Find out when Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 needs PlayStation Plus on PS5, what works without it, and why internet is still required.
No. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 does not require PlayStation Plus on PS5 or PS5 Pro for solo flying, but it does require an internet connection. A PlayStation Plus membership is needed for online console multiplayer, including seeing and flying with other players in the shared world.
When does MSFS 2024 require PlayStation Plus?
PlayStation Plus is required only when the simulator connects you to other human pilots through PlayStation's online multiplayer.
| Activity | PS Plus required? | What you still need |
|---|---|---|
| Install and update the simulator | No | Internet access and a PlayStation Network account |
| Fly solo with streamed scenery | No | An active internet connection |
| Use live weather or real-world traffic | No | Online functionality enabled |
| See or fly with human players | Yes | PlayStation Plus and multiplayer enabled |
| Join group flights | Yes | PlayStation Plus, compatible online settings and signed-in game accounts |
Real-world air traffic and multiplayer aircraft are not the same thing. Live traffic represents actual aircraft movements controlled by the simulator; multiplayer traffic represents other simmers and therefore requires PlayStation Plus.
Does MSFS 2024 work without PS Plus?
Yes, you can fly solo without PlayStation Plus, but Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is still internet-dependent. It streams substantial world, scenery and service data rather than operating as a completely self-contained offline simulator.
An internet connection and a PlayStation Plus subscription are separate requirements. PS Plus unlocks console multiplayer; it does not provide the connection itself. Our breakdown of the native PS5 release and its internet requirements explains this distinction in more detail.
Which PlayStation Plus tier do you need?
PlayStation Plus Essential is sufficient for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 multiplayer. Extra or Premium is not required solely to fly online with other players.
The subscription does not replace ownership or another valid entitlement to the simulator. It also does not unlock aircraft, airports or other content from editions you have not purchased.
Why can’t I see other players with PS Plus active?
An active subscription alone does not guarantee that multiplayer aircraft will appear. If the shared world looks empty, check the following:
- Confirm multiplayer is enabled in the simulator's online settings rather than using a solo or offline traffic mode.
- Check account restrictions, including PlayStation privacy settings, parental controls and age-based communication limits.
- Verify the subscribed account. If another profile owns PlayStation Plus, make sure that account's console-sharing benefits are enabled on the PS5.
- Match the other pilots' session, server region and multiplayer filters. Players in different groups or incompatible visibility modes may not see one another.
- Check service connectivity. A Microsoft Flight Simulator or PlayStation Network interruption can disable multiplayer even while the subscription remains valid.
For the remaining session and visibility checks, use our multiplayer connection and group-flight checklist.