I feel this is overlooked and a lot of people don't realize this, especially a  lot of MSFS 2020 users who don't realize how MSFS 2024 is more advanced than MSFS 2020 in specific areas (how many MSFS 2020 users keep saying they don't notice the difference between MSFS 2024 and MSFS 2020).  So I'll let FSElite describe the difference:

Quote

Microsoft Flight Simulator will have over 4000 times more detail in the geometry of the world. This creates bumps, cracks, and realistic ground formations in far more impressive detail than we have ever seen before. This increase in detail is the same for the texture detail. The comparison imagery shown demonstrated huge visual differences between Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

Here is MSFS 2020's ground:

Here is MSFS 2024's ground:

Now I want to emphasize that the ground handling has improved in MSFS 2024.  We have had various threads and discussions on that already.  But what the 4000x more detail in the ground geometry means is that the ground in MSFS 2024 is the most realistic ground generated for a flight simulator.

And having a realistic ground in the flight simulator is very important, because if your flight simulator of choice uses very accurate ground physics mathematical formulas, but the actual ground in your flight simulator is not very realistic compared to the real world, ultimately you're not getting an accurate simulation with respect to the real world.

To get a more accurate simulation, you need to have very accurate ground physics mathematical formulas and a very realistic ground.  Both are important, IMO.  With respect to the ground physics, I think MSFS 2024 has improved immensely over MSFS 2020 already with the ground physics engine.  But the additional 4000x more detail in the ground geometry of MSFS 2024, makes the ground simulation even more realistic, with respect to the real world.

Edited November 28, 2025Nov 28 by abrams_tank

Slow news day I guess, had to go back and pull up an article from September of 2024 from the pre-launch for this thread for 2020 users who don't realize the ground is more detailed...   Pretty sure everyone has acknowledged this however correctly pointed out once "off" the ground and not flying in bush environments the "textures" are identical, hence pretty natural to say the look the same...   

Pretty sure this has been well covered in the endless threads about the ground, ground handling, AI generated rocks etc etc etc...    We've also covered how ground handling physics need to be opted into by the dev's Len has done a phenomenal job explaining all of this but apparently 2020 users still weren't realizing so needed a reminder.  

Kind of would have hoped and thought we were beyond these threads over a year after 2024 was released but if we still need 2024 is better than 2020 because threads then by all means...

36 minutes ago, abrams_tank said:

especially a  lot of MSFS 2020 users who don't realize how MSFS 2024 is more advanced than MSFS 2020 in specific areas (how many MSFS 2020 users keep saying they don't notice the difference

Everything We Learned about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 at the Global Preview Event

New aircraft, new technology, and much more. How will Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 be different to 2020?

Edited November 28, 2025Nov 28 by psolk

Paradise or not for bush flyers.

dd

On 11/28/2025 at 3:50 PM, Sky_Pilot071 said:

Paradise or not for bush flyers.

dd

Yup, I think that's what makes MSFS 2024 the best flight sim for bush flyers.

On 11/28/2025 at 11:20 PM, abrams_tank said:

this is overlooked and a lot of people don't realize this,...

especially a lot of NON-MSFS2024 flightsimulator users (who don't realize how MSFS 2024 is more advanced than all other Flight Simulators in specific areas.)  that's why statements like "simulator xyz runs smoother, doesn't stutter as much" mean nothing to me. 

Edited November 30, 2025Nov 30 by turbomax

On 11/28/2025 at 10:36 PM, psolk said:

Slow news day I guess, had to go back and pull up an article from September of 2024 from the pre-launch for this thread for 2020 users who don't realize the ground is more detailed...   Pretty sure everyone has acknowledged this however correctly pointed out once "off" the ground and not flying in bush environments the "textures" are identical, hence pretty natural to say the look the same...   

Pretty sure this has been well covered in the endless threads about the ground, ground handling, AI generated rocks etc etc etc...    We've also covered how ground handling physics need to be opted into by the dev's Len has done a phenomenal job explaining all of this but apparently 2020 users still weren't realizing so needed a reminder.  

Kind of would have hoped and thought we were beyond these threads over a year after 2024 was released but if we still need 2024 is better than 2020 because threads then by all means...

 

This is out of order and rather unkind IMHO.

Abrams did not post this information in any manner whatsoever to condescend 2020 users. It's clear he likes technical aspects of the sim and that's all I read his post as - an interesting point about the depth and complexity of the ground simulation in 2024.

You're accusing him of stirring up conflict between 2020 and 2024 users, but it was you who took the conversation in that direction and manner, with your response.

Just because someone points out something good about MSFS 2024, doesn't mean they are demeaning MSFS 2020 users.  Not unless someone has a rather large chip on their shoulder.

Edited November 30, 2025Nov 30 by JYW

19 minutes ago, JYW said:

 

This is out of order and rather unkind IMHO.

Abrams did not post this information in any manner whatsoever to condescend 2020 users. It's cealr he likes technical aspects of the sim and that's all I read his post as - an interesting point about the depth and complexity of the ground simulation in 2024.

You're accusing him of stirring up conflict between 2020 and 2024 users, but it was you who took the conversation in that direction and manner, with your response.

Just because someone points out something good about MSFS 2024, doesn't mean they are demeaning MSFS 2020 users.  Not unless someone has a rather large chip on their shoulder.

We can respectfully agree to disagree Bill.   

This is simply one of those situations where we all need to share the same forum so calling out that 2020 users "don't realize" is just unnecessary.   You can say all of this without singling out 2020 users or by calling one sim superior in the thread title... 

I would wager that If someone was to go to the P3D forum and post that exact same thing because "P3D users don't realize how advanced 2024 is" either then it would probably be deleted.  

Agree to disagree.  We see it differently.  

 

 

Edited November 30, 2025Nov 30 by psolk

4 minutes ago, psolk said:

We can respectfully agree to disagree Bill.   

This is simply one of those situations where we all need to share the same forum so calling out that 2020 users "don't realize" is just unnecessary.   You can say all of this without singling out 2020 users or by calling one sim superior in the thread title... 

I would wager that If someone was to go to the P3D forum and post that exact same thing because "P3D users don't realize how advanced 2024 is" either then it would probably be deleted.  

Agree to disagree.  We see it differently.  

That's fair. I agree we do perceive things differently, according to our own viewpoint.  I genuinely enjoy your contributions here and thought perhaps you were just having a bad day 😊  I'm one of those annoying people who always has to call something out that they think is a bit misjudged. If you look at Abram's posts, he's always drawn to technical points. So I read this in that vain.  But perhaps if I was a 2020 user, I may have felt differently 👍

7 minutes ago, psolk said:

then it would probably be deleted. 

because it isn't related, has no meaning to a P3D user and is not the usual upgrade path

1 hour ago, JYW said:

That's fair. I agree we do perceive things differently, according to our own viewpoint.  I genuinely enjoy your contributions here and thought perhaps you were just having a bad day 😊  I'm one of those annoying people who always has to call something out that they think is a bit misjudged. If you look at Abram's posts, he's always drawn to technical points. So I read this in that vain.  But perhaps if I was a 2020 user, I may have felt differently 👍

All good Bill, always up for respectful dialog and nothing wrong with being challenged that's what makes us better.  

Ironically, I AM having a bad day and was about to sign off from Avsim and delete my thread about free equipment until I read your post.  
It's amazing how sometimes a few kind words can really change someone's day so thank you Bill.  

  

1 hour ago, turbomax said:

because it isn't related, has no meaning to a P3D user and is not the usual upgrade path

Not looking to argue with you although I would say P3D to MSFS is absolutely a natural upgrade path, it's how a lot of us ended up here 🙂   I only used that example because we don't have separate 2020 and 2024 forums. 

I was just making a point that we can absolutely talk about the strengths of 2024's ground geometry "without"  specifically calling out 2020 users who "don't realize" how good 2024 is.   

There is an entire ground handling thread that covers everything that was posted because it had to be said again for those 2020 users who still don't understand.   

Regardless, they are both phenomenal sims and this is still a shared forum and some users still choose 2020 for their own reasons whatever they may be to that individual. 

That doesn't mean they don't understand or don't realize anything, especially over a year after 2024 was released it just means they are still making their own choice.

 

 

Edited November 30, 2025Nov 30 by psolk

On 11/28/2025 at 5:36 PM, psolk said:

Slow news day I guess, had to go back and pull up an article from September of 2024 from the pre-launch for this thread for 2020 users who don't realize the ground is more detailed...   Pretty sure everyone has acknowledged this however correctly pointed out once "off" the ground and not flying in bush environments the "textures" are identical, hence pretty natural to say the look the same...   

Pretty sure this has been well covered in the endless threads about the ground, ground handling, AI generated rocks etc etc etc...    We've also covered how ground handling physics need to be opted into by the dev's Len has done a phenomenal job explaining all of this but apparently 2020 users still weren't realizing so needed a reminder.  

Kind of would have hoped and thought we were beyond these threads over a year after 2024 was released but if we still need 2024 is better than 2020 because threads then by all means...

Everything We Learned about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 at the Global Preview Event

New aircraft, new technology, and much more. How will Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 be different to 2020?

Contrary to your statement, the difference between 2020 and 2024 is not just visible on the ground -- it is very noticeable in any spot with rugged terrain such as cliff faces and mountainsides all over the world, and really just about everywhere. The notion that the scenery in the two sims is basically the same when you are in flight is simply wrong, as those of us who still use both can testify. If you are talking about flight at 20,000 feet, then yes, the difference may be hard to detect. But if you do all your flying at high altitudes looking mainly at instruments, who needs scenery at all? You might as well stick with FSX! For those simmers who want to explore the real world, MS2024 represents a huge, undeniable advance. 

6 minutes ago, cobalt said:

Contrary to your statement, the difference between 2020 and 2024 is not just visible on the ground -- it is very noticeable in any spot with rugged terrain such as cliff faces and mountainsides all over the world, and really just about everywhere. The notion that the scenery in the two sims is basically the same when you are in flight is simply wrong, as those of us who still use both can testify. If you are talking about flight at 20,000 feet, then yes, the difference may be hard to detect. But if you do all your flying at high altitudes looking mainly at instruments, who needs scenery at all? You might as well stick with FSX! For those simmers who want to explore the real world, MS2024 represents a huge, undeniable advance. 

Completely agree.  I was strictly talking about the bing textures being identical hence it being natural for some people to say they can look very similar once you are at altitude or not doing Bush flying. I was strictly commenting on why some people think they could look very similar, not arguing there is no difference between the sims.  I have also repeatedly called out the impact of SU4 even comparing it to P3D's shift from 32-64bit architecture so I absolutely understand 2024's advances. 

But I don't know, I only want to explore an imaginary world AND I do most of my flying at FL350 so maybe I should "just go back to FSX"...   

 

1 minute ago, psolk said:

Completely agree.  I was strictly talking about the bing textures being identical hence it being natural for some people to say they can look very similar once you are at altitude or not doing Bush flying. I was strictly commenting on why some people think they could look very similar, not arguing there is no difference between the sims.  I have also repeatedly called out the impact of SU4 even comparing it to P3D's shift from 32-64bit architecture so I absolutely understand 2024's advances. 

But I don't know, I only want to explore an imaginary world AND I do most of my flying at FL350 so maybe I should "just go back to FSX"...   

I would get the Quasar by Flying Fries.

dd

 

 

I need many more reasons to migrate/"upgrade" (one of them being Microsoft's commitment to its gaming division, for example...) than knowing that the ground 30,000 feet below is “4000 times” (ahem) more “detailed” than what I have and that has served me so well. 

 

 

8 hours ago, JetClipperJR said:

than knowing that the ground 30,000 feet below is “4000 times” (ahem) more “detailed”

it is not, not while at FL 300

just like contrails are less of a factor while parked at the gate.

MSFS addresses many different segments of the hobbyist market. they live in perfect harmony side by side on my keyboard ....

 

Edited December 1, 2025Dec 1 by turbomax