So the MSFS team finally implemented the downloadable feature in MSFS 2024.  Before, all the default planes, sceneries, and World Updates,  in the Content Manager could only be streamed.  As of the SU 3 Beta, default planes, sceneries, and World Updates can be streamed or downloaded. It's purely up to the user whether they want to stream or download it.  This option to stream or download is something that even MSFS 2020 doesn't have, so it's a very nice feature to have in MSFS 2024.

So if you decide to stream everything, and download nothing from Content Manager (just as it is right now for SU 2), MSFS 2024 should take up about 30 GB of space on your hard drive. Now according to this person, if you decide to download everything, it may take up to 550 GB on your hard drive.  And I assume this person that calculated the 550 GB is referring to the Standard Edition of MSFS 2024?  Because if it's just the Standard Edition of MSFS 2024 that could take up 550 GB of space on your hard drive, I wouldn't even want to guess how much space on your hard drive the Aviator Edition takes up 🤣.

In any case, this is a much sought after feature, one that the community complained about, and they finally got it done in SU 3. Better late than never I guess.  But with this new downloadable feature for SU 3, MSFS 2024 is extremely flexible - keep it at 30 GB of HD space if you want to save on space, or download everything and use up 550 GB (or more for Aviator Edition, etc) space on your hard drive.

Except that you aren't downloading everything as you don't get access to all the files. Why else would I want to download it all? 

I noticed in su2 there was a texture lag spawning in the default Airbus. Downloading those assets resolved that. 

Useful then if you don't have a great internet connection. 

34 minutes ago, St Mawgan said:

Except that you aren't downloading everything as you don't get access to all the files. Why else would I want to download it all? 

When you say, "you don't get access to all the files," are you referring to the CFG files?  Because if you mean that you can't access the CFG files, actually, you can read the CFG files using the Virtual File System (VFS): 

 

Edited May 17, 20251 yr by abrams_tank

revolutionary!

why didn't anyone ever think of storing things locally previously!

D/L just my planes and 3rd party scenery is all I care about. So excited for this once SU3 is RTM.

Hallelujah, about time.

17 minutes ago, abrams_tank said:

If you mean that you can't access the CFG files, actually, you can access the CFG files with the Virtual File System (VFS): 

Thanks I had no idea that was possible. So I really don't need to download anything. I have great internet connectivity and already very fast loading times. I would gain nothing by downloading assets and just lose disk space. 

Edit - that actually looks way too complicated if you just want to edit a couple of cfg files!  

Edited May 17, 20251 yr by St Mawgan

11 minutes ago, St Mawgan said:

Useful then if you don't have a great internet connection. 

Streaming isn't only about your internet connection, if the sim server you connect to, or the routing to the server is bad there is nothing you can do. 

46 minutes ago, abrams_tank said:

Better late than never I guess.

Better late than never they also redesign all the GUI screens. Shouldn't have to watch training videos on youtube to map a joystick button. So when is it? SU4? 🫤

1 minute ago, BanKhokKlan said:

Streaming isn't only about your internet connection, if the sim server you connect to, or the routing to the server is bad there is nothing you can do. 

Indeed but then MSFS wouldn't load at all so the fact you had downloaded a few things wouldn't really help. 

10 minutes ago, B777ER said:

D/L just my planes and 3rd party scenery is all I care about. So excited for this once SU3 is RTM.

Well, unless you buy everything in the marketplace, you have your addon planes and addon sceneries anyway already on your disk. I honestly rarely fly out of default airports and with default planes, so this DL feature might be nice but not a game changer for me. 

Ok but what is streamable only left?

Mesh? Photogrammetry? Aerials?

10 minutes ago, St Mawgan said:

Thanks I had no idea that was possible. So I really don't need to download anything. I have great internet connectivity and already very fast loading times. I would gain nothing by downloading assets and just lose disk space. 

Yea, this is pretty much how I feel, except I do not have a great internet connection. But I have had very few "streaming" issues. On the whole it works great and I really like how small the MSFS footprint is on my system. I am interested to see if this actually resolves issues people are having.