Just watched the fs2020 trailer and noticed that came out in August. (I wasn’t following then as Xbox wasn’t included). Disappointing this version release is 3 months later.
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How on earth are you disappointed by something that didn’t happen when you were around, and was YEARS ago? They had to optimize it for Xbox, it was pc first until SU5. And it wasnt three months later. It was almost a year. Aug 18 2020. Xbox release July 27 2021.
MSFS2024 will be released gamepass day one this time.
Who knows maybe they wanted to release in the summer months… but needed to postpone. But as most Xbox titles are usually released in November. This is when we get the Call of Duties, the GTA drops are always OCT/NOV. Holliday hype.
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Why is this disappointing? Xbox released a year later than PC due to issues. 2024 is releasing for both platforms at the same time. Plus wouldn’t you rather it be released when it’s ready than an arbitrary time?
Mainly because the sim Microsoft releases on any given year tend to release in late August. I call it the Forza slot.
So it was fair to assume MSFS would release in late August.
But things happen.
Asobo may have simply told Xbox Studios they need a couple more months.
Or Xbox Studios may have decided to hit the Holiday window better this time.
Who knows?
Quite an interesting presentation on the Marketplace from FSExpo
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Since when? Halo games have mostly come out at the end of the year. Forza games come out anywhere from March to October.
Any assumption that it should release in November was just that since XBox studios doesn’t have an official window for releases.
Since the advent of Xbox Studios and Game Pass. So basically this generation and the last.
The release dates exist if you wish to peruse them.
That Forza slot has been pretty consistent for the last decade, and MSFS 2020 fit into said slot when there was no Forza to release that year. So if people were going to guess a release date, I cannot blame them for thinking it would be late August. They were wrong but it was a fair guess.
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So there has been a history of releasing things in August? To quote from Lost, do not mistake coincidence for fate.
Late August has been Forza’s slot this Gen and last, and when 2020 released. So it was an educated guess that was off.
It was a good guess, I’d say. But I don’t think we have enough versions released so far to stablish a new trend. 
Like, right now, I’m guessing we will have another version coming in 2028 (because MSFS 2020 support will be finished and it’s enough time to have a new version almost finished), but who knows.
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That’s why I was a Forza conspiracist.
November is perfect to max holiday sales.
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Anyways, every game needs to be released between today and H1 2025. You don’t want to release anything closer to GTA VI.
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Even I step away from MSFS for the big games. I took a three month BG3 break this year!
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Don’t worry - GTA VI is rumored to be slipping into 2026.
Is that pre-order post legit, as the process asks for information that MS should already have and only appears to serve the US market?
Yes, it was posted by the forum Community Manager.
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Hello @HawkMoth9135,
You can pre-order Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 now for PC (MS Store) and Xbox Series X|S at this link:
Steam pre-orders will be available on September 26.
Thanks,
MSFS Team
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But in the adding address dialogue, it doesn’t allow a country other than the USA to be selected?
The sort of error a scammer might make. 
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No discout for owners of MSFS2020?