TLDR : for Steam users, is some game content stored in permission-locked folders like MS Store games are?
Installing from Steam only gets you the launcher. Then the rest is downloaded from inside the game, but does it land in a folder locked by permissions? Or can you freely copy/paste the entire game between folders and hard drives?
original full post :
I’ve read many many forums across various websites from web searches over the past week and haven’t found definitive answers to my questions. I’d really appreciate first-hand knowledge by current players of MSFS, particularly those who purchased through Steam.
I’m debating whether to purchase from Steam or MS Store. Primary concerns are the following.
Specific install paths/directories for each type of content, e.g. where on your drive(s) are these located :: launcher, the big data download, scenery cache, DLC e.g. planes/airports/liveries, etc. I want to know how fragmented the folder paths are for Steam compared to MS Store, I’d like to know what the web of folder paths looks like for each. So if I wanted to move the game from an internal hard drive, to an external one, then to another PC, am I moving e.g. 4 different folder paths for an MS Store install compared to e.g. 2 different folder paths for a Steam install?
Permission-locked folders for game content, Steam vs MS Store. I know for MS Store it puts most stuff at C:\Program Files\WindowsApps (which is a permission-locked folder). If purchasing from Steam only gets you the launcher, as I’ve seen from my research, then is the bulk data download still a permission-locked folder, even for the Steam purchase? I know how to modify the permissions to get inside, but I see that as an unjustifiable nuisance. For the Steam install, are any game folders encrypted / permission-locked?
DRM. If I purchase through Steam, does that mean I have to jump through 2 hoops of DRM, Valve then Microsoft? As opposed to buying from MS Store, jumping through only the 1 hoop, being Microsoft?
Offline play. I know MSFS was designed for online in order to stream in content, but I’ve seen examples where you can still play with your offline, local downloaded content. It seems you still need to pass through the title screen / splash screen with an online connection in order to do this. Is it really not possible to move all your game content folders to a fully offline PC and play MSFS?
Really curious to hear these details from current owners, especially if some Steam owners can shed some light on the questions I’ve raised. Thanks so much in advance.
edit :
Here are some of the folder paths I’ve been able to dig up from my research. I’d like to know if I’m missing any and if any of the Steam paths are permission-locked like the MS Store one is.
Microsoft Store :
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_1.9.3.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
C:\Users\name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe
C:\Users\name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Even with the Store download, you can place it wherever you like.
It’s only the 1-odd GB installer and executable that gets put in the permission locked folders. You can choose to put the bulk of the game in a normal folder.
I have my game installed in F:\MSFS and can freely access the files. You have to choose a custom location during installation, that’s all.
Nope. I installed both Program related files (normally encrypted on C: in MS Store version) as well as Package related files (the bulk of the 110Gb that constitutes the sim itself) in custom folders where all contents are easily and freely accessed. So that’s a pro for Steam.
Note you still need XBox app and MS Gaming Services installed and up to date. By virtue of that, MS Store needs to be up to date, which brings you closer back to the Microsoft only scenario. It’s just the way the ecosystem works.
So for the Steam install, when you want to move the game to another computer entirely, you can simply copy all the folders and be on your way. For the MS Store install, you simply re-download the 1 GB launcher (since that’s a permission-locked folder) on the new PC, then copy/paste the bulk data download and you’re good to go. In both cases assuming of course you’re online with the respective storefronts up to date. Did I get that all right?
For a transfer to another computer - I’m guessing you’ll need at least to reinstall the base part of the game, which as of Sim Update 6 is about 1.6 GB. Then you can take that 110 GB of Packages (Community + Official) and copy it to the new machine. Start the MS-Installer, and point it to the new Packages path where that 110 GB exists. It may need to add/update a few more files but then you should be good to go.
But with a Steam install, you should not need to reinstall that base 1.6 GB part of the game, right, since it resides in a freely accessible folder that you can copy/paste. You should be able to copy everything over to the new PC and point the local program to the new location of the 110+ GB core content. All without going online right? (of course you need to go online when you start it up, but all the setup legwork of transferring to a new PC should be possible with no network connection at all, if my understanding is correct)
No, it’s still required because Steam will want to define your Library Files - it’s a setting in the Steam Client. So from a workstream - transfer the 110GB of Packages to the new PC and place it in it’s final resting spot - i.e., E:\MSFS\Packages. Then run the installer to install the base 1.6GB - i.e., D:\Steam.
When the Installer asks where do you want to put the packages - point it to E:\MSFS. It should detect the existing packages and update just a few, but it saves you the majority of the 110GB download.
Hm. If that’s how it is, that’s how it is? Just seems odd to me that if you can point the Steam installer to the 110 GB download, and it’s able to intelligently skip over what’s already there, then it stands to reason that it should be able to do the same with the 1.6 GB download, skip over what’s already there and only download any changes.
At any rate, if there’s no way to get around re-downloading part of the game from the internet, then it seems this advantage for Steam is mostly a lost cause. You can move over the 1.6 GB base part, but you still need to re-download it, then what’s the point? Might as well get the permission-locked MS Store version where you have to do that anyway and then cut 1 storefront out of the equation. Is that really the deal? No way to move the Steam game to another PC in a workable state without going online eh?
PLEASE go with steam. I’ve ran into so many problems worth he microsoft store version. I can’t delete a bad version that got corrupted as its “protected” despite following instructions detailed by both microsoft and reddit users. My only option is to format the drive. Unless you plan to switch to an xbox with your other purchased addons in tow, I kindly recommend Steam. The MS version also hard links some files so that it appears you are installing or updating to drive c when in fact it is elsewhere. Very confusing. Use steam otherwise. Steam is much more strict about returns however. If the game takes three hours to download in full and then it doesnt work they say oops sorry you played for 2+ hours - no return! So they are not perfect haha
Remember, Steam is only a gateway to the MS-Installer. Regardless of Store version, the MS-Installer is the one doing the bulk of the work, including the 1.6GB base download.
What you’re mitigating by going to Steam is the convoluted interdependence between MS-Store, XBox for Windows and Windows itself. Changes in any of those systems in an MS-Store version of the sim can prevent it block the sim from either launching or updating, usually without a diagnostic message.
For the most part, Steam only requires you to tie the license you bought for the sim in Steam to your XBox for Windows Gaming Account (Gamertag) once - when you first buy it and launch it form Steam. After that, access to the sim either launching or updating is NOT dependent upon pending updates in MS-Store for example.
What is common to stopping both versions from launching or updating?
Pending Windows OS updates
XBox or Playfab Live Services failures or degraded services
Refreshing your XBox for Windows and XBox Live login sessions by logging out and in again
Thanks for the replies everyone. Sounds like Steam is worth it for the amount of hassle it cuts out. I pulled the trigger on Steam with 1.5 hrs left on the 20% sale! When GOTY comes out I think it’s unlikely to discount higher than 20% if at all, and we get the GOTY content free anyway so it’s a good time to buy.