024 without buying it, remember that there’s a $1 /month game pass trial. You can install both and compare and contrast for yourself. 
 

that’s all I have to say 🙂 

If you want to start afresh, I would go with 2024.  Plenty of GA and airliners to get you going.  As you say, Most will move over to 2024 for the numerous upgrades over 2020.  While you are considering which one to install, you will have plenty telling you how bad 2024 is with bugs - the worst were sorted out in the first week.  Others like myself are experiencing few bugs that spoil the sim.  2024 has had several bug fixes and it wont be long before the first service pack is out. I personally do not regret uninstalling 2020.

If you have a lot of addons that require 2020, and you want to use them, maybe stick with 2020 for a while, otherwise get 2024, the more feature rich and better looking sim.

 

It depends on what you want to do, to be honest. If all you want to do is fly tubeliners at max realism with many addons, etc., I still think 2020 is the more mature platform for that. If you are happy using just the stock content, or ported over planes from 2020, I think that 2024 is the way to go.  Ultimately, and I say this as somebody who has been gaming since the 80s, 2024 is the future and where you should make your long term investments. If you invest in 2020, make sure it is something that will carry over.

My only suggestion is that if you plan on using the Market place to purchase additional stuff, 2020 is the only option currently. This will change in the next month or two...I think. There are other sources of add-ons if that interests you.

Here are some points to consider. 

2024 is the future, so you'll be using it someday anyway.

But... 2024 is still in the "early adopter" stage, with issues still being addressed. Whether these issues will affect you, depends on how you plan to spend your time simming. If you love PMDG and the new career mode, you'll be very disappointed. On the other hand, if you love free flight and Airbuses, you could be quite happy.

Another thing to think about is your general mindset towards being part of a platform that's in development. Some people love being along for the ride, watching things evolve, and getting to the future quickly. Other people find that process massively irritating and are looking for something stable and predictable.

I don't have 2024 yet, but I'm upgrading my system, and when the new PC gets built (I'm hoping for early February), my plan is to install 2024 and forget about everything 2020. But then I'm one of those types that doesn't mind watching the growing pains. From everything I've read, 2024 is stable enough for what I want to use it for.

 

 

Edited January 17, 20251 yr by prolixindec

Given you already have 2020, I'd stick with that for the time being.  I run both 2020 and 2024 and IMO the latter is not in a mature enough state for hard-core airliner ops whereas the former is. One day 2024 will be ready to take over the airliner banner, but IMO we are months, possibly a year, away from that day. In the meantime 2024 is very pretty and great for GA joy flights as long as you can accept some finicky UI and functionality bugs.

Edited January 17, 20251 yr by Reset XPDR

6 hours ago, prolixindec said:

On the other hand, if you love free flight and Airbuses,

Or the Just Flight RJ series 

At this point, I would suggest you install MSFS2020. MSFS2024 will likely have bugs and issues that will not be resolved for another six months.

Edited January 17, 20251 yr by Tierborn

I'd say much depends on WHAT you intend to fly.

Like others have pointed out, FS 2024 is the future, but at present many, many of the aircraft have hopelessly glaring issues. If you fly, for example, general-aviation offerings then far too many of the MS/Asobo defaults in '24 have major issues. If you like helicopters then '24 is probably a good option.

Can't comment on tubeliners as it's not at all my thing (any more). 

FS '20, on the other hand, has a functioning online store. '24 doesn't (yet).

 

 

FWIW I have clung to '20 as I continue to frustrate myself (and curse the developers) with '24. BUT I also have not launched '20 even once since '24 was released. Have you considered X-Plane? 😂

PMDG is supposed to have the SDK issues fixed by the SU1 beta. Give PMDG 2 months after SU1 beta starts, and I think we will start seeing some of the PMDG planes ported to MSFS 2024.  Supposedly, the DC6 from PMDG is working for some people in MSFS 2024, but officially, the DC6 has not been officially ported to MSFS 2024 yet.

Just go with MSFS 2024 and stick with Free Flight with a compatible and reliable plane. The default 172 G1000 and Fenix are reliable. The PC 24 is not.

You will be fine if you use Free Flight and use a reliable & compatible plane in MSFS 2024. Stay away from Career Mode if you can’t tolerate bugs.

Since you don't have addons in 2020, if I were you I would go FS 2024... 

Why?

Here's my thoughts:

1) Although it was certainly released without the necessary testing, and with many bugs, truth is at least for the use I give to it it performs better than FS 2020 and offers better scenery, and also slightly enhanced weather depiction, not perfect, but good enough specially when I use ASFS with it and RealTurb v2 too. I am using only one airplane with FS 2024 - the FENIX 320 - while I wait for the FlyByWire 32N and 380 to be ported, and the PMDG DC6, 737 and 777;

2) I believe FS 2024 is suffering with the return from the user and developers community after the release, and internally it's "life" is surely not the most peaceful. I don't know about sales numbers, and any decisions based on #iusers FS 2020 vs FS 2024, but if we want FS 2024 to evolve I believe we have to give it a chance, buying one of the versions, preferably through the MS Store, and not only a xBox pass "ticket"... They surelly need to see $$$;

3) I still hope MS / ASOBO change their way of dealing with 3pds, and gives them the necessary access to a decent SDK.

 

Edited January 17, 20251 yr by jcomm

If you want to fly the PMDG 737, I'd recommend using 2020 until the 2024 version is released. I think it will take them a while...

Or there are a few study-level airliners that now work in 2024 although they may not be officially supported.

You can install 2020 and 2024 without any conflicts, I use 2024 for GA/sightseeing which it excels at. You won't be wasting money as you'll switch to it at some point.

 

I'll keep it brief..

If you like pushing buttons at FL370 - reinstall MS2020.

If you like flying low level VFR - MS2024 is a no-brainer.

 

Edited January 17, 20251 yr by TrafficPilot

Go with the future - 2024! There are plenty of aircraft that work just fine as this version gets up to speed. Developers are now concentrating on 2024 releases. In combination with the scenery and atmospheric advances, enjoy what new tech brings to realism for the home computer. I’m speaking from someone who does 100% free fight in the sim.