Compare MSFS 2024 on PS5 and PC for graphics, performance, mods, controls and VR, with a clear verdict for each type of simmer.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is better on PC for maximum graphics, VR, specialist flight controls, third-party add-ons and configuration freedom, provided the computer is powerful enough. PS5 is better for simple setup, predictable performance and less hardware fuss. For serious simming, choose PC; for convenient couch flying, choose PS5.
This comparison applies specifically to MSFS 2024, released for PS5 and PS5 Pro on 8 December 2025. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released on PlayStation.
MSFS 2024 on PS5 vs PC at a glance
| Feature | PC | PS5 and PS5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics | Can exceed the console versions with sufficiently powerful hardware and carefully tuned settings | Fixed, developer-tuned presentation with fewer graphics controls |
| Performance | Ranges from poor to excellent depending on the CPU, GPU, memory, storage and settings | More predictable because every console has known hardware |
| Add-ons | Marketplace products, Community-folder packages and compatible external utilities | Approved in-sim Marketplace content only |
| Flight controls | Broadest choice of yokes, throttles, pedals, panels and home-cockpit equipment | DualSense plus accessories explicitly compatible with PlayStation |
| VR | Established PC VR support with headset-specific tuning | PSVR2 support is being added through a free 2026 update |
| Maintenance | May require driver updates, graphics tuning and peripheral troubleshooting | Little system-level configuration |
Does MSFS 2024 look and run better on PC?
A strong gaming PC can make MSFS 2024 look and run better than PS5, but PC is not automatically the faster platform. Higher resolution, denser terrain detail, longer object draw distances and demanding weather settings can quickly expose CPU, GPU or video-memory limits.
A machine near the minimum specification may deliver a worse experience than PS5, especially around detailed airports and busy cities. Before choosing PC, compare the whole system against our practical breakdown of the PC hardware MSFS needs; buying on GPU model alone is a mistake we see constantly.
PS5 trades that scalability for consistency. There are fewer settings to misconfigure, no graphics-driver maintenance and no uncertainty about component balance. PS5 Pro supplies stronger hardware than the base console, but it remains a closed console version rather than a substitute for PC-level graphics control.
Both platforms depend heavily on online world data. A console will not cure slow terrain streaming, server congestion or a weak home connection, just as an expensive PC cannot compensate for them.
Can you install PC mods on the PS5 version?
No. PC wins this comparison by the widest margin because it can use compatible Community-folder add-ons and external utilities as well as the in-sim Marketplace. Our MSFS freeware and mod library is therefore most useful to PC pilots with access to the simulator's package folders.
PS5 add-ons must be distributed through the simulator's approved Marketplace. That is simpler and reduces manual installation problems, but the selection is narrower because packages requiring external programs, custom installers or unrestricted file access cannot work like their PC equivalents. Our guide to buying and managing Marketplace content on PS5 explains the console process and its restrictions.
Do not assume that every MSFS add-on is available on both platforms or that a purchase automatically transfers between PC and PlayStation. Check the product's stated platform support before paying. PC users should also confirm explicit MSFS 2024 compatibility, since older packages may need an update even when they worked in MSFS 2020.
Which platform is better for controllers and flight hardware?
PC is the safer choice for specialist controls and home-cockpit equipment. It supports a much broader range of yokes, sticks, throttles, rudder pedals, button panels and configuration software, although individual devices can still need updated drivers or manual control bindings.
PS5 is well suited to flying from the DualSense controller and can use supported console accessories. The key word is supported: a USB connector does not guarantee PlayStation compatibility, so verify the exact device and PS5 support before buying it. Pilots deciding between conventional inputs can also use our controller and keyboard comparison for MSFS 2024.
What about VR on PS5 and PC?
PC is the stronger VR choice because it already provides headset support, adjustable rendering settings and more hardware options. It also demands substantially more performance than flying on a monitor, so a PC that handles ordinary cockpit views well may still struggle in VR.
PSVR2 support for the PlayStation version arrives through a free update in 2026. Check that the required update has reached your installation before choosing PS5 specifically for virtual reality; the headset cannot make ordinary flat-screen PS5 software run in native VR by itself.
Should you buy MSFS 2024 on PS5 or PC?
- Choose PC if you want the best possible visuals, freeware and third-party add-ons, PC VR, specialist controls or detailed graphics tuning.
- Choose PS5 if you already own the console, mainly fly with a controller and prefer fixed hardware with minimal setup.
- Choose PS5 Pro if you want the strongest PlayStation option but are comfortable with the same Marketplace and peripheral restrictions as the base PS5 ecosystem.
For the broadest and most expandable flight-simulation experience, PC is the definitive choice. PS5 remains the better-value practical option when convenience matters more than mod access, peripheral choice and maximum graphical control.