See which Microsoft Flight Simulator versions came on disc, what boxed copies include, and why physical editions still need large downloads.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is not exclusively download-only. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was sold as a boxed PC edition on ten dual-layer DVDs, and disc editions were also sold for Xbox Series X in some markets. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is primarily digital and has no equivalent multi-DVD PC installer.
Which Microsoft Flight Simulator versions are available on disc?
The clearest physical PC release is the boxed edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 distributed in selected markets. Availability differs by country, platform and edition, particularly when buying remaining stock or second-hand copies.
| Version and platform | Physical-media status | What the box provides |
|---|---|---|
| MSFS 2020 on PC | Yes, in selected markets | Ten dual-layer DVDs, an activation key and the original release data. Online activation and later updates are still required. |
| MSFS 2020 on Xbox | Disc copies were sold for Xbox Series X in some markets | The disc acts as physical installation and licence media, but updates must still be downloaded. Xbox Series S cannot read discs. |
| MSFS 2024 on PC | No equivalent full DVD installer | PC editions are digitally installed. A collector-style box may contain a digital code and physical extras rather than game discs. |
| MSFS 2024 on consoles | Depends on edition and territory | Check whether the product explicitly includes a game disc. “Boxed”, “physical edition” and “code in a box” do not necessarily mean the same thing. |
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released for PlayStation, so a listing claiming to be a PlayStation disc of the 2020 version is incorrect. For the legitimate formats and edition differences, see our breakdown of MSFS 2024 buying options.
Do not confuse these releases with Microsoft Flight Simulator X. FSX is an older simulator commonly found on DVD, and our comparison of FSX with MSFS 2020 and 2024 explains the practical differences.
Does the physical version work without internet?
A physical Microsoft Flight Simulator edition does not remove the need for an internet connection. The discs can supply original installation files, but account activation, mandatory updates and additional content still require downloads.
Online scenery streaming, live weather and other connected services also depend on the internet. Some previously installed content can be used offline, but a boxed copy is not a permanently offline, disc-only simulator.
The boxed PC edition of MSFS 2020 normally uses Disc 1 as a licence check when the simulator starts. If it unexpectedly reports “Please insert game disc”, follow our checks for the MSFS 2020 game-disc error; the correct fix differs between DVD and digital licences.
Should you buy the disc or digital version?
Choose the boxed MSFS 2020 PC edition only if you specifically want the physical release, have a compatible DVD drive and accept that substantial online updates remain necessary. Installing ten DVDs is not automatically faster than downloading the digital edition.
- Choose digital for MSFS 2024 on PC: there is no comparable multi-DVD installer, and the simulator is designed around downloaded and streamed content.
- Choose a console disc when physical ownership matters: confirm that the package contains an actual game disc and that your console has a compatible drive.
- Do not buy physical merely to avoid downloads: every modern edition receives mandatory patches, while aircraft, airports and world data may add further downloads.
- Check the region and platform carefully: a PC activation code, Xbox disc and PlayStation disc are not interchangeable.
Can you safely buy a used boxed copy?
A used PC box is risky because its activation key may already be redeemed and the DVDs alone may not provide a usable licence. The same warning applies to collector packages containing a digital code rather than a licence-bearing disc.
Before buying, verify the exact simulator year, platform, region, included media and whether any product key remains unused. A mistake we see constantly is treating a photograph of a retail box as proof that it contains the complete game on disc; the format description matters more than the packaging.