Hello everyone. Last weekend I decided to give MSFS2024 a try using GamePass, and now I'm liking it, despite my 3060Ti and its 8 GB VRAM. I'll definitely purchase. Two questions:

1) Any advantages of purchasing 2024 at Steam instead of Xbox store? My 2020 is from Steam.

2) I usually fly airliners in South America and sometimes Europe, with a bit of VFR. I already have MSFS2020 Premium Deluxe. This means I should already have the 787, LEMD, EDDF and EGLL for 2024. Any advantages of going with 2024 Premium Deluxe instead of Standard (apart from a lighter wallet)?

1) Reliability, simplicity of installation or reinstallation, the usual advantages of Steam. I got 2020 on the Store and 2024 on Steam.

2) I have the Standard edition because I don't fly default aircrafts.

Edited June 6, 20251 yr by Simicro

Cheapest edition you can buy.  Go with Steam, more likely to succeed with install.  Upgrade your GPU otherwise 2024 might be a pointless test as you'll not be able to achieve better image quality than 2020 with that GPU.

Edited June 6, 20251 yr by CO2Neutral

I bought FS20 and FS24 on Steam.  It doesn't seem to have the problems that occasionally arise with the MS store version - for example, the recent ( ongoing ? ) issue with shutting the simulator down. 

Yup, Steam and Standard. You will be able to buy or rent aircraft from the other editions eventually if you really, really want to. But just use the basic MSFS2024 as the backdrop and then buy the best addons you can for it. There are many already available and plenty still being made. 

19 minutes ago, Simicro said:

Reliability, simplicity of installation or reinstallation, the usual advantages of Steam.

Never have had any issues with installs, updates, reinstalls of 2020 and now 2024 via the Store.  Others apparently do but I wonder how widespread it really is.  In terms of "simplicity", I can't imagine anything more straightforward and 'simple' than installing either sim from the Store.

As someone who bought the collector’s edition with all the aircraft included I’d recommend quality over quantity.

That is get the thinnest cheapest version and invest in quality 3rd party aircraft you like.

That being said these contemporary default aircraft are much better than they used to be and there’s some good quality machines amongst them.

7 minutes ago, Noel said:

Others apparently do but I wonder how widespread it really is. 

Suggest you browse the Steam discussion groups and MS MSFS official forums to see just how widespread the issue is ... not just a few, many!

Just reporting my experience.  Early on after 2020 release I posted a poll and the vast majority even then had no issues with the Store.  I did discover some who had troubles simply didn't understand what they were doing.  Since then it's become far less quirky and installs, reinstalls in new OS, updates, all fine and dandy thru the Store.

53 minutes ago, CO2Neutral said:

Cheapest edition you can buy.  Go with Steam, more likely to succeed with install.  Upgrade your GPU otherwise 2024 might be a pointless test as you'll not be able to achieve better image quality than 2020 with that GPU.

In not sure about the comment on GPU  I have a 3060TI and have had very few problems with it in all my MSFS2024 work.  Yes, it has it limitations but it works in the short run.  You can save up for a better one and swap it out later.

2 minutes ago, jmdriskell said:

I have a 3060TI and have had very few problems with it in all my MSFS2024 work.  Yes, it has it limitations but it works in the short run. 

Sure, never said it would not work.  My point was that to enjoy the visual benefits MSFS 2024 offers over MSFS 2020, a better GPU will make those benefits (no limitations) available.  Otherwise, OP will be very disappointed to see VRAM exceeded messages.  Not trying to be elitist, just trying to avoid expectations that might trigger a bad impression of MSFS 2024.

 

The most pleasant surprise I had with 2024 was just how effortlessly it runs on my system. Even more so with SU2. I can keep this machine for at least another 12 months. 

11 minutes ago, CO2Neutral said:

Otherwise, OP will be very disappointed to see VRAM exceeded messages.

I'm surprised with how little VRAM I see in use in 2024.  I remember after initial install I'm pretty sure it was much higher.  Now it's rare to see anything over 12GB in use.  SU2 here...

I've never had installation issues with FS2020 nor FS2024 store version, a lot of the reported issues may be user related and not the titles.

I picked store version because I don't like having to log into steam in order to run the sims and won't consider the idea of having Steam loaded during windows startup, I like to keep used resources as light as possible.

Edited June 6, 20251 yr by CarlosF

Standard edition from the MS Store... In Rome be Roman 😁