MSFS 2024 Can't decide whether I should upgrade to MSFS 2024 or not?

[captain420]

I bought MSFS 2020 Deluxe version on Windows store when it first launched but I can't decide whether or not I should upgrade to 2024? If I do upgrade, I plan on going with the steam version this time and perhaps just get the standard version only, since I don't really care for the deluxe airports. 3rd party payware airports are still better quality than the one that ships with deluxe. I have watched lots of videos on YouTube of the new MSFS 2024, and even though it does look better, night lighting and ground textures alone makes it better. But I'm not sure if it's $60 better. Perhaps I can wait for it to go on sale. Not sure how long that'll be. 

Does MSFS 2024 include it's own flight planner and charts? I've heard this before from several people but wanted to confirm. Is the built-in flight planner better than simbrief? The less I have to rely on 3rd party apps and have everything built right into the core sim is a huge deciding factor for me.

[Sky_Pilot071]

Since you called it an upgrade then you should.

dd

[MassiveSim32]

MSFS2024 is great.  I rode the bumps for the first few weeks and now MSFS2020 has been uninstalled.

The EFB with routing functionality etc is very nice however I get better fidelity from staying with Navigraph.  Navigraph app appears on your MSFS2024 EFB for ease of use.

Most quality addon sceneries work with 2024 as well as some great aircraft either working out of the box or having recently been updated by developers.  

I use the steam version and it works flawlessly for me.  I also have installed DLSS4 and everything runs super smooth at 60FPS or more in 4K with a mixture of Ultra and High Settings.

In short, 2024 is fantastic.  The lighting and ray-tracing is amazing eye candy too.

Do it.

Jase

[FBW737]

You can get MSFS 2024 in the Xbox game pass. YOU can sign up for a 2 week trial for game pass for a Dollar.

[Ricardo41]

1 hour ago, captain420 said:

Does MSFS 2024 include it's own flight planner and charts? I've heard this before from several people but wanted to confirm. Is the built-in flight planner better than simbrief? The less I have to rely on 3rd party apps and have everything built right into the core sim is a huge deciding factor for me.

MSFS 2024 comes with its own flight planner, courtesy of Workint Title. Of course, it's not as "good" as simbrief which has been around for years. The flight planner works very well, you can use it together with simbrief. This works very well. The LIDO charts are great, too, and are automatically selected, when you create a flight plan. 

The "send to avionics" button delivers the plan with one click to compatible avionics systems. 

The Honeywell Primus avionics system now has (with the beta) an inbuilt chart viewer. 

There is pretty much no need for Navigraph, if you can live with the limitations of the LIDO chart coverage. 

[HiFlyer]

Might be useful.... maybe.

 

[V1ROTA7E]

2 hours ago, captain420 said:

I bought MSFS 2020 Deluxe version on Windows store when it first launched but I can't decide whether or not I should upgrade to 2024? If I do upgrade, I plan on going with the steam version this time and perhaps just get the standard version only, since I don't really care for the deluxe airports. 3rd party payware airports are still better quality than the one that ships with deluxe. I have watched lots of videos on YouTube of the new MSFS 2024, and even though it does look better, night lighting and ground textures alone makes it better. But I'm not sure if it's $60 better. Perhaps I can wait for it to go on sale. Not sure how long that'll be. 

Does MSFS 2024 include it's own flight planner and charts? I've heard this before from several people but wanted to confirm. Is the built-in flight planner better than simbrief? The less I have to rely on 3rd party apps and have everything built right into the core sim is a huge deciding factor for me.

I still bounce between both sims, leaning more towards FS24 now. I'd say 1 out of 10 flights is in 2020 now. The A330, Fenix, and the PMDG 777 are great in 2024 (beta). There are also quite a few bush planes that are fun to fly. The only reason I still use 2020 is for the iFly and PMDG 737's. Everything else (for the most part) works well in 2024, including the Black Square stuff. BATC works, SI works, 99% of addon airports I've tested work as well. The main reason I'm mostly on 2024 now is performance (and visuals to an extent). I'm also using reshade to filter out the yellow that comes with the stock sim, but otherwise, it looks fantastic. Still a ways to go, but I've been able to forego the Map Enhancement tool since Photogrammetry doesn't seem to impact performance nearly as much as it did with 2020. Honestly, it's graphically jaw dropping...but as it turns out, I came for the graphics and stayed for the performance.

There is a stock flight planner....but I've never used it. Simbrief works really well...also considering (if you're subscribed) there's a simbrief tool incorporated into the EFB in the sim which makes flight planning pretty seamless and easy. You can start a flight from wherever you want, and plan it in the sim from the cockpit without ever having to leave...it's pretty nice.

In short, the only 3rd party apps I use are RealTurb, Reshade, BATC/SI, FSUIPC, and AutoFPS. Compared to FS2020, RealTurb, ReShade, REX Atmos, LSFG, Map Enhancement, FSUIPC, AutoFPS, BATC/SI.

[prolixindec]

The visuals in 2024 are greatly improved. I had some teething pains getting my add-ons and controllers to work, but I stuck with it because 2024 is simply that much better. Visuals are a subjective thing though, so people will disagree with me about this, but I liked 2024 so much that I haven't gone back to 2020 at all. I switched exactly a week ago, and as of tonight, my new system has all the functionality of the old, and it looks and feels great. 

One other bit of advice: 2024 is the future, so you'll be using it anyway at some point. The question is whether you want to change now, and deal with some growing pains, or wait a year or two until it's more solid. Nobody can make that choice for you, it depends on what your comfort zone is.

 

Edited February 7 by prolixindec

[Fielder]

2 hours ago, captain420 said:

I bought MSFS 2020 Deluxe version on Windows store when it first launched but I can't decide whether or not I should upgrade to 2024? If I do upgrade, I plan on going with the steam version this time and perhaps just get the standard version only, since I don't really care for the deluxe airports. 3rd party payware airports are still better quality than the one that ships with deluxe. I have watched lots of videos on YouTube of the new MSFS 2024, and even though it does look better, night lighting and ground textures alone makes it better. But I'm not sure if it's $60 better. Perhaps I can wait for it to go on sale. Not sure how long that'll be. 

Does MSFS 2024 include it's own flight planner and charts? I've heard this before from several people but wanted to confirm. Is the built-in flight planner better than simbrief? The less I have to rely on 3rd party apps and have everything built right into the core sim is a huge deciding factor for me.

It is $37 on CDKeys. But CDKeys discount code works with Xbox Store MSFS, not Steam MSFS.

Here is where in the MS store that you put the key:( you can find this box anytime, every Xbox store has this box):

Open Xbox Store

Click on your gamertag (user name) in upper right corner.

Click on "redeem code or gift cards"

enter your key

(the price in the MS store now reduces from $59.99 to $37.50)

[RobJC]

Take advantage of gamepass for $1 and decide for yourself. Some appear to have a much different experience than others. It runs the gamut, from “the sim won’t load” to “everything works perfectly.” For a dollar you can find out how lucky or unlucky you are. 

[Fielder]

All is in accord with Microsoft. I bought Aviators Edition of 2024 for $150 instead of $200. No problems with the purchase. All my stuff is there (in 2020 I was using Steam, in 2024 I use the Store).

[Bert Pieke]

3 hours ago, captain420 said:

I have watched lots of videos on YouTube of the new MSFS 2024, and even though it does look better, night lighting and ground textures alone makes it better. But I'm not sure if it's $60 better.

Seriously.... $60 is keeping you from upgrading your sim?  🫢 

How much did you pay for your last video card upgrade?

Edited February 7 by Bert Pieke

[DAD]

3 hours ago, MassiveSim32 said:

In short, 2024 is fantastic

Second that. Did not yet uninstall 2020 but only because I did not touch it since release of 2024. note though that the latest „breakthrough“ for 2024 came with the current SU1 which is still beta. So unless you are willing to join the public Beta you will need to wait until SU1 is officially released which is scheduled for 18FEB…

[MrBitstFlyer]

Buy 2024 on Steam. In Steam, choose beta

Enjoy breath taking lighting, terrain and performance.

Edited February 7 by MrBitstFlyer

[abrams_tank]

6 hours ago, captain420 said:

I bought MSFS 2020 Deluxe version on Windows store when it first launched but I can't decide whether or not I should upgrade to 2024?  But I'm not sure if it's $60 better.

Yes, get MSFS 2024, it's that much better than MSFS 2020, especially the graphics at ground level.  Since you use MSFS 2020 a lot, look at this comparison of MSFS 2024 vs real life photos that this person composed: https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrosoftFlightSim/comments/1h3igen/places_ive_been_over_the_years_revisited_in/

Without custom scenery, MSFS 2020 is incapable of generating the graphics that you see in that Reddit post.  So from the ground level and outside cities, MSFS 2024 graphics are a huge revolution over MSFS 2020 graphics.

As for which version to get if you have the Deluxe version of MSFS 2020, you can get the Standard Version of MSFS 2024, because your Deluxe planes in MSFS 2020 should carry over to MSFS 2024. I  bought the Premium Deluxe version of MSFS 2020 but I bought the Standard Version of MSFS 2024. All my Premium Deluxe planes from MSFS 2020 carried over to MSFS 2024, including the 787 which was the most important plane to me from the Premium Deluxe version.

And the improvements in lighting, water physics, flight dynamics, ground physics, etc, it's simply better than MSFS 2020 in so many areas. Plus, I was getting a little annoyed with the trees, grass, and vegetation in MSFS 2020 after 4 years because it looked off compared to real life (but of course, MSFS 2020 trees, grass, and vegetation is so much better than the competition, lol).  When I use MSFS 2024 now, I am amazed by the trees, grass, and vegetation, and it brings back the enjoyment of exploring the world again.  After using MSFS 2024, I can't go back to MSFS 2020 now, it's too difficult.

So for $60 USD, MSFS 2024 was a great deal.  Plus, MSFS 2024 is quite good now on SU1 Beta.  It will get better in SU2, but for a lot of people, SU1 Beta has been a huge game changer for MSFS 2024.

Edited February 7 by abrams_tank