Thanks, looks like Linux isn’t that perfect after all. I’d have to buy MSFS 2024/2020 again on Steam and on top of that I’d probably need to repurchase some of my add-ons too, since not all of them are cross-platform between Microsoft Store and Steam. That makes the switch a lot less attractive.
You’ll have to re-purchase the game within Steam to get the Steam-compiled version of the game as the MS store doesn’t work on anything but Windows.
Anything purchased in-game follows you because you will use the same MS login.
External products may transfer. Supposedly my PMDG DC-6 will transfer if I copy over the airplane to the community folder within Steam’s game context.
Right now, the tough part is getting my joystick to work correctly, but it’s not an unsolvable problem. I had to install a special driver pack for the X52 joystick and then install jstest-gtk in Mint to calibrate the joystick. You may have to look to see if your joystick has a dedicated Linux driver for your distribution or - as I did - build from sources.
I remember having to jump through hoops when I went from X-Plane to MSFS too.
Note that I had to do a special re-calibration within Windows when I migrated from X-Plane to MSFS because X-Plane saves its own custom calibration constants for the joystick and MSFS uses calibration constants stored in the Windows Registry. In other words, it’s not the easiest thing in the world, but it’s no more difficult than migrating from a different flight simulator to MSFS.
Re: Building from source files.
Most software has pre-built binaries for the most common distributions, (like .deb, .rpm, etc.), but some don’t. If the program doesn’t have a pre-built binary for your distribution, (or if it doesn’t work as the X52 .deb file did), then you build it from source directly on your machine.
It sounds like a lot of work, and it used to be. Nowadays people who release source packages also include detailed instructions on how to build them, giving specific commands that you follow in a root terminal. So long as you follow the yellow-brick road, you should be fine. My Saitek X52 driver required a copy-and-paste of about four or five commands and it was golden - though you should probably reboot after installing to make sure the services start correctly.
Feel free to ask me, or DM directly, if you have any installation questions.
If I have the game on the Microsoft Store and add-ons from the in-game marketplace, they won’t transfer to the Steam version. The purchases are tied to the platform, so I’d need to buy them again.
https://flightsimulator.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019301400-I-moved-on-to-Steam-from-another-platform-where-is-my-additional-content
In my case, the aircraft and scenery I purchased came over without difficulty as they’re, (supposedly), tied to the Microsoft ID. Note that when I launched MSFS, it asked for my Microsoft login. Once that was done, everything came over and I had the option to install it or not.
I haven’t had any problems. Others have said they had no problems. The big problem is having to re-purchase the games themselves which isn’t cheap. I bit the bullet, but that choice is up to you.
I made the choice to go Steam simply because I wanted to explore something other than MS as my main desktop and I wanted to explore Linux’s gaming capability with a AAA rated game.
You will have to do you and what works for you.
If you decide to go that way I will do what I can to help.
Your purchases are no longer tied to platform - this was a feature when MSFS2024 was released.
I am on PC Steam with many in Sim Marketplace purchases - when I log into my friends Xbox with my account, all my Steam purchases are are also there. No problem.
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In my case, when I open MSFS-20 in Steam, (instead of in Windows natively), the purchased items are there, but they don’t automatically install. You have to go to the Content Manager (in 2020) to install the things you want.
I did this awhile ago on CachyOS. The game itself worked absolutely great and the 20% bump in VRAM availability helped performance a ton. Addons were the only issues I had. I’m looking at you Navigraph.
I was doing something in Windows 11 and and bang, Locked out
by MS.
Could not my password to accept or a phone text, or email.
The 25 digit verification would not work.
I get the reason for Lockout is needed for security reasons but to have a user Lock himself out. MS hooey.
So SOL.
But, I was already thinking of leaving MS anyway.
And I love Linux.
I also had purchased one Airport, Newark New Jersey.
I guess I’ve lost it also since I lost my MS Account.
Anyway, I’m a happy camper or should say simmer now.
Odd. . . . You’d think that MS would have some way to recover your account. (
)
FWIW, I only use my MS account for things like Technet, (when I had it), registering installations, and MSFS. I do not, repeat NOT, use a MS account as my primary login vector.
Excellent!
Keep us in the loop on your progress!
BTW, what joystick do you use? What distribution? Did you have any problems getting it calibrated and/or configured?
Nobara KDE Wayland.
VKB Gladiator EVO NXT flight stick
Trouble getting to not be a game controller
Finally got the correct Launch Options for Steam.
Imported Profiles exported from Windows- no problem
VBK FSM-GA module
no problems
FS2024
Only problem was getting HDR to work
Correct Steam Lunch Option fixed it.
Current problem is a known issue with loss of all inputs with
AMD GPUs, my 7900 XTX.
Luckily my Logitech K950 keyboard lets me Logout and Login with no loss.
Screen returns with inputs working.
I feel so lucky to be away from MS.
I like Linux and I’m not a gamer.
FS2024 is great here.
Flying 4K, 60 Hz, Ultra, HDR, Terrain LoD = 400, Object LoD = 200.
Graphics is great.
Does VR also work on Linux with a Steam VR HMD (BSB2e) ?
Sorry, but I don’t use VR so I can’t answer that.