We do indeed, but using both systems gives that extra clarity. Those who’ve used both are naturally and undeniably in a better position to directly compare them.
I can’t comment re SU15 as I never experienced it on Xbox. But I’m pretty sure the visible degradations are to try to preserve memory. If there existed a way to preserve both glass cockpits and memory, they’d have figured it out by now. The last SU was a delicate balancing act, and I can’t see SU16 being much different. The Xbox simply doesn’t have the available memory to run such a complex sim to 100% of its potential. There are always sacrifices here and there.
I’m not Xbox bashing here. I used to own one and was always amazed at how a £400 machine could run the sim so capably. But it IS flawed once you begin adding DLC. If while flying, your avionics go black, that’s clearly a flaw. If the sim crashes after a 4hr flight… that’s a flaw. And while this mostly happens with third-party mods, it DOES happen at Asobo hand-crafteds too. If there weren’t flaws, no one would have any need to go the PC route.
This might be the case for the current sim but I’m pretty confident MS2024 will resolve most of the current issues. I don’t think anyone ever said their confidence in Xbox is totally shot — after all, MSFS is the problem, rather than the console — better coding and more advanced techniques I imagine will ensure the new sim runs like clockwork.
I hope the console experience gets improved soon for you guys — whether it’s this iteration or the next — but MSFS has clearly reached its limits on console and every improvement henceforth is merely a case of balancing resource management.
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I am rooting for it to become the next Playground Games. With the world as a sandbox, Forza Horizon elements could really pop.
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This is an odd misnomer. MSFS was announced first for Xbox as a flagship, showcase, release day title. COVID slowed development down so it released on PC first, but Xbox is and always was a motivating factor in the release of MSFS after a 16 year delay.
Microsoft clearly wanted MSFS on Xbox, made a big deal about it being on Xbox from day one, and now, are producing a AAA sequel for Xbox.
Game Pass and Xbox Casuals must make up a huge portion of the 15 million + total pilots.
Without Xbox, one thing is for sure. You would not be looking at a AAA Microsoft flight simulator these days. You’d have another incremental AA release at best, and X-Plane at worst.
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I have always been a huge supporter of MSFS on console, and (as a former Series X simmer) have said the exact same thing myself many, many times in these forums. I’m not taking sides here — I’m just stating the undeniable facts — and what platform the game was supposed to premier on is immaterial in the face of these facts. Xbox players want the same level of functionality as PC (quite rightly)… but they ain’t getting it.
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At this point it is 90-95% there for 1/5th - 1/6th the price. Before WASM it was grim.
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I’ve no idea if you’ve experience with the sim on both platforms but the more I played the PC version, the more inadequate the Xbox version seemed.
Ultimately, it depends what you’re looking for in a simulator. For GA flying, with no or a limited number of well-optimised mods, you’d be hard-pressed to feel or see any real difference (aside from much improved draw distance). But airliner pilots will quickly notice a big jump in immersion by hopping to PC.
One of the biggest hurdles for Xbox has been the lack of a decent live traffic add-on (such as FSLTL or FST). For an airline pilot, such an addition is absolutely crucial to stave off that feeling of isolation you get on console when arriving at a busy hub such as LAX or Heathrow. Sure, LVFR’s excellent static traffic pack helps but there’s only so much it can do to recreate the feeling of a busy, functioning airport. Irrespective of day or time, every arrival and departure features exactly the same planes, in exactly the same places. And of course, not a single one moves an inch.
I really believe FS2024 will change the console experience, to better match PC. If it doesn’t, the team at Asobo will have some serious explaining to do!
I loved what the Xbox was capable of, for a fraction of the price of a PC (my PC cost just over 7x what I paid for my Series X) — but that enormous premium you pay opens up the final (but most crucial) 10% functionality. Granted, I doubt that’s good value in anyone’s books but if you want the full MSFS experience, it really is the only way.
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You don’t have to sell me on the PC being better. I just said it myself.
Look, if you have a $3000 rig already, the Xbox is a step down. If you need to buy a $3000 rig to play MSFS, an Xbox will be exponentially cheaper.
No need to downgrade if you already have a rig. But for once, no need for a rig if you already have an Xbox.
I run Macs exclusively for my job, and a PC would ONLY be for MSFS so, the Xbox Series X is cheap and it is a significantly better experience than gaming on my Intel Mac through Bootcamp that hardly has enough power in the GPU to pull 15 FPS. It is all relative.
I’d rather spend $3k on so many other things right now.
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Can we keep this topic about the Xbox and not have it turn into a pc v Xbox as this thread was set up for Xbox issues regarding the last update. Thanks.
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Thank you - I was about to pipe in and remind everyone of the same.
Folks, please keep your posts on-topic.
100% agree with this. Why are my trees glistening? Why are square fields popping up when I’m flying near them? Why is there ghosting while panning around?
The worst one for me is the ghosting. Panning around the cockpit and outside everything goes blurry, instruments have trails when moving the camera. Looking outside the window you have to stop panning to see anything in focus. Has anyone ever re-installed their sim on XBOX to resolve issues?
The UK photogrammetry in the last update is decent but the sim is barely playable with everything blurring each time I pan the camera.
I used to do multiple flights a day but since the last update I’ve barely touched the sim.
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My solution I think would fix the issue and sell more copies too.
On start up ask the player if they want career or arcade mode (remember gran turismo?).
Arcade mode would be simplified aircraft physics and locked to default planes/scenery ONLY (addons disabled) so Asobe could control the code and optimise it for the Xbox series. Gfx would be showcasing the best available for the most beautiful, smooth sight seeing you could imagine.
Career mode would be unlocked for addons, advanced ac code allowed and gfx locked to provide a stable sim rather than a beautiful one.
I think both options would work well and be fun instead of using compromise code that means neither Xbox or pc users, gfx /ac systems are happy.
Asobe COULD make it the game /sim for EVERYONE but the current way of using the same exact engine for all users is always going to be a compromise that leaves noone happy.
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I’m an Xbox user and since this Azure debacle I’m down to standard content only, Bing turned off as is everything else turned off. No city updates, no WU’s and one aircraft addon being used (out of the many I have) the Bell 206 b3 by fly inside. It was a conscious decision to say I’ve had enough of the LOD issues. So I’m basically flying a nice aircraft in an ugly world. IMO, I firmly believe a lot of the issues arise from users having to many addon’s and clogging up they’re systems with 3rd party stuff and the Xbox can’t handle it. Further more (going forward) the “NEW” Xbox consoles announced at the Xbox showcase, didn’t even give us a hint of their internals (specs), we wont find this out until they are officially released to the retailers, which I find kind of shadowy on Microsoft and Xbox’s part. Kind of like you want to know what’s under the hood you’ll have to buy it to find out. That’s not very good marketing. If they didn’t do anything under the hood to them, we’re in trouble unless as has been mentioned that 2024 is being optimized for Xbox as apposed to PC. I had the PC version and opted for Xbox because of the plug n’ play factor. No graphic setting (sliders) to fuss with. At this point time will only tell after Nov. 19th what’s going to happen graphically with our consoles after we buy 2024 and install it.
Sorry, I really don’t understand how my post saying I am genuinely sorry that Xbox visuals have been downgraded and I have empathy because pc visuals have also been downgraded was removed?
Basically with Xbox, its a memory graphical issue, and I might add a 3rd party issue. It’s all about software, less hardware being the issue. IMO
You can do what you like but it is actually possible to have good experiences with the XBX. I fly the default C152 exclusively now and framerate is always smooth and scenery is often quite good. For example, the latest world update Dublin just today:
If anyone cares to try: do a complete reinstall of the game/sim. It can help (imo).
and then keep things simple at first. I have literally hundreds of addon airports but only a few airplanes. Until FS2024 comes along, Im content with small simple GA. YMMV.
I have live traffic turned off. I use AI traffic. I cannot do multiplayer because I dont have game pass. Live weather doesnt seem to influence scenery – it just looks bad so i use presets.
Agreed. The issues for me started after SU15. I’ve reset both my “S” and my “X” consoles and that seemed to work…BUT…I did notice a LOD issue and the scenery fluctuating as I pass by, say mountains and there are still some popping scenery tiles in some places (cant remember off the top of my head what areas). I “May” invest in a “NEW” console once I find out what the internals are compared to what we have now. But for the interim, I’ll just fly the way it is with everything turned off. It’s still IMO visually stunning just with a nice airplane in an ugly world. lol. You have to compensate sometimes to be able to continue enjoying the hobby in what ever shape or form you can.
It isn’t a console issue, something was downgraded, looks like for the S, and the X somehow got the downgrade too. 
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Yeah, it’s not a console issue. The sim can run perfectly well this had been evident from the begging (early days of the sim)
Again, it’s probably because of the implementation of the memory management system that is drawing back the visual fidelity because it believes it may be close to a crash because of memory issues, either the user is using a complex payware aircraft or has lots memory hogging payware airports.
Maybe the MMS needs to be better optimised, I don’t know? All I do know it was implemented because of the large amount of system hogging addons, which have been badly optimised for the Xbox, and people were without a knowledge installing them and found that they caused black screens, cdt etc.
Instead of the devs saying you need to have a limit of payware addons (which would mean less Xbox users buying on marketplace not good for business) they implement a system that sucks the visual life out the sim when it senses a crash and it could be working overtime when it doesn’t need to, I obviously have no idea, but that’s a hunch.
BTW, when you fly over the new PG of London it looks amazing because it’s been very well optimised with an already fixed exceptionably large draw distance.
The issue is when you fly outside PG areas.
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