I am looking at making my switch from a Series S to a PC. The biggest reason is that the Xbox can not handle add-ons… I want to enjoy some airports, scenery, etc., fully without losing avionics, etc. After spending around $40-$50 on a few items and causing issues, I do not want to keep that up.
To give you some background, the internet is NO problem. I mainly fly private aircraft (I would love to have the crj available for other flights), and typical flight time is 1:30-4 hours, not usually extending past 6 hours. I run on a Samsung Odessey G5 27" monitor, which I plan to use. (Going from a tv to a true monitor was a HUGE gameplay change in itself.)
My goal is to get a PC build that does the job WELL. I am looking for a build that will “blow my socks off” coming from an Xbox but will not leave me asking for more while playing. Pretty much, it will not take a lot to see a difference in gameplay, but I am also not building a 3D cockpit with Thrustmaster, multiple screens, every add-on known to man, etc. Let me know your thoughts so I can start this process!
Greetings BLAKxLAVENDER - I just joined this forum this morning to post the very same (well, very close to it) message. I initially started my MSFS on an Xbox X and found it way too cumbersome to operate effectively. I started MSFS way (way) back in the '80s when SubLogic owned it! I pretty much used every single version since but stopped around 2010 or so. Last year, I bought my Series X and bought my Xbox Live account to get MSFS (since I didn’t have a PC anymore - switched to Mac long ago). Fast forward - I got tired of MSFS on XBox since it wasn’t much fun without having to purchase all sorts of controllers/etc. I shelled out a bunch of money for an Alienware PC that has a ton of horsepower. I switched to Xbox GamePass for PC and love it, but I’m still paying the annoying monthly fee for it - I want to switch to the PC/Store version…
Here’s where my question differs from yours…
What happens to all of my MSFS “stuff” that’s already installed on my PC? Do I have to wipe it out and then DL the new PC/Store version all over again with all of the huge updates or will the PC/Store license simply transfer over so that I can cancel my Xbox Live service?
It is my understanding that assuming you have gamepass and xbox, you can use gamepass id to login to your PC and run the sim. You cannot however use the sim on both devices at the same time.
If you don’t have gamepass and purchased it for the PC and want to use it on xbox, then you need to purchase a gamepass id and can use the gamepass version on xbox (and PC - you will have two on PC in this case).
There are two types of Gamepass subscriptions.
One is xbox only the other one gives access to both xbox and pc, it’s called ultimate.
I would assume if one has an xbox gamepass subscription it is possible to upgrade to gamepass ultimate but I have not tried that.
So you already have MSFS on your PC via Xbox Game Pass for PC or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (which is for both PC and Xbox)?
In that case, you can outright buy MSFS from the Windows Store, and then unsubscribe from Game Pass. In that order, because if you buy while still being subscribed to Game Pass, I think you get a 20% discount. If you go that route, it is my understanding that you don’t need to reinstall. The Windows Store version and the Game Pass version are basically one and the same.
If you buy MSFS via Steam, however, you have to reinstall the game, because the Steam version is organized completely differently than the Windows Store version. Also, your in-game profile starts from scratch again. All your hours and achievements will be gone, your logbook will be empty, etc. With the Windows Store version, I think your profile should carry over from the Xbox.
The main differences between the Steam and the Windows store version are:
As said, the games files are stored differently. The Steam version is a traditional Windows program which gets installed in plain sight into your Steam Library folder. You can choose where to store that folder, and you can access (and manipulate, if you so chose) the game files at will.
The Windows Store version, however, is a “modern” Windows app, which gets installed in various hidden and locked away places all across your system drive. You can make Windows install the game files to another drive, but you can’t tell it exactly where. And you can’t really access the game files.
User files like controller profiles, settings, etc. are stored in different locations. In my opinion, the Windows Store version tries much harder to hide your files from you than the Steam version.
Purchases in the Marketplace are handled differently. In the Windows Store version, purchases made on the Xbox carry over, while in the Steam version, they don’t. Also, Marketplace purchases are not transferable between the Steam and the Windows Store version.
If the Xbox server infrastructure goes belly-up again, which has happened repeatedly in the past, you usually can’t play the Windows Store version. The Steam version is usually unaffected as far as I can tell.
Steam generally seems to be better at managing and handling the storefront and download infrastructure, as well as the DRM (digital restriction management - the thing that prevents you from playing if the store thinks your version is not legit). The Windows Store DRM infrastructure (which is embedded deeply into Windows) is known for randomly going haywire for no apparent reason and throwing cryptic errors at you, preventing you from playing. The Steam DRM infrastructure is usually quite stable.
Edit:
Last time I tried, that was possible. You have to buy one (additional) month of Game Pass Ultimate. By doing so, all your remaining months of Game Pass for PC, Game Pass for Xbox, and Xbox Live Gold you already have will be converted to Game Pass Ultimate, and added to your one purchased month.
E.g. you purchased one year of Game Pass for Xbox. After three months, you get a PC, and decide you want Game Pass Ultimate. So you buy one month of Game Pass Ultimate, and will end up with a total of 10 months of Game Pass Ultimate (9 remaining months of Game Pass for Xbox, plus the one month you purchased). Note, however, this only works once. You can’t add cheaper Game Pass for Xbox months to your existing more expensive Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
Not XB user, so not positive what is needed. But, I just moved my install from my old PC to new PC and so all you have to do is this. I deleted old PC files after downloaded new file, not sure this is applicable on XB. Oh don’t forget to move Community Folder to a separate place, before you put on new PC. After install on new PC. I created a shortcut to that location and then all I have to do is click on that it takes me there quick. I created a new folder on Desktop called “Community Folder-Backup-KEEP” and copy the CF folder stuff to it. Once updates come out to stuff in CF, install them, and then just recopy the CF stuff to the CF Backup folder. Good Luck on New PC. Mine is a beast.
Download all the Xbox Gamer stuff MS wants on new System. Account assumed.
Assuming you own game, so then you just download it to new system with the icon the step 1 starts.
XB users I think have to buy in store for stuff, now, with PC, you are free to go to various places and get “stuff” directly from the maker, better option. No more marketplace issues doing it that way. For Me, although not going to “fight in ACM” the F-14 released in the marketplace came with no weapons, but I got it from DC Designs direct, so I was able to get the weapons in the build.
After I get sim working on new pc. I go to C:/my profile/appdata/local/MicrosoftFlightSimulator, blah, blah, and copy complete folder to separate drive for a backup so I don’t have to spend day download it again if I want to reinstall. If update comes out, let sim update and once complete, then recopy that file to my backup location, for safety since SU/WU tend to break things when released.
We went the TOTAL opposite direction of my original post, but did answer a lot of questions I would have had. To backtrack, PC… what are some great recommendations that will give me the performance to handle some add-ons (Mainly airports, scenery, etc.) and provide a smooth gaming experience. If it helps, I was looking somewhere in the $1,200-$1,700USD range.
Computer Upgrade King is where I got mine, but I bought top of the line for performance. Look at the sentinel lineup and customize that till you hit your price point. You will need at least the following:
Processor=Intel I-7 or I-9 depending on speed level
Nvidia at least 3090, but 4080 would be better
32GB Memory
Primary HDD=C:\ is 1TB Nvim SSD but again 2TB would be better
Secondary HDD: at least 4 TB for backup
Active Cooling-1000 watt PS (for future upgrading if you want the headroom)
Windows 11 Home works fine, I opted for professional because that is what I am used to for diagnostic and network/server stuff you will not need.
Play around with their options, highly recommended, excellent customer support lifetime. The keyboard and mouse were in my box, but I did not order them, I guess customer appreciation, keyboard is very nice, better than my Logitech G910, quiet as well.
Here is a starter kit.
I made the choice to select a fantastic new gen CPU, at the expense of not getting a latest gen GPU to stay within budget - at 1700, without monitor and peripherals.
This still has plenty of GPU RAM and should provide a very pleasing experience. Of course, you can customize it to your liking… and select a previous gen AMD
Hope it helps.
Edit: alternative with latest generation 4070ti /12gb VRAM and a lower priced case.
. Once you get the fever resistance is futile!!