On the day of the SU10 release I started MSFS 2020 expecting the sim to insist on the update - but it didn’t. So, I decided to go make sure that Gaming Services was updated in the Microsoft Store.
When I tried to update Gaming Services, I got a message: “Something happened on our end”. I tried canceling and retrying several times, but nothing changed.
I rebooted, then tried again, but the same thing happened. So, I decided to run the game again. That’s when it got weird.
The tile I use in the Start grid to run the game resulted in it opening Microsoft Store, and going directly to the MS Store page for Gaming Services and the associated reviews. The game would not start even when I tried going directly to the .exe file. So, I gave up for the night.
The next day I tried again, and it got REALLY weird. Not only did I get the same error message for Gaming Services - I also discovered that MSFS 2020 was COMPLETELY REMOVED from my PC. The Start grid tile was gone, it was no longer listed in my Start programs, and the game folder was removed. Concerned, I went to my MS Store Library, and my content was listed - with the cloud download icon. It had also deleted my Community_OLD folder, which I had renamed ahead of time in anticipation of the update. This means all my PMDG stuff was blown out with no warning.
I downloaded the main game, and the ownership proof, but when I tried to run the Premium Deluxe download, it did nothing. So I checked to see if the game was runnable, and it was - so I ran it, and it showed the mandatory update screen. The Start list link for the game was back, but the Start grid tile was still missing.
After downloading and installing the sim content, I got my mods put back, but it was like they were somehow still there, and just needed repair (PMDG mods).
Now, in-game, the controls will not map properly, the yoke in the PMDG 737 displays crooked (permanently turned to the left), and the other flight controls are in various states of disarray. I deleted all my control mappings, and started fresh, but the control setups aren’t behaving normally. My MFG Crosswind pedals show up in the control settings, but after initially mapping them, they stop showing movement in the setup area, and in game, they have limited effect, or no effect.
It appears that the sim was somehow corrupted during the process of updating Gaming Services, and it is now not possible to fly anything, even the core airplanes. I’d love to get some help on this or hear from anyone else who has experienced similar problems.