I just don’t get this. People want all these advancements in the simulator. They want all these fixes. So now Microsoft decides to invest in the franchise by doing a new simulator. Jorg has said numerous time “This is the biggest undertaking in flight simulator history”.
Yet after free world updates, plenty of free planes, extremely low priced third party developed planes, etc people want to keep trying to pressure Microsoft into giving away this for free, or with a discount. It is a brand new simulator. Things finally settle down in one thread, and then someone starts a new thread with the same thing.
I have seen some people wanting this are retired pilots who are on fixed incomes, and it is very important that Microsoft consider their situations. I’m not expecting FS2024 until July-August or later in 2024. We still have almost a year. Save your Microsoft Rewards. If you don’t know what Microsoft Rewards are, look it up on the internet. I spent roughly $50-$200 a week on addons for Flight Simulator. I can easily pay for FS2024, and would gladly do so. But since the announcement and the outcry that FS2024 had to be free, I’ve been saving my Microsoft Rewards to illustrate that purchase of the new simulator can be done with rewards. Since the announcement, I now have over $40 worth of rewards. Whatever your financial situation is, if MSFS is the only thing you do, then FS2024 can be purchased without a burden. If you play multiple things, then really what your priorities are should dictate whether you get FS2024 or not. If you decide you can’t, then MSFS 2020 will still work.
The other option is it will be a Day 1 release on Game Pass. This would be a realistic option for those that want multiple games in 2024. Two or three purchased games that are on Game Pass would amount to the same as a subscription.