I’ve just come across a press release stating that support for MSFS 2020 will be discontinued on January 1 next year. Apparently, this not only means that there will be no more updates for MSFS 2020, but the servers will also be shut down.

I personally migrated to MSFS 2024 a while ago, but I know that this will come as a huge blow to many simmers who are still on MSFS 2020 and who are using addons that have never been updated for MSFS 2024 and don’t work properly in the new sim.

Here's the full text of the press release:

Quote

Following the unprecedented success and rapid adoption of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios today announced that official support and live services for Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) will conclude on January 1, 2027.

This decision marks the beginning of a final chapter for the title that reignited the world’s passion for virtual aviation, allowing the development team to focus 100% of its resources on the evolving "Digital Twin" and the innovative features introduced in the 2024 edition.

A Legacy of Flight

Since its launch in August 2020, Microsoft Flight Simulator has welcomed over 15 million pilots into its skies, delivering 15 World Updates and dozens of City Updates. However, as the community migrates toward the enhanced performance and deep career systems of the 2024 sequel, Microsoft is preparing for a graceful final approach for the legacy platform.

"The journey we took with the community in 2020 was nothing short of miraculous," said Jörg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator. "It was a platform built on hope and a love for the planet. But as we look at the resounding success and the technological leaps we’ve achieved with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, it has become clear that the future of aviation simulation is already here. To continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible, we must focus our energy on the horizon ahead."

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Key Transition Details

To ensure a smooth transition for the community, Microsoft has outlined the following timeline:

• Marketplace Accessibility: New purchases on the Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) Marketplace will be disabled starting July 1, 2026. Users will retain access to their existing libraries.

• Online Services: Live weather, real-time air traffic, and multiplayer servers for the 2020 edition will remain active until the decommissioning date of January 1, 2027.

• Library Compatibility: Microsoft reiterates that "virtually all" Marketplace content purchased in the 2020 title is already functional and upgraded within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

"We want to be very clear with our pilots: your passion and your investments are coming with us," Neumann added. "Discontinuing support for the older platform isn't about leaving the past behind; it’s about bringing everyone into a more stable, more detailed, and more immersive sky. We’ve built the 2024 engine to be the home for the next decade of flight, and we can't wait to see you all there."

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The Future of the Skies

With the sunsetting of the 2020 title, the team is committed to an aggressive roadmap for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, including expanded career missions, higher-fidelity environmental physics, and continued global "World Updates" that utilize the latest in cloud-based photogrammetry.

For more information on the transition and FAQ regarding legacy content, please visit the official Flight Simulator Support Portal.

About Microsoft Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Media Contact: Xbox Game Studios Press Team [email protected]

 

Yeah. April 1st again. Boring.

You got me for one sec. 😁

Ha good one.  Forgot what day it was and was looking forward to the fireworks this would bring 😂

4 hours ago, weaklink said:

I’ve just come across a press release stating that support for MSFS 2020 will be discontinued on January 1 next year. Apparently, this not only means that there will be no more updates for MSFS 2020, but the servers will also be shut down.

Do you want to be the reason I have a heart attack ? 😂

cheers 😉

April fools guys, everyone knows it's 2028. 

Unfortunately my son had his friend over to stay last night who’s a keen flight simmer. Without realising the date related potential for mischief I read this out to him this morning over breakfast as he was telling me he was still using 2020.

You’ve probably just made a 14 year old lad go home and cry, I hope you’re proud of yourself 🤣🤣

lol had me for a few seconds!

With everything that is really happening in the news today, you hit some simmers with this headline?

Have you no shame weak link? 😀

Hope I didn't cause anyone any lasting anguish! Apart from possibly a Rick Astley earworm - for which I apologize, but at least I've been dealt a fitting punishment, as I now have one too.

Here's to a long life for MSFS 2020 and to Microsoft never giving it up!

I was going to post about preparing for a tidal wave of "it was supposed to be supported for ten years" comments 

50 minutes ago, weaklink said:

Hope I didn't cause anyone any lasting anguish!

 

Given the present world events, you are to be congratulated on finding something ludicrous to 
post that isn't in fact true.  

A note of caution: please remember not every country in the world "celebrates" the April's Fool Day on April 1st. In some other places, it's the equivalent to the "Innocents Day" celebrated on Dec. 28th. In such different cultures, the OP could be considered really as a "bad or disgusting joke", mostly if it was making statements about our still beloved and hopefully very much alive MSFS2020.

 

 

 

Edited April 1Apr 1 by edpatino

It amazes me that the sim community still embraces the April Fool's nonsense.

Most other people gave it up in the 6th grade.

1 hour ago, DavidP said:

It amazes me that the sim community still embraces the April Fool's nonsense.

Most other people gave it up in the 6th grade.

Victor Meldrew has entered the chat.