See the expected MSFS 2024 FPS on PS5 and PS5 Pro, when 60 FPS is possible, why frames drop, and how VRR and 120 Hz help.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is designed around a 30 FPS baseline on PS5. PS5 Pro offers more headroom and steadier performance, and either console may run above 30 FPS with compatible high-frame-rate output and VRR, but a locked 60 FPS is not guaranteed in demanding aircraft, airports, traffic or weather.
PS5 and PS5 Pro frame-rate expectations
| Console | What to expect | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 | About 30 FPS as the normal baseline, with higher rates possible when high-frame-rate output and a suitable display are used | Complex airports, glass-cockpit airliners, traffic and dense scenery can pull performance below the target |
| PS5 Pro | A steadier 30 FPS and generally higher unlocked performance than the standard PS5 | It is not a guaranteed locked-60-FPS version; CPU-heavy situations can still cause drops |
The important distinction is between a target and a locked result. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 continuously changes its workload as scenery, weather, traffic and cockpit systems are processed, so there is no honest single FPS figure that applies to every flight.
PS5 Pro's extra graphics headroom can improve consistency or image quality, but it cannot remove every simulation bottleneck. Our wider assessment of PS5 and PS5 Pro performance in demanding scenarios covers the practical differences beyond the headline frame rate.
Does MSFS 2024 run at 60 FPS on PS5 Pro?
MSFS 2024 can reach or approach 60 FPS in less demanding situations on PS5 Pro, but players should not expect a constant 60 FPS everywhere.
A rural flight in a simple aircraft is much lighter than operating a systems-heavy airliner at a major airport with live weather and traffic. The latter can become limited by simulation and main-thread work, so reducing graphical load alone does not necessarily restore 60 FPS.
The same caveat applies to standard PS5, where output above 30 FPS is possible under suitable conditions but should not be treated as the normal locked result. For context on the larger performance gap, see our PS5, PS5 Pro and high-end PC comparison.
Do VRR and a 120 Hz television increase the FPS?
VRR and 120 Hz output do not create performance, but they can display frame rates above 30 FPS more smoothly and make fluctuations less obvious.
- VRR synchronises the display with the console's changing frame delivery, reducing visible tearing and judder.
- 120 Hz output gives the console more flexibility in presenting frames, but it does not mean the simulator is rendering at 120 FPS.
- Frame pacing still matters: a stable 30 FPS can look smoother than an erratic higher average.
Enable VRR and 120 Hz output in the PS5 display settings if the television or monitor supports them, use its low-latency Game mode, and disable television motion interpolation. Motion smoothing can make an FPS display appear higher by inserting generated television frames, while also adding control latency.
PS5 does not provide the same arbitrary driver-level FPS cap controls available on a PC. Our explanation of console frame-rate limits, VRR and 120 Hz behaviour covers that distinction in more detail.
Why does the frame rate drop at some airports?
The heaviest MSFS 2024 scenes combine detailed scenery with substantial aircraft, traffic, weather and streaming workloads.
- Large handcrafted airports with dense terminal geometry
- Airliners running multiple cockpit displays and complex systems
- Live or AI traffic, ground vehicles and multiplayer aircraft
- Dense cities, photogrammetry and low-altitude flying
- Cloud-heavy weather and poor visibility
- Scenery or terrain arriving late because of an unstable connection
Network problems usually cause delayed scenery, pauses or loading artefacts rather than a permanently lower rendered frame rate. A common mistake is blaming every hitch on the GPU when inconsistent frame delivery or streamed data is the real cause. If the FPS appears high but movement still looks uneven, our guide to diagnosing choppy simulation at high FPS explains the frame-pacing side.
How can I get smoother performance on PS5?
- Enable VRR and 120 Hz output if both the console and display support them.
- Use the simulator's performance-oriented option if one is available in the installed update; mode names and choices can change between simulator updates.
- Reduce traffic first when major airports perform poorly. Live, AI and ground traffic can create substantial simulation load.
- Compare like with like by testing the same aircraft, airport, weather and camera view. An external view over open countryside is not a useful comparison with an airliner cockpit at a hub.
- Judge consistency, not the peak. Stable frame pacing during approaches and taxiing matters more than briefly touching 60 FPS at cruise altitude.