Microsoft just released the highly-anticipated Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and you can download your copy right now whether you’re PC or Xbox Series X|S.
The simulator brings a plethora of new features including a major overhaul of its digital twin of the planet (and you may read much more about it and what we can expect from the future in our interview with Jorg Neumann published earlier today), a brand-new career mode to give you plenty of reasons to fly besides going from A to B, a metric ton of aircraft to enjoy, and much more.
That being said, if you’re planning to jump on the simulator immediately, you may want to arm yourself with patience. While the initial download is fairly quick, the real wait starts when you launch the simulator.
Microsoft has announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the first load may take up to 60 minutes while the simulator configures everything it needs, so you’re advised to just let it do its thing and be patient while it works.
“The first initial load of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will take up to 60 minutes, and this is normal. We recommend allowing the sim to continue running as it loads. Once the initial load is complete, the sim will start shortly.”
Update: Interestingly, the post has been removed, but its content is still accurate, at least for the moment.
Update 2: Microsoft posted again, mentioning that the servers are suffering from high traffic and it’s working to mitigate the issue, also recommending a reboot for those stuck at 90% in the initial load and seeing no progression. Otherwise, users are advised to wait for the load to proceed as normal.
We are aware of user reports of long initial loading times into Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. With so many users initializing the sim concurrently, we have a large number of server requests. We are working to help resolve the issues as soon as possible.
For users whose initial load is past 90% and no longer progressing, we recommend a reboot. Otherwise we advise waiting to allow the loading to proceed as normal.
Update 3: Microsoft is currently aware of the server outages causing long load times and they’re working on a solution.
We are continuing to work to resolve the server-related issues that have resulted in long loading times and service outages in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Users can check the current service status for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on the Xbox Support Status page.
That being said, you can spend the time you have to wait by planning your first flight. The (rather awesome) flight planner is available via the web and you can enjoy it right now while your sim launches.
If you’d like to read more about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, you can enjoy our hands-on preview with plenty of interesting details for your perusal. It’s worth reminding that Simulation Daily won’t publish a review, as we do not review games. We prefer to provide you with the tools to judge whether a game or a simulator is for you by yourself.
You can also watch our previous interview with Jorg Neumann himself and Asobo CEO Sebastian Wloch, another with Asobo CCO David Dedeine, and one featuring Chris Burnett of Working Title and Brandon Yaeger of Got Friends about their work on MSFS 2024.
Last, but not least, you can take a look at our A-10 flight through the Grand Canyon, our first look at the extensive pilot customization, another at the first mission of the Career Mode, a video featuring the new walk-around move showing off a Boeing 737 MAX up close and personal, and a challenge with the A-10 over the Blue Ridge Mountains.
