MSFS 2020 vs 40th Anniversary Edition: what differs?
MSFS 2020 and the 40th Anniversary Edition are the same simulator. See what the free 2022 update added and which paid content remains separate.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition is not a separate simulator from Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. It is MSFS 2020 after the free 40th Anniversary Update released in November 2022, with helicopters, gliders, historic aircraft and other content added. Existing 2020 owners received it without buying a new edition.
Is the 40th Anniversary Edition a separate game?
No: both names refer to the same MSFS 2020 software generation. Microsoft changed the product branding after the anniversary update, so a library or installation may say 40th Anniversary Edition even if the original purchase was simply called Microsoft Flight Simulator.
| Name | What it means |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 | The simulator released in August 2020, originally sold in Standard, Deluxe and Premium Deluxe editions. |
| 40th Anniversary Edition | The same simulator with the free November 2022 anniversary update and accumulated free content. |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | A separate successor, not another name for the 40th Anniversary Edition. |
The anniversary refers to the Microsoft Flight Simulator series, which began in 1982—not to 40 years since MSFS 2020. Our breakdown of Flight Simulator versions and edition names explains the wider product family.
What did the 40th Anniversary Edition add?
The 40th Anniversary Update added 12 aircraft, native helicopter and glider support, historic airports, heliports, glider airfields and missions inspired by earlier Flight Simulator releases.
- Airliner: Airbus A310-300.
- Helicopters: Bell 407 and Guimbal Cabri G2.
- Gliders: DG-1001E neo and LS8-18.
- Historic aircraft: seven machines including the Wright Flyer, Spirit of St. Louis, Douglas DC-3, de Havilland Beaver and Hughes H-4 Hercules.
The branding also followed the earlier Game of the Year update. Compared with launch-day MSFS 2020, every fully updated edition therefore gained 17 free aircraft in total: five from Game of the Year and 12 from the anniversary update. See our aircraft list arranged by MSFS 2020 edition for the exact Standard, Deluxe and Premium Deluxe differences. We also cover the included helicopters and their edition requirements.
Does 40th Anniversary include Deluxe or Premium Deluxe content?
No. The free anniversary update did not upgrade a Standard licence to Deluxe or Premium Deluxe.
| Original licence | After the anniversary update | Paid entitlement retained |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Standard 40th Anniversary Edition | Standard content only |
| Deluxe | Deluxe 40th Anniversary Edition | Standard and Deluxe content |
| Premium Deluxe | Premium Deluxe 40th Anniversary Edition | All original Premium Deluxe content |
A common mistake is treating “40th Anniversary” as a fourth, higher tier. It describes the updated release, while Standard, Deluxe and Premium Deluxe still determine access to the original paid aircraft and handcrafted airports.
Why is my 40th Anniversary content missing?
Missing aircraft usually mean that the simulator client was updated but one or more in-sim content packages were not installed, or the simulator is using a different account from the one holding the licence.
- Update the simulator client through the platform where MSFS 2020 was installed.
- Complete the in-simulator update when prompted after launch.
- Check Content Manager for available updates and uninstalled owned packages.
- Confirm the signed-in account matches the account that owns the base simulator and any Deluxe or Premium Deluxe upgrade.
- Temporarily empty the Community folder if an old add-on causes loading problems after the update.
If the library now displays “40th Anniversary Edition”, do not reinstall merely because the name changed. It is the expected MSFS 2020 product name; our MSFS 2020 installation guide explains how the library entry and in-simulator download fit together.