Moderator Edit: Title changed to better fit the topic.
Addressing the Ongoing Stability Issues on Xbox and the Need for Greater Transparency
Hi fellow simmers,
I wanted to share my ongoing experience with Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Series S, and discuss some important points that I believe could greatly improve our collective experience on this platform.
Stability Issues Even in Vanilla State
Like many of you, I’ve encountered persistent issues with MSFS on Xbox, ranging from crashes to black screens, even when running the game in a vanilla state—no add-ons, no air traffic, just the base game. Despite uninstalling all DLC and following every recommended step, including rebooting the console and avoiding quick resume, I’m still unable to complete a flight. This suggests that the problems we’re facing go beyond just memory overload from add-ons.
Inconsistent Performance Across Add-Ons
What’s particularly frustrating is the inconsistency in performance across different add-ons. For instance, the PMDG 737, which is a third-party add-on, has proven to be more stable and reliable than some of the marketplace’s own aircraft, like the iniBuilds A320 V2. The 737 consistently performs well with fewer crashes and better avionics stability, even under the same conditions where other aircraft struggle.
Need for Greater Transparency on Xbox Limitations
It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Xbox Series S, with its memory limitations, struggles to handle certain aspects of the simulator. While the Series X is slightly better, these issues are still prevalent. There needs to be much more transparency from the developers regarding these limitations. Users should be made aware of what the Series S can and cannot handle before purchasing additional content. This includes clear warnings on DLC products that consume large amounts of memory, which can impact the game’s performance.
Proposal for Free Trials and Warnings
Given the current state of things, I believe it’s crucial to introduce free trials for DLC content. This would allow users to test how new add-ons affect their system before committing to a purchase. Additionally, every product on the marketplace should come with a warning label if it’s known to use a large amount of memory. This would help users make informed decisions and avoid the frustration of buying content that could render the simulator unusable.
Call for Community Involvement in Testing
Lastly, I want to echo the sentiment that there needs to be a more structured way for the community to be involved in testing, especially on Xbox. As someone who is part of the beta team, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable community feedback can be. Allowing community members to assist in testing would not only catch issues early but also ensure that products released to the marketplace are truly compatible with the Xbox platform.
Conclusion
To sum up, while MSFS on Xbox is an amazing experience when it works, the current instability issues are a major drawback. By increasing transparency about the limitations of the Xbox platform, introducing free trials for DLC, and involving the community more directly in testing, we can all work together to create a more stable and enjoyable experience.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, and I hope we can bring these concerns to the developers’ attention to improve the simulator for everyone on Xbox.
-Harrison
