DC, i just had this happen to me for the first time after playing daily since launch. the only thing i did differently was today i edited my user.config file to set windshield effects to 2 and rayraced shadows to 0 in my vr configs since i can never change those.
to try and fix it, i did a full (steam) reinstall/delete of the files, and the game loaded. dropped the edited user.cfg back in and it would not. deleted it and the game loaded again. tell the devs it may be a corrupted user.cfg file. someone else said i started for them after they did a ton of controller mapping.
I have 10 different controllers connected and this started happening after I did significant rebinds to all of my controllers today. I really don’t want to lose 3 hours of work. This is incredibly frustrating.
Corrupted files seem weird though given for some of us, like me, it only happens like 1 out of 20 or so starts. So my files get corrupted every now and then, then fix themself? 
there is a program HERE that is made to grab and save the controller configs so you can back them up, but it did not find my steam install on a different drive, so YMMV. also if you have steam and do a total reinstall, those configs are NOT lost. good luck brother, i know that sucks, really hoping you dont have to remap. although it is faster the second time, dont ask me how i know.
i know, its not like this game never ever has problems with online file tranfers. i have no idea how this could EVER happen or why we dont have local copies to refrence at all times. but hey, im not the guy watching the video 15 times. oh wait.
Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it? Yes
•
Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue: same issue. Happens more often now than before. None of the fixes helps.
•
If relevant, provide additional screenshots/video:
•
Using the template below will greatly help the team reproduce the issue and ease the process of fixing it. Before posting, search for an existing report. If you are not sure it’s a bug, please first report in User Support Hub.
2 tags are required - add them in the tag section next to the title above:
Feel free to delete this quote section after adding your appropriate tags.
ISSUE DESCRIPTION
Description of the issue: Cannot load simulator. Just today trying to load into the sim. The loading animation is playing but the progress bar has disappeared. All that is visible is ‘ESC Quit to Desktop’. Nothing has changed on the system, all was working fine at the same time on the 12/25/2024. Now cannot play the game.
[PC Only] Did you remove all your community mods/add-ons? If yes, are you still experiencing the issue?
Yes
FREQUENCY OF ISSUE
How often does this occur for you (Example: Just once, every time on sim load, intermittently)?
Every time trying to start the game now.
REPRODUCTION STEPS
Please list clear steps you took in order to help our test team reproduce the same issue:
- Start MSFS 2024
2.Watch the screen
YOUR SETTINGS
If the issue still occurs with no mods and add-ons, please continue to report your issue. If not, please move this post to the User Support Hub.
What peripherals are you using, if relevant:
Same as when it worked yesturday
[PC Only] Are you using Developer Mode or have you made any changes to it?
No
[PC, MSFS 2020 Only] Are you using DX11 or DX12?
NA
[PC Only] What GPU (Graphics Card) do you use?
3080 12gb
[PC Only] What other relevant PC specs can you share?
Nothing probably as all was fine yesterday at same time.
MEDIA
Please add a screenshot or video of the issue occurring.
[END OF FIRST USER REPORT]
For anyone who wants to contribute on this issue, Click on the button below to use this template:
Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it?
•
Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue:
•
If relevant, provide additional screenshots/video:
•
Does this happen after you restart your device?
Yes it does happen after I restart device.
If you have the capability, you may want to consider uninstalling the sim, and see if a reinstall helps.
Why would that help? On the client side, nothing has changed since the game was launched and working yesterday? The only reason that would help is if they are pushing out breaking changes on the server side without informing the users, which, you know, would get most people in the industry at least a formal warning if not worse???
Any ETA for a fix? Still occurring.
1 Like
Intermittent bugs like this are VERY hard to track down in general, so I wouldn’t be holding your breath especially given the plethora of easy to repro issues.
I can say with certainty that a re-install doesn’t fix it, as I did a reinstall just a few days ago and just ran into this bug again today.
Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it?
• Yes
Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue:
• I had this for the first time yesterday, now 2 times in a row today, only gave me the buttons on the third try. Yet another annoying thing to add to the long list… First time it occurred was after I had to kill the sim since it got stuck loading a tornado mission if that is relevant in any way.
If relevant, provide additional screenshots/video:
•
Same problem Parisi, it started slowly and since yesterday I haven’t been able to get into the simulator. 
ISSUE DESCRIPTION
Description of the issue:
About 50% of the time I start FS2024, at the end of the loading bar, nothing happens.
The background video continues to play, but the FS2024 logo, my Xbox ID and both buttons “Start” and “Accessibility” do not appear.
The sim is not frozen or stuck or anything, but I simply cannot do anything else than just press “Return to desktop” button.
[PC Only] Did you remove all your community mods/add-ons? If yes, are you still experiencing the issue?
Yes
FREQUENCY OF ISSUE
How often does this occur for you (Example: Just once, every time on sim load, intermittently)?
50% of start-up
REPRODUCTION STEPS
Please list clear steps you took in order to help our test team reproduce the same issue:
- Launch FS2024. Running as admin or not does not seem to change anything.
YOUR SETTINGS
If the issue still occurs with no mods and add-ons, please continue to report your issue. If not, please move this post to the User Support Hub.
What peripherals are you using, if relevant:
High-end gaming rig (Intel i9-12900 / RTX4080)
High performance optic fiber Internet thru Ethernet
[PC Only] Are you using Developer Mode or have you made any changes to it?
No
[PC Only] What GPU (Graphics Card) do you use?
Nvidia MSI RTX 4080 Suprim
[PC Only] What other relevant PC specs can you share?
See above
MEDIA
Elements that fail to display are circled in red.
[END OF FIRST USER REPORT]
For anyone who wants to contribute on this issue, Click on the button below to use this template:
Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it?
•
Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue:
•
If relevant, provide additional screenshots/video:
•
Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it?
•
Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue:
• I’m slowly getting angry even as a superfan
If relevant, provide additional screenshots/video:
•
1 Like
What @Harfentoni said sums it up pretty much.
Get it together Asobo, it’s already a shameful shenanigan of a disguised early access / open Alpha.
I increased my Rolling Cache size from 16gb to 64gb and haven’t had the problem since. I found when I deleted my Rolling Cache I would get the start button. So I thought increasing it might help, and it has so far…knok on wood.
1 Like