About to buy & am wondering where the “best” place to buy is.
Main reason for the question is that I read that MS Marketplace content isn’t compatible if MSFS is purchased via Steam.
Of particular interest are aircraft updates / improvements, e.g. Working Title avionics.
Any guidance is appreciated.
No such incompatibility exists; if it’s on the marketplace, you can get it on either Steam-based MSFS or Microsoft Store MSFS.
It only comes down to whether you’re using an XBox or PC that you see platform restrictions.
All content is purchased via the game´s Marketplace. Steam, MS Store and Xbox only provide the launcher (the executable files pack).
Cheers
I think you’ve confused that “incompatibility”.
Here’s the basic gist of it:
If you buy from MS, you can run the sim on both Windows and Xbox. With a few exceptions, all 3rd party marketplace content you buy will be available on Windows, and most on Xbox. Some marketplace content is only PC compatible for various reasons. Marketplace purchases are not transferable between the MS store and Steam however.
If you buy on Steam, all marketplace add-ons can be purchased and run fine. However, if you also have an Xbox, you WILL NOT be able to use the sim nor any of your marketplace add-ons without re-buying everything on Xbox.
My personal recommendation. Take that as you will:
If you’re already a Steam user, get it on Steam. It’s simpler, keeps all your games in 1 place. You don’t get your main MSFS folder DRM locked, and you don’t need the plethora of middleware apps MS forces you to use when using their store. You won’t have it available in the MS Store or Xbox, but you can buy any content in the in-sim Marketplace just fine. The transactions and payment will take place via your Steam account. There’s no incompatibility.
If you have an Xbox or plan on getting one, the MS Store is the best choice. Although beware that it’s a real Rube Goldberg type of setup where you need the MS Store, Xbox Live, and all MS’ midddleware apps kept up to date, working, and logged in for any of it to work. For most people, this isn’t an issue, but some people have strange problems.
I have a hunch that the previous posters in this thread must have misunderstood your question.
So, no Marketplace Add-Ons are Transferrable!
Meaning, if you bought an Airplane through Marketplace and you had the Gamepass Version of MSFS, you CAN NOT use that same Airplane on the STEAM Version of MSFS should you decide to switch from the Gamepass version of the Sim to STEAM Version…
I think the issue is the OP misunderstood the “incompatibility” of marketplace add-ons. Like you said, they can’t be transferred. From his post, he seems to be under the impression that if you buy the sim via Steam, you can’t buy marketplace add-ons at all.
may be the FAQ also clarify it:
I was really just wondering: If I buy FS on Steam, can I still use the marketplace for PC add-ons, mods, etc.
I purchased from Steam, and seem to have been able to successfully install the G1000 mod, so maybe that answers my question 
Just a tip for you with Steam - if you’re going to make a monetary purchase from the Marketplace, add enough money to your Steam wallet BEFORE making the purchase. If you have to go through the whole add the correct amount, etc via Steam, sometimes the purchase fails. And it’s a massive pain in the ■■■ to get that resolved, as you have to deal with Zendesk to get it resolved. Having money in your Steam Wallet ahead of time seems to prevent that from happening.
The G1000nxi mod is a free adonn for both platforms, and as of SU10 the only G1000 in MSFS. Because it’s free of charge it is available in both platforms. Payd Adonn’s are not. You buy on Steam then it’s only available on the Steam version and not in the Store version and visaversa.
Personal Comments
All MSFS users have access to the Marketplace regardless of platform (PC/XBox) or store (MS/Steam). The availability of content varies because of Console limitations.
Steam has less “hiccups” because of the reduced dependency upon XBox App, Gaming Services etc., meaning it’s a more clean and transparent user experience to login, launch and update the sim from a Store view, compared to MS-Store owners.
Steam is the way to go, MS Store is ■■■■ for any game purchased. I see tons of people complaining that their Marketplace versions don’t show updates, or update/download the game fully again, lots of errors and so on, while there are no Steam complaints
Steam version, 100%.
The only “incompatibility” is that licenses are not transferable between the Steam version and the Xbox version (both console and PC). This is because Steam takes a cut off all transactions made via the Steam Wallet.
You have full and complete access to the in-game marketplace regardless of which version you purchase.
I’ve noticed Marketplace users seem to have more problems with corrupted accounts and other such things.
The issue is that the MS ecosystem has too many pieces of middleware holding everything together. Like I always say, it’s like a Rube Goldberg machine. You have a series of multiple, loosely connected pieces of software / services that all need to be installed, updated, logged in, and running correctly. The first does something, which triggers the next, etc until the sim finally launches. And if anything in the chain is broken, you can’t load your sim and you just get some cryptic error message that means nothing.
With Steam, you have Steam itself and the sim. There’s nothing in between. No DRM locked game files (outside of DLC which is normal). It just works.
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