Will Flight Simulator 2024 Launch on Xbox? What Gamers Need to Know
Will Flight Simulator 2024 Launch on Xbox? What Gamers Need to Know
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is out now on Xbox—but only on current-gen hardware. The standalone sequel launched November 19, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, with day-one access via Xbox Game Pass and streaming through Xbox Cloud Gaming for Game Pass Ultimate members. It’s a new entry rather than an expansion of the 2020 release, yet it’s designed to honor your past investments by supporting a large share of prior marketplace content when you sign in with the same Microsoft account, per the official MSFS 2024 FAQ. For Xbox players wondering about cost, performance, and what carries over, here’s the practical, no-nonsense guide to getting airborne on console.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Xbox Release Overview
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launched on November 19, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S and PC, with availability on Xbox Cloud Gaming to broaden access for compatible devices and subscriptions, according to the official MSFS 2024 FAQ. The team describes it as a standalone sequel—meaning it’s a fresh product separate from 2020’s release, not a patch—but with systems that preserve marketplace entitlements and many add-ons when you use the same Xbox Live/Microsoft account. For players searching the MSFS 2024 Xbox release and Xbox flight sim availability, the headline is simple: current-gen consoles only, with multiple avenues to play on day one.
See the official MSFS 2024 FAQ for platform, availability, and content-compatibility details.
Availability on Xbox Series X and Series S
Flight Simulator 2024 is designed for Microsoft’s current-generation consoles and does not run on Xbox One. In short:
- Xbox Series X: Supported
- Xbox Series S: Supported
- Xbox One: Not supported
Xbox Series X|S are Microsoft’s latest consoles with significantly faster CPUs/GPUs and NVMe storage, enabling richer visuals, smoother streaming of world data, HDR support, and reduced loading times compared to Xbox One.
Xbox Game Pass Inclusion and Benefits
Flight Simulator 2024 arrived day one on Xbox Game Pass for console and PC, and it’s streamable via Xbox Cloud Gaming with Game Pass Ultimate. Game Pass is Microsoft’s monthly subscription that unlocks a library of hundreds of games—including new releases—at no extra cost beyond the subscription fee. For budget-conscious pilots, that means:
- You don’t need to buy the full game if you’re already subscribed.
- Updates and new content drops are included as part of the service.
See the Xbox product page for confirmation of Game Pass inclusion and platform support.
Compatibility with Previous Flight Simulator Versions
If you own Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 content, there’s good news: many aircraft, airports, and third-party marketplace add-ons are compatible in 2024 when you sign in with the same Xbox Live/Microsoft account. Deluxe and Premium Deluxe entitlements from 2020 also carry over, granting access to those extra planes and hand-crafted airports in the new sim at no additional cost, per the official FAQ.
Here’s a quick view of what typically transfers:
| Content type | Transfers to 2024? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace purchases (planes/airports) | Generally yes | Availability depends on each developer updating for 2024; most are expected to be supported. |
| Deluxe/Premium Deluxe (2020) entitlements | Yes | Extra aircraft and airports unlock automatically when using the same account. |
| In-sim progress and activities (2020) | No | 2024 is a standalone sequel; career/scenario progress doesn’t migrate from 2020. |
| Control bindings and settings | Partially | Cloud profiles can help, but reconfiguration may be needed after first launch. |
Technical Requirements and Performance on Xbox
MSFS 2024 is optimized for Xbox Series X|S with improved visual fidelity, HDR support, and smoother performance relative to last-gen hardware, as noted on the Xbox product page. On Series X, expect higher resolutions, more aggressive draw distances, and better texture detail; Series S targets lower resolutions with scaled visual settings to maintain stability. Unlike PC, Xbox users don’t need to tune graphics options against hardware specs—the console build is designed to run properly out of the box on both Series X and Series S.
New Features and Enhancements in Flight Simulator 2024
This installment pushes the tech and content envelope in meaningful ways:
- Massive terrain upgrade: Microsoft and Asobo tout a 4,000x increase in terrain detail, plus interactive 3D ground elements and 3D trees that respond to seasons and weather.
- Big day-one content: The Standard Edition includes 70 aircraft and 150 detailed airports, with more in higher editions.
- Visual and physics improvements: Better sky and atmospheric lighting (especially at sunrise/sunset), more realistic ground handling and flight dynamics—noticeable on light aircraft—and expanded career-style missions and simulation scenarios.
These highlights are detailed in the official Xbox Wire preview of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Early User Experience and Launch Challenges
Launch day wasn’t entirely smooth. Microsoft acknowledged a surge that overwhelmed backend systems, with capacity planning initially modeled around 200,000 users—an underestimate that contributed to sign-in and download instability, according to Tom’s Hardware reporting. Still, once players were in, many praised the on-stick feel and world fidelity. As one early community review put it after 10 hours, “improved flight models and terrain realism are immediately noticeable,” reflecting a common sentiment on r/flightsim.
What went wrong at launch (at a glance):
- Day 0–1: High demand triggered authentication hiccups and marketplace access errors.
- Day 1: Rolling hotfixes and backend scaling reduced login failures.
- Days 1–3: Regional download speeds and streaming stutters persisted during peak hours.
- Ongoing: Server-side tuning and client updates continued to stabilize the experience.
What Gamers Should Prepare for at Launch
- Expect day-one congestion. If you hit sign-in or download issues, wait and retry during off-peak hours; backend scaling typically improves within days.
- Update your console system software and verify your Microsoft/Xbox Live account before first launch—this helps the sim recognize prior marketplace entitlements.
- Basic troubleshooting often helps: restart your console, power-cycle your router, confirm stable network (wired if possible), then relaunch. If issues persist, consult the official MSFS 2024 FAQ and support resources for targeted fixes.
Frequently asked questions about Flight Simulator 2024 on Xbox
Is Flight Simulator 2024 available on Xbox One?
No. Flight Simulator 2024 runs only on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC.
Can players use their MSFS 2020 content on Xbox 2024 version?
Yes. Most marketplace aircraft and airports, plus Deluxe/Premium Deluxe entitlements, carry over when you use the same Microsoft account; third-party support may vary.
Does Flight Simulator 2024 support cross-save between Xbox and PC?
Yes. Your MSFS 2024 profile and progression sync when you use the same Microsoft account on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Are there physical disc versions available for Xbox?
As of launch, the Xbox version is offered as a digital download; a physical disc edition hasn’t been announced.
Will Flight Simulator 2024 support VR on Xbox?
No. VR support is available on PC only—there’s no VR mode on Xbox Series X|S.