See this kind of thing is why chat gpt generated text is of limited use. It contains obvious errors.
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Well, this and MS2024 is somewhat bound to being optimized for the S/X. So the ‘computer experience’ isn’t going to net a new game, like a higher fidelity simulator on PC only. You have MS’s investment in their mapping and influencing and resources in this game. So a PC won’t be a life changing experience.
You will get access to mods and free downloads and many add-ons that are unavailable on console. And then you can get pro-level peripherals, extra screens and switchgear, motion platforms and VR.
The modeled planet and flight models (without mods) though are exactly the same, a little more LOD here, some texture mods there… I would say for me to get that ‘I’m there’ feeling, still trapped within MSFS would have to be an experience change. Probably about $12-15K to break clearly free from ‘xbox world’? And that’s only one new innovation away from being rendered obsolete. A $3000 effort for an average gaming PC and a sub 55" monitor using the same peripherals isn’t worth the fuss to me right now. And it’s not like car sims where you now get FFB, motion, and pro level peripherals, that’s all built in to every and any real racing game.
I thought about it several times, but the game really isn’t next-level yet, nor is VR technology and FFB. I’ll jump in when it’s more comprehensive and superfluous. I must admit I still find this pretty ■■■■ good on a console, and having that life size cockpit 55" OLED directly behind the yoke cuts some mustard. Not to mention with console, they’re forced to cater with you and the perceived technology improves with optimization over the lifespan, versus having to buy more stuff. You end up with a better console 5 years later without ever cracking the case.
What exactly will the Kodiak do only on PC that it doesn’t do on console? If you already are a PC gamer, and this is one of the few times in life I dropped off the yearly upgrades since CV when the prices went ballistic, then I’d chase that tiger’s tail. With younger kids, the arrival of the XBSX really made life simple for ‘adult quality’ gaming.
It’s a tough choice for sure. 2024 may run better on Xbox but require updating for a PC user. It’s a strange time since FS never crossed paths with consoles until now. MS is so invested in the 'box they make sure it’s optimized for it. PC is always the same, if something new doesn’t work, it’s because you haven’t spent enough money yet. I still have a 4-ish yo PC I used for iracing(that will probably run MSFS decently or with just a few bits), but ran out of time with kids for the endless setups, tinkering, and scheduled racing times. Now I go to the basement push the magic X and start the game when I head up to put the kids down and plop my butt in front of the yoke as soon as I come back down. When guests are over I pack it all up in a trunk, push the TV back to the wall and move the little desk back to it’s corner. Or roll up the racing rig.
PC is always a conveyor belt of upgrading and tinkering, you just have to choose when to jump on it. I’ve been doing this since the late 80’s, so I may have a bit of period of being spoiled on a break with a ‘good enough’ console, for the first time satisfied with what it can do now, and not having to make 25 trips a year to micro-center.
I think I’d be less content if I didn’t take a 10+ year hiatus from flight simulator. I’m still fascinated this actually works. I didn’t even know it was going to be on XBOX when I bought mine. I got it for the regular racing suspects on it, COD with mouse and keyboard on a TV, games I was already playing with SSD speed, and stuff like Skywalker Saga with the kids.
If it’s good nuff’, then XBSX is pretty a strong contender. But there’s no way around a mouse/keyboard to operate the instrument panel and you’re never going to see improvement mods or the countless freeware items out there. Like I said the Kodiak is the Kodiak, and for $500 having it in life size on an HDR TV is pretty strong.
The TB V1 is a big part of it, with 4+ buttons and hats to control 90% of the view angles and snaps to custom views, and enough buttons to run lights/gear/spoilers/alt and vs/trim/AP/ATC and even combo levers like using the throttle levers on top and the verniers below it to manage props(like on the goose) and proportional spoilers and even cowl flaps on some aircraft that can support it. It gives a LOT of options to the game. Using ‘unused’ levers for additional controls adds a lot of funtionality, and flying a small Cessna with verniers is really satisfying. I haven’t even explored using shift options to add 30+ more functions. It does really make the XBOX quite viable. I have snap views l/r on the left hat, full motion on the right, the triggers zoom(with pedals), and the small hat flips between the 5-8 custom views I set for each aircraft where they need them. One click peeks over the nose, another gives you a 30" version of the G1000 and another puts you in the rear left passenger seat. Plus that ridiculously awesome trim wheel. That’s a lot of fingertip control.
If you’re a master of all things avionics and IFR flying and can’t get over something missing every single time you play, then only a PC is going to be satisfying. I think the biggest miss for me is not having access to actual tactile controls and switch boxes, avionics is definitely a PITA, particularly when you know what’s out there for PC. That would be the first thing I would immediately pursue if I went back to PC.
On a budget, I would throw down for good core PC hardware, as spending $3k when you should of gone $4k is a painful experience, like loading up your new boat with friends and going out for the first time and realizing immediately you should of gotten the engine upgrade. That’s a really long haul of ‘almost’ payments. Then I’d immediately set up a tactile interface before I even update the yoke from the V1. I’d do that before chasing VR, I feel another level of advancement is just a little bit away. Other than the obvious access to PC only add ons and mods, I’d probably get a year of satisfaction out of just messing with real knobs and buttons.
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You get a LIKE 
– if only for posting the LONGEST post I have ever seen on the forum !!
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I think it’s missing one very important point. If (and that’s still a big ‘if’…) they optimize the code to run as a true multi-core, multi-threaded application, S/X users will be left in the dust, as PC users running newer and newer, more powerful multi-core CPU’s take advantage of the new code.
And with the optimized PC-only CPU and far more powerful GPU’s, 8K textures will become the norm.
I’m glad Xbox users are enjoying the sim. I hope FS2024 increases their enjoyment. But it’s naive at best, and disingenuous at worst to suggest that PC users won’t always have a clear advantage - if they’re willing to spend the money…
Will the new sim improve the performance of the 8-core @ 3.8 GHz Zen 2 CPU in the X? Hopefully.
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The difficult part is getting a given application, to use more than one core efficiently, and code all those multi-threads to work together,
If it easy, then it would have been done by now !!
Real time, multi-threaded, multi core code is still a challenge.
It’s not as easy as just “using more cores” !!
Designing code to effectively utilize multicore processors in a complex simulation like Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) comes with several challenges and difficulties.
While the advantages of multicore processing include improved performance and the ability to handle more complex computations, many challenges must be addressed:
Absolutely.
If anyone can do it, Microsobo can!
(The question is…Do they want to devote the resources?)
Interesting thread.
A couple of months ago I was pretty intent on getting a top-spec gaming PC but, since SU13, the console experience (certainly for me) is much improved — to the point that I’ve almost completely abandoned the idea of putting together the PC.
MSFS is and always was a PC-based game and for that reason the console version was never going to be as polished. Sure, if you’re running just the basic sim the differences are negligible but the mods available for PC — many via external apps — really do boost the immersion. But by how much? Enough for me to spend 4-5x the cost of an Xbox? For me personally, no — arguably the PC experience, even with its many bells and whistles, isn’t 4-5x better.
The question I asked myself is, how happy am I using the sim on Xbox. The answer is, very happy. I know it’d be more enjoyable on PC, chiefly because I wouldn’t have to worry about black screens and CTDs, but is eliminating those niggling issues worth the extra £2,000? To me, definitely not. Perhaps if flight simming were my primary hobby but I’m big into aviation photography, which absorbs quite a bit of my expendable cash.
I guess I’ll likely re-evaluate my options once FS2024 is released but the way I feel now, I doubt I’ll ever jump to PC. I’m not a computer buff and the idea of tinkering with settings I’ve no real clue about is a daunting thought. Presently, I can come home, turn the Xbox on and be simming in less than five minutes — for me, the console’s ease of use outweighs any benefits the PC offers.
I tend not to think in terms of how much better the PC experience is, but rather, how close they’ve managed to make the console version on their very first go. I feel as though MSFS on Xbox has been one massive beta test… but that’s no bad thing in the long run.
There are reasons some choose PC, and there are reasons others choose Xbox. Some pretty serious simmers use Xbox, while some more casual players sim on PC. Choose whichever makes you happy (and whichever fits your budget). In all honesty, I cannot miss what I’ve never had, so I’ll continue enjoying the Xbiox experience for now…
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Can you do any file manipulation on Xbox? You occasionally find that useful in MSFS.
This is the key point. There’s no right or wrong answer, everyone has different expectations, situations, and ability or desire to afford expensive gear. IMO if you are happy with what you have then why spend money on it? This isn’t a race to keep up with the Jones’s.
On the other hand if the xbox experience leaves you dissatisfied, as it clearly has for many posters on the forum over time, and you have the means and inclination to upgrade to a PC then it’s worth knowing what you get for your extra money and is it going to be worth it? Nobody can answer that for you, but everyone can give their experience, and I believe especially for people that have experience of both platforms, that feedback can help someone unsure to build a picture and make their own decision. If they end up happier (albeit a little financially poorer I’m sure!) then that’s all that matters.
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