I’m unsure this is the smoking gun you make it out to be. That consoles aren’t equivalent to high end gaming PCs doesn’t sound surprising, given I don’t think anyone has actually said they are? That developers ensure optimisation rather than cater for the highest end makes absolute sense.
2 Likes
Yeah, the clouds almost certainly had to be reworked in order for the Xbox version to even release last year.
The way the clouds have improved since has me optimistic. They don’t look the same as they did before, but (by the SU10 Beta) they now generally look as good as before. Just different. And still improving.
It just takes ages to get a cloud system working well, and since it seems they basically had to start over to get clouds running 30FPS on Xbox, that meant there was a regression in fidelity for a while.
But they didn’t exactly give us worse clouds, they replaced a more mature cloud system with a less mature but Xbox friendly cloud system, and they made the change so late in the game; everyone had to live with a regression while they continued to improve and mature the new system.
Here’s the thing. If they had released the PC and Xbox versions together as had been the pre COVID plan, we all would have the same clouds we have today, we just wouldn’t know they had to abandon another system mid process. But since we got the earlier release only on PC, thanks again COVID, we had some real system killing but beautiful clouds for a year or so before switching to the new version and having to wait for it to mature. It isn’t like the entire team at Asobo is working on those clouds. I bet it is a small team of 6-12. So it takes time.
1 Like
Very good to see.
It’s gone a bit quiet though. 
Couldn’t put it better myself..I feel as if the time and effort they put into the console version could’ve gone towards giving the sim better physics on pc
Yeah, I remember that. The game itself is the same, but I knew that the console version would not have the same goodies as what the PC version would have available.
That said, I’ve been flight simming for 30 years. 15 of those years were spent tweaking this and that on the eternal hunt for more fps!
I came into the console version knowing full well that it was a closed system and I would have very little control over it…which is the very reason I went for the console version!
2 Likes
It could have.
But…
Counterpoint.
We wouldn’t have MSFS 2020 at ALL if there wasn’t a path to Xbox compatibility. It was a dead IP. We were all paying full price for X-Plane for over a decade instead.
We don’t get many MS releases at all these days that are PC exclusive.
Game Pass is their future.
2 Likes
Ya gamepass is the smart business move right here.
For example, look at MLB the Show. They made the most revenue last year in their history when the game came on Xbox and specifially game pass.
Also, I keep reading about the clouds in this game. What’s wrong w/ the clouds? To me they look great! and …They’re clouds! Sure I understand clouds are there when you fly but …they’re clouds! Am I missing something???
(no offense to anyone, i really don’t understand why clouds are so important)
2 Likes
The clouds seem to have been redone for the Xbox release which also effected the PC clouds because everyone shares the same weather.
The original clouds were impressive but a resource hog.
Now they are quite good, but last year when Xbox released, PC users noticed a drop in their fidelity. That said, the performance also noticeably improved with the new clouds.
But with incremental changes, clouds are looking great now (SU10 Beta). Probably a little better at low altitudes and still not quite as good at high altitudes. But all around? They look as good as ever now. Just took a while to get them looking as good as they did before on PC.
1 Like
I’ve only just been now been having CTD’s on Series X. Started using the Sim in April and hadn’t had a problem til about a month ago.
Got a TM HOTAS One and have that, wired gamepad, wireless KB&M receiver and wireless headset receiver plugged into a powered USB hub going into the console.
I’m half wondering if all that’s the reason for my CTD.
And photogrammetry has taken a dump, so there’s that.
Otherwise, everything else is gucci.
1 Like
Anyway from what I have read it seems SU10beta has mostly positive feedback on both platforms so perhaps we have turned a corner.
2 Likes
I agree that on PC the Beta is mostly / fairly positive ,on Xbox not so much so including my experience with the Beta,which is for me disappointing as it appeared to be Xbox users who generally suffered the most in performance losses from SU9
My experience of the beta on Xbox Series X has been overwhelmingly positive. I’ve been ‘stress testing’ the beta - turning on all live settings, flying over busy photogrammetry areas - and am getting the best performance yet in terms of overall fluidity and stability. I wonder if we’re already seeing some of the benefits of Direct X 12 optimisation carry over?
Others have also reported good results, although this isn’t universal, and it does seem that third party airports and aircraft are still causing performance issues for some.
Nevertheless it seems to me to be a huge step in the right direction and makes me more positive than ever about the future of the sim on Xbox.
8 Likes
I agree with you - the only add on issue I’ve had so far is with the Hjet which has caused some stutters, slow-downs and two CTDs so far. It may be related to the implementation of the G3000 but I’m not sure.
All the vessels packs I’ve got - Global and SouthEast UK - are working perfectly again and I’ve been able to turn real world weather back on and advance all the traffic sliders to max. For me it has been a huge reversal from the problems with SU9 and is buttery smooth
3 Likes
Since I’m in the Beta and read reports Global Shipping is working again, this might be a good moment to purchase it. Do I have to turn down sliders or something or can I leave it at 100%?
I think everyones idea of a well running sim is always going to be different,some want clouds ,some want scenery detail,some want compatability,some want visual performance,some want it all plus a bit,I purely want fluid visuals ,oh and a reliable mouse😉,my days of total head down flying are mostly finished nowadays.
Well, I’ve been running tests with the traffic sliders set to 100% with no impact that I can find - but I have only tested English Channel and south coast of UK so there may be issues in other regions with global shipping and the Beta.
Personally I’d be very careful making any new purchases based on impressions gained from beta testing - just because this is not the final release so may end up not being representative of the final SU10. I may be being over cautious but…
I’m hopeful that the performance of the Shipping add-ons has been fixed but be careful out there (especially on Xbox), Buyer beware…
2 Likes
Yes, perhaps better wait for the final SU10 build. I’m not in a hurry. Thx for the advice😊
1 Like
Without an Xbox (and Xbox Cloud Gaming) version of Microsoft Flight Simulator, there is no PC version. This project required a substantial financial investment from Microsoft and only got the green light because of sales projections across all three platforms. Without console players, MSFS never would have been made.
23 Likes