Does anyone know if I would need to purchase two licenses for use on two separate PCs in the same household assuming the same MSN/Xbox ID was used for both and never simultaneously? My son already purchased one copy and installed it on his PC along with several add-ons but I just built a PC to set up a simulator in the garage using Xplane 11, with pretty much a full cockpit virtual instrument panel, Garmin 530/430 sim, yoke, rudder, throttle panel, switches, trim, autopilot module, and radio panels in the config of a cessna 172. ATC sim server subscription (pilotedge net), possibly Foreflight integration as well (my son just finished ground school and has started flight school). I don’t know how well I’d be able to plug FS 2020 into my cockpit build but would like to try and surprise him. The realism of the terrain and of the scenery on FS 2020 are incredible compared to xplane and would be a plus for training VFR locally, as we were able to identify his high school, our home, local landmarks, among a multitude of things on his first fly around in FS 2020 out of our local airport. It was remarkable. But ultimately the cockpit sim will be more for practicing IFR down the line so graphics aren’t really that big of a deal and if FS 2020 doesn’t integrate with my sim build then I wouldn’t want to have spent $120+ on an additional license plus duplicate in app purchases to find out. Would save me a little money that I could put back into the sim build. If i find out FS 2020 will integrate into my build then it would be worth buying the extra license so I could putt around, and have my own dedicated account, but until then…
I’m not a lawyer or License expert, but as long as you are not using it at the same time, and only to test if your complete setup works with FS2020, I don’t see a reason why this should not be allowed.
I would see it as installing it on an new computer. There is no issue with that either.
It’s tied to your MS account, so you can install it on multiple places no problem (as long as you’re logged in with your account). It won’t be able to play simultaneously on multiple systems.
And this does bug me. I don’t mind it’s tied to my MS account as I get cloud syncing (hopefully), but what bothers me is it’s installed but only playable via my Windows account. Which means I can’t create an account on my PC for my kids to play it, I have to leave myself logged in. Which goes against every security best practice out there.
Doesn’t family sharing work for that?
You could buy it on Steam, but I guess for that it is already to late.
i can’t imagine that the steam version would integrate with peripherals i’ll be using in the form of the instrument panel/switches/GPS/ATC radio that would need to mesh with the program but i have no idea.
The Steam version is exactly the same version that you’ve bought. Steam sells the launcher, not the game…the launcher downloads the game.
One year old article https://www.pcgamer.com/how-to-share-your-pc-game-library-with-your-family/ claims Microsoft Store supports familiy sharing.
I use steam for mostly all my games and use game sharing for my kids. In this instance, I bought via the windows Store.
I just wish they would use the program files and programdata folders for all apps which is something MS tried ramming down developers throats for years. Now, I’ve got nearly 100gb in my local profile folder.
Sorry - bit of a rant, and not on topic.
I don’t know much about steam or PC gaming in general, I’ve been a mac user for about 30 years, my son forced me to learn about the PC world, but I thought steam was more of a streaming arrangement, the computing and generating is happening on remote hardware and we’re just seeing the video so to speak, hence the need for a fast connection in order to combine it all: local inputs, remote computing/rendering, and then the stream back to us. Or do i have it all wrong? For example, with the xplane set up, I’ll have approx 15 peripherals going into the computer through a powered USB bus.
You can see Steam as just a store. Everything you buy on it, will be installed locally on your PC. So you do everything with it just like any other software. Most of the time it is even easier, because it allows you to install the software wherever you want.
Next to that, it allows you to put on Family share, so that who ever you share it with, can install it on their local PC.
Yeah, you’ve got that completely wrong I’m afraid. Steam is not a streaming gaming service, it’s a digital download game store. Just like Epic or the MS store.
I also use steam for most of my games but I regret getting this one on steam as marketplace stuff costs a lot more there than in the MS store version.
Anyway, I was referring to the MS store family sharing. That should work for your case, right?
That said, not a fan of the way the files are stored in my profile data either.
i don’t know what service i was thinking of then. so what is the difference between buying from microsoft and buying from steam?
With Steam you’ve got a game library (easy launch of all your Steam downloaded games), friends list, instant messaging feature…stuff like that. Steam also tend to have regular sales with, sometimes, some quite awesome deals, like 90% off.
You also get access to the Steam workshop, which is a great and easy way for people to share mods and addons…however, Microsoft FS isn’t integrated with the Steam workshop so that’s useless to us here. Instead we have the in game marketplace. Although I have read reports that anyone who bought on steam is seeing higher prices in the in game marketplace than those of us who bought through the MS store.
I’m sorry I didn’t realise that you could share windows apps for family. Thanks. I will look into it.
So i’ve tried and tried. Not able to share FS 2020 with my son. Even with him logged into the new PC, when in the microsoft store logged in under his account, a banner comes up stating that he already owns it. But when I try to download it onto the new PC build, logged in as him, I am not allowed. There is a little “do not enter” sign over the install tab. I have both of us in family share. both devices show up on our list when either of us are logged in. No go. the only thing it allows me to do is re-download to the original device that downloaded it. Sucks. Can’t find any explicit confirmation anywhere whether or not family share can be utilized to install FS 2020 on multiple devices, or whether or not the same user can install on multiple devices (up to 10 with other stuff is what i understand). He was completely logged out of any other device when I attempted. Guess I’m just going to bite the bullet and pay as this will be the only way i can figure out whether or not it will integrate into my simulator build. Before I do though, any last thoughts?
You can try the standard version trough the XBOX Game Pas I believe. The first month will only be 1 dollar.
I checked with MS and was told I would have to uninstall it before I could load it to another computer. When I tried, it woudn’t let me install on another househod computer.