Compare Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on Xbox vs Steam: licences, mods, VR, controls, performance, multiplayer and the best choice.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on Xbox and Steam runs the same core simulator, but Xbox provides a fixed, console-friendly setup while Steam is the Windows PC version with broader hardware, VR, graphics and add-on freedom. A Steam purchase does not include an Xbox licence, although both versions use a Microsoft account for online services.
Xbox vs Steam differences at a glance
The biggest difference is platform freedom: Steam behaves like a PC simulator, while Xbox is a managed console version.
| Feature | Xbox Series X|S | Steam on PC |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Microsoft/Xbox ecosystem, with Xbox Play Anywhere on qualifying digital purchases | Separate Steam PC licence; no Xbox console entitlement |
| Add-ons | In-simulator Marketplace content only | Marketplace, Community-folder packages and compatible external installers |
| Graphics | Console-optimised profile with limited adjustment | Detailed graphics, resolution and performance controls |
| VR | No VR support on Xbox | Compatible PC VR headsets are supported |
| Controls | Gamepad, keyboard, mouse and supported console flight hardware | Much wider choice of yokes, throttles, pedals, panels and utilities |
| Maintenance | Simpler installation and predictable hardware | More control, but drivers, Windows settings and hardware performance matter |
| Multiplayer | Cross-platform Microsoft online services | Cross-platform Microsoft online services |
Does buying MSFS 2024 on Steam include Xbox?
No. A Steam purchase is a Windows PC licence and cannot be installed as an owned game on an Xbox console, even when both installations use the same Microsoft account.
A qualifying digital Microsoft/Xbox Store purchase supports Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing the Xbox and Windows Xbox-app versions under the same Microsoft account. Steam sits outside that cross-buy arrangement. Our comparison of Steam and Microsoft Store ownership explains the account, add-on and switching implications in more detail.
Eligible Game Pass subscriptions may provide access through the Xbox ecosystem, but they do not grant a Steam copy. If the subscription ends, continued access requires another eligible subscription or a purchased licence.
Can Xbox and Steam players fly together?
Yes. Xbox and Steam users can share Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 multiplayer sessions because online identity and multiplayer are handled through Microsoft services rather than isolated Steam-only servers.
If a friend does not appear, add their Microsoft/Xbox profile rather than relying only on the Steam friends list. Both players should also check that multiplayer and online data are enabled, that privacy settings permit multiplayer, and that they are using compatible server-region and traffic settings.
Cross-platform multiplayer does not mean cross-buy. It also does not guarantee that every setting, control binding, edition entitlement or third-party purchase will transfer between installations.
Do Xbox and Steam have the same aircraft and add-ons?
The included aircraft and scenery are broadly the same when the same MSFS 2024 edition is compared, but add-on support differs sharply.
Xbox users install content through the simulator's Marketplace. They cannot copy packages into a Community folder or run separate Windows companion programmes. Marketplace products must also be approved and compatible with Xbox, so an aircraft or utility available on PC may be absent from the console catalogue. See our explanation of why manual Community-folder mods cannot be installed on Xbox.
Steam users can combine Marketplace products with freeware packages, liveries, scenery and aircraft placed in the PC installation's Community folder. They can also use compatible external planning tools, hardware software and network clients. Steam does not turn ordinary MSFS add-ons into Steam Workshop items; most manually installed packages still use the simulator's own package folders.
Do not assume an add-on will transfer merely because both versions use the same Microsoft account. Marketplace availability depends on the product's licence and platform compatibility, while externally installed PC add-ons never transfer to Xbox.
Performance, controls and VR
Neither platform is automatically faster: Xbox offers predictable performance, while Steam performance depends entirely on the PC, display resolution and selected graphics settings.
Xbox Series X has more hardware headroom than Series S, but both avoid the uncertainty of matching processors, graphics cards, memory and drivers. A suitable PC can exceed the console experience, reduce settings to recover frame rate, support specialist displays and run VR. A weak or poorly configured PC can perform worse than either console.
Xbox accepts a useful range of flight controllers, but compatibility must be confirmed for the exact device and console. Steam on Windows supports a much broader range of yokes, throttles, rudder pedals, switch panels and manufacturer configuration tools. Our practical Xbox-versus-PC hardware comparison covers these limitations without assuming that PC is always the better value.
Should you choose Xbox or Steam for MSFS 2024?
Choose Xbox for simplicity and Steam for maximum control over hardware and add-ons.
- Choose Xbox if you want a living-room setup, predictable hardware, minimal maintenance, Game Pass access or an Xbox Play Anywhere licence shared with the Windows Xbox app.
- Choose Steam if you have a suitable gaming PC and want Community-folder add-ons, external utilities, VR, more graphics options or specialist flight controls.
- Choose the Microsoft/Xbox Store PC version instead of Steam if owning one digital licence across Xbox and Windows matters more than keeping the simulator in your Steam library.
A mistake we see constantly is comparing the Standard edition on one platform with a higher edition on the other, then attributing the extra aircraft to Xbox or Steam. Compare like for like first; our guide to the aircraft, airports and licensing included with each MSFS 2024 edition separates the edition decision from the platform decision.