FSX Standard vs Deluxe compared: aircraft, missions, airports, G1000, Tower Controller and SDK, plus where Gold and Steam Edition fit.
FSX Deluxe contains everything in FSX Standard, then adds six aircraft, more missions, more highly detailed airports and cities, Garmin G1000-equipped cockpit variants, the multiplayer Tower Controller role and the Software Development Kit (SDK). The flight engine is the same; Deluxe mainly adds content and development or multiplayer features.
FSX Standard vs Deluxe feature comparison
| Feature | FSX Standard | FSX Deluxe |
|---|---|---|
| Default aircraft | 18 | 24 |
| Included missions | 30+ | 50+ |
| Highly detailed airports | 40 | 45 |
| Highly detailed cities | 28 | 38 |
| Garmin G1000 aircraft variants | Not included | Included for three aircraft |
| Multiplayer Tower Controller role | Not included | Included |
| Software Development Kit | Not included | Included as a separate installation |
| Core simulator and worldwide coverage | Included | The same core simulator, plus the extra content above |
These are Microsoft's advertised edition totals. Liveries and cockpit variants can produce more entries in the aircraft-selection menu, so counting thumbnails does not always reproduce those figures. We recommend checking our edition-by-edition list of default FSX aircraft if a particular model matters to you.
Does FSX Deluxe look or fly better?
FSX Deluxe does not use a superior flight model or a different graphics engine. Standard and Deluxe share the same underlying simulator, weather system, worldwide scenery and graphics settings.
Deluxe does include several additional highly detailed airports and cities, so those specific locations contain more custom detail. Its extra aircraft and G1000 cockpits also change what you can fly, but Deluxe is not a general graphics, performance or frame-rate upgrade.
Do FSX add-ons require Deluxe?
Most complete FSX aircraft and scenery add-ons do not require Deluxe, but their stated prerequisites still matter. Three distinctions cause repeated installation problems:
- Repaints are not complete aircraft. A livery made for a Deluxe-only default aircraft will not work in Standard unless the required base aircraft is present.
- Acceleration is separate from Deluxe. An add-on requiring FSX Acceleration or the later simulator update level is not satisfied merely by owning Deluxe.
- The SDK is for content creation. Ordinary users generally do not need it to install aircraft or scenery, but developers using Microsoft's original tools need Deluxe or a package containing the appropriate SDK components.
Both boxed editions can be patched to the same core service-pack level. For an original disc installation, follow the proper order beginning with our boxed-copy SP1 installation steps; then apply SP2 or Acceleration as required by the add-on and installation type.
How do FSX Gold and Steam Edition fit in?
FSX Gold is a bundle containing Deluxe and the Acceleration expansion, rather than another reduced or enhanced base edition. Our comparison of Gold with the other boxed FSX packages explains what Acceleration adds beyond Deluxe.
FSX: Steam Edition also packages Deluxe and Acceleration content into one product, so there is no separate Standard-versus-Deluxe choice within the Steam release. Our review of the Steam release and its included content gives the relevant edition figures and feature differences.
The Deluxe Tower Controller feature still depends on a compatible multiplayer session. Owning Deluxe does not restore the boxed version's retired legacy online service, although compatible networking arrangements may still expose the role.
Can FSX Standard be upgraded to Deluxe?
There is no setting or small downloadable unlock that turns boxed FSX Standard into Deluxe. The Deluxe, Gold or Steam package must be installed under its own valid licence to obtain the additional aircraft, missions, G1000 variants, Tower Controller role and SDK.
Avoid copying individual Deluxe aircraft folders into Standard. Gauges, effects and other dependencies may be absent, and the files remain part of the licensed Deluxe content. When boxed FSX and Steam Edition coexist, older add-on installers can also select the wrong FSX installation folder, so verify the destination before installing anything.
Which FSX edition should you choose?
- Keep Standard if you already own it, mainly fly third-party aircraft and do not need the Deluxe-only features. Its core simulation is not inferior.
- Choose Deluxe when comparing boxed editions and you want the extra default content, G1000 variants, Tower Controller role or SDK.
- Choose Gold or Steam Edition if you also need Acceleration aircraft, missions and compatibility. Deluxe by itself does not include the Acceleration expansion.