I missed out on the launch and didn’t get into MSFS 2020 until SU7. For those around, how does it compare? This is not counting the server issues, more just the basic software issues and usability problems.
I’m a little disappointed ATC still has all the same problems, AI is still chaotic on the apron, VR is a **** mess, etc. But the sim is also looking quite beautiful!
They were both pretty rough. The game at least would launch in 2020 but there were a lot of major bugs back on the release day itself.
All in all if we had to compare the launch weeks, 2024 has been a much more enjoyable experience, seeing as a lot of big addons from the 2020 version are staying compatible.
Not much different really. As always, in hindsight it can feel like it was better than it was. But look at any complex game release. Lots of issues for the first weeks.
Annoying, but it is what it is. Complex games are complex. Add to that an internet, and that adds a whole new layer of tough.
I still think Asobo should have anticipated the load so I think that was a big failure. But I’ve been playing just fine since day two. So, it can work well, depending on what you do…
Software has to be done at some point, perfection isn’t possible.
At least in my career as a software architect, I’ve known I needed to take a few punches to the face, get back up and keep going.
ATC is being worked seperately and is a high priority. Looking forward to that.
I think if I’m not curtain but think Working Title is working on the ATC. Unless I’m wrong.
That will be nice! They are so interactive on feedback here.
Agreed, but the aircraft should function at least as well as they have in other versions.
Lights, electrical systems and sounds are basic functions that should work but don’t in several aircraft. Promised liveries be available and load correctly when selected.
Pilots should not spawn without an aircraft or spawn upside down and outside of them. And aircraft should actually turn when the nose gear turns.
Also, while not a bug, I feel the scenery should be at least as new as the last version of the game. Not populated areas that are 6, 8 or 15 years old.
Also, what was with remapping all the keyboard and controller commands?
I had so many conflicting and duplicate bindings!
My first three flights I landed with parking brakes on. That took me a bit of work to unbind all the unwanted defaults.
2020 was also very rough, but in a different way.
A lot of the default planes had very rudimentary avionics, the various Garmin suites weren’t fully featured like they are today (with the help of Working Title). Flight and performance modelling was also drastically off for a lot of the planes, and the entire nav database of the sim was missing a ton of stuff.
In comparison, I would say that 2024 is a much better core sim compared to 2020 at launch, while a lot of the gameplay elements of 2024 (which we didn’t even have in 2020) are buggy or unfinished.
2020 release was much worse than this. Constant CTD:s, bad performance, horrible avionics and an oversimplified flight model.
Let’s not get nostalgic. MSFS 2024 isn’t perfect but it’s a lot more complete than 2020 at release.
Thanks for the perspectives!
So far 2024 is quite amazing at free flight bush trips without tuning the radio. That keeps me out of most of the rough features.
In 2020 it was almost impossible to simply shoot an ILS at launch. There was no VNAV. Flying a 172 felt almost exactly the same as flying Caravan. It was incredibly simplistic and lacking major features.
Lets not put on our rose colored glasses just because 2020 is now in an extremely good state. It took 4 years to get to this point.
2024 is FAR more complete of a sim at launch. Yes, there are plenty of extremely annoying bugs (mouse in vr 
) But it’s miles ahead of where 2020 was. NO question.