Compare Microsoft Flight Simulator X editions: Standard, Deluxe, Acceleration, Gold and Steam, including service packs and the best choice.
Microsoft Flight Simulator X was released as boxed Standard and Deluxe editions, the boxed Acceleration expansion, the Gold Edition bundle, and the later standalone FSX: Steam Edition. Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2 are updates, not separate editions. Gold combines Deluxe with Acceleration; Steam Edition broadly packages the same core content digitally.
Microsoft Flight Simulator X editions compared
The key distinction is that Acceleration requires boxed FSX, while Gold and Steam Edition provide the more complete Deluxe-and-Acceleration content set.
| Edition or product | Format | What it contains |
|---|---|---|
| FSX Standard Edition | Boxed DVDs | The original base simulator with fewer aircraft, missions and detailed airports than Deluxe. |
| FSX Deluxe Edition | Boxed DVDs | The expanded base simulator, adding aircraft, missions, detailed scenery and software development kit components. |
| FSX Acceleration | Boxed expansion | An expansion requiring an existing boxed Standard or Deluxe installation. It adds aircraft, missions, scenery and SP2-era simulator updates. |
| FSX Gold Edition | Boxed bundle | Deluxe Edition and the Acceleration expansion sold together. It normally installs in two stages: FSX Deluxe first, then Acceleration. |
| FSX: Steam Edition | Standalone digital release | Includes the Deluxe and Acceleration content in a modified Steam build. It does not require any boxed edition. |
Some regional or second-hand listings use Professional Edition for the Deluxe-level boxed package. Check the discs and included content rather than assuming it is another distinct simulator version.
Aircraft differ considerably between packages. Our edition-by-edition FSX aircraft list shows what Standard, Deluxe, Acceleration, Gold and Steam Edition include.
Is FSX Gold Edition the same as Steam Edition?
FSX Gold and FSX: Steam Edition contain broadly the same Deluxe-and-Acceleration aircraft, missions and scenery, but they are not the same software build.
Gold installs the original boxed executables and expansion from DVDs. Steam Edition is a standalone digital build with Steam-based distribution, revised multiplayer support and compatibility changes. Older add-on installers may recognise boxed FSX but fail to locate Steam Edition because they expect a different installation path or registry entry.
Our detailed breakdown of Standard, Deluxe, Acceleration and Gold explains the boxed packages, while the boxed-versus-Steam comparison covers installation and add-on differences.
Are FSX service packs separate editions?
Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2 patch boxed FSX; they do not add the complete Acceleration expansion or turn Standard into Deluxe.
- Boxed FSX without Acceleration: install Service Pack 1 followed by Service Pack 2 if the installation is still at its original release level.
- Boxed FSX with Acceleration: install the base simulator and then Acceleration. The expansion includes the relevant service-pack-level core updates, so separate SP installers are normally unnecessary.
- FSX Gold Edition: install its Deluxe component first and Acceleration second.
- FSX: Steam Edition: use the Steam build as supplied. Do not apply boxed FSX service packs or install boxed Acceleration over it.
A common mistake is calling Deluxe with Service Pack 2 “Gold”. It is still Deluxe and lacks the Acceleration aircraft, missions and other expansion content. If using the physical expansion, follow our modern Windows installation procedure for FSX Acceleration.
Was there a 64-bit version of FSX?
No Microsoft Flight Simulator X edition is 64-bit, including FSX: Steam Edition.
Every FSX release is a 32-bit Windows application. Running it on 64-bit Windows does not remove the simulator's 32-bit process limits. The DirectX 10 Preview option found in SP2, Acceleration and equivalent Steam installations is a rendering mode, not a 64-bit edition or a new simulator engine.
Which FSX edition should you choose?
FSX: Steam Edition is generally the simplest choice for a fresh installation, while boxed Gold remains useful when a legacy add-on specifically expects the original boxed FSX registry entries or file structure.
- Choose Steam Edition for a self-contained digital installation with Deluxe and Acceleration content.
- Choose Gold Edition if you already possess working discs and product keys, or need the original boxed environment for older add-ons.
- Choose Standard or Deluxe alone only when you already own it and do not require Acceleration-specific aircraft, objects or features.
- Check the add-on requirements first when building a period-correct installation. Labels such as “FSX SP2/Acceleration” and “FSX-SE compatible” are not always interchangeable.
Can boxed FSX and Steam Edition be installed together?
Boxed FSX and Steam Edition can coexist, but running both often creates avoidable path, registry and add-on-installer confusion.
Installers may send aircraft or scenery to the wrong copy, and configuration locations can change when Steam Edition detects boxed FSX. Unless a particular add-on requires separate installations, choose one edition and keep all of its expansions, service packs and add-ons within that environment. Never install the boxed Acceleration expansion into the Steam Edition directory.