MSFS 2020 was released on PC on 18 August 2020. See the later Xbox date, platform details and how it differs from MSFS 2024.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was released for Windows PC on 18 August 2020. The Xbox Series X|S version followed on 27 July 2021. Despite its common “MSFS 2020” name, Microsoft officially titled it simply Microsoft Flight Simulator; it was never released on PlayStation.
MSFS 2020 release dates by platform
The PC and Xbox versions launched almost a year apart.
| Platform | Release date | Release type |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | 18 August 2020 | Original public release |
| Xbox Series X|S | 27 July 2021 | Native console release |
| Xbox One | No native release | Later playable through cloud streaming |
| PlayStation | No release | MSFS 2020 never launched on PlayStation |
Microsoft announced the simulator on 9 June 2019, but preview builds and Insider testing before August 2020 were not the public release. Our launch-era review of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 covers what PC simmers received at release.
Did every MSFS 2020 edition launch on the same day?
Yes. The Standard, Deluxe and Premium Deluxe editions all launched on PC on 18 August 2020; the editions differed in included aircraft and airports, not their general release date.
Why is it called MSFS 2020?
“MSFS 2020” is the community’s shorthand for the simulator released in 2020, used to distinguish it from earlier titles and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The official product name omitted the year.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a separate successor rather than an update or edition of the 2020 simulator. Our guide to Microsoft Flight Simulator generations and editions explains which version is which.