Compare MSFS 2020 vs 2024 on Xbox Series S for graphics, FPS, storage, streaming, add-ons and Career Mode, with a clear recommendation.
On Xbox Series S, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the better choice for most new buyers: it adds Career Mode, improved flight physics, richer ground detail and a much smaller initial installation. MSFS 2020 remains sensible if you mainly free-fly, rely on older add-ons or have an unreliable internet connection.
MSFS 2020 vs 2024 on Series S at a glance
On Series S, MSFS 2024 adds more simulation and activity features, while MSFS 2020 offers the more established add-on environment.
| Area | MSFS 2020 | MSFS 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Flying activities | Free Flight, bush trips, landing challenges and discovery flights | Career Mode, missions and new activities alongside Free Flight |
| Flight simulation | Mature flight model with quality varying by aircraft | Updated aerodynamics, ground handling and surface interaction |
| World graphics | Streamed global scenery using the older terrain and vegetation systems | More detailed terrain, vegetation and ground systems, scaled to Series S hardware |
| Installation | Larger local installation, although world imagery still streams | Smaller initial client with more content delivered on demand |
| Performance | Targets 30 FPS but can dip at complex airports or in demanding aircraft | Also targets 30 FPS and remains vulnerable to busy hubs, traffic and complex cockpits |
| Add-ons | Established Xbox Marketplace library | Many compatible purchases can carry forward, but not every package is guaranteed to work |
Aircraft and handcrafted-airport selections also depend on the edition you own, so compare equivalent editions rather than mistaking an edition difference for a generation change. Our broader comparison of MSFS 2020 and 2024 covers features that are not specific to Series S.
Does MSFS 2024 look and run better on Series S?
MSFS 2024 can look better on Xbox Series S, but it does not consistently run faster than MSFS 2020. Its newer world systems produce richer scenes, while the console dynamically scales detail, resolution and object distance to remain within the Series S graphics and memory budget.
Both versions aim for 30 FPS. Dense handcrafted airports, glass-cockpit airliners, live traffic and difficult weather can cause frame-rate drops in either simulator; our guide to MSFS 2024 frame-rate expectations on Series S explains where those dips are most likely. The console version also lacks the full PC graphics menu, so there are fewer settings available for trading image quality against performance.
A useful test is to load the same airport, weather and default aircraft in each simulator. If performance falls only with a complex airliner, the aircraft and avionics are probably the limiting factors; if every aircraft struggles at that airport, scenery, traffic or streaming is more likely responsible. Reducing AI and ground traffic can help at CPU-heavy hubs.
Do not expect Series S to match Series X merely because both run the same simulator. The practical differences in memory headroom, dense scenery and image quality are covered in our Series X versus Series S hardware comparison.
How do storage and internet use differ?
MSFS 2024 starts with a smaller local footprint because it streams more aircraft, scenery and world content on demand. That saves internal storage initially, but installed add-ons and reserved or cached data still grow over time.
MSFS 2020 keeps more core content locally, although photogrammetry and high-quality world imagery still need an internet connection. On slow, unstable or capped broadband, 2020 can therefore feel more predictable; neither version displays its full online world without reliable streaming.
A mistake we see constantly is treating every soft texture as a Series S graphics limitation. If the frame rate remains steady but terrain stays blurry or objects appear late, check the console connection and the simulator's online world-data options. When live weather, multiplayer, Marketplace content or scenery streaming stops responding after Quick Resume, fully quit the simulator from the Xbox dashboard and relaunch it.
Will MSFS 2020 add-ons work in MSFS 2024?
Many Xbox Marketplace purchases can carry forward, but compatibility is not automatic for every MSFS 2020 add-on. A package may need a developer update or approval for MSFS 2024, and older aircraft or airports can remain unavailable or behave differently.
Xbox users cannot copy PC packages into a Community folder; console add-ons must come through the in-simulator Marketplace. We recommend keeping MSFS 2020 installed until you have checked the aircraft and airports that matter to you. Treat control bindings, sensitivity and assistance options as a fresh setup as well.
MSFS 2024 is a separate product rather than a patch for MSFS 2020. See the separate-product and compatible-content implications before removing the older installation.
Which version should you choose on Xbox Series S?
Choose MSFS 2024 for a fresh start; keep or use MSFS 2020 when proven add-on compatibility and predictable Free Flight matter more.
- Choose MSFS 2024 if you want Career Mode, mission-based flying, the updated flight model, newer world technology and a smaller initial installation. It is the stronger long-term choice when your broadband connection is reliable.
- Stay with MSFS 2020 if it already runs well, your favourite Marketplace aircraft or airports are not confirmed for 2024, or you mainly use Free Flight and do not need the career system.
- Keep both temporarily if storage permits and add-on compatibility is uncertain. Test your essential aircraft, airports, controls and online connection in 2024 before uninstalling 2020.
For most Series S owners starting from scratch, MSFS 2024 offers the better overall simulator. Its advantages are features, physics and world detail—not guaranteed higher FPS—and MSFS 2020 remains a valid choice for established installations built around known-compatible content.