Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: A Detailed Analysis

Hmm...I just feel this is directed more towards Xbox players..concentrating on Missions, etc..turning t more into a game. I won't be an early adopter put it that way...but we'll see.

Let’s hope that that new release from Microsoft can, in all aspects connect with “real” fly simulators officially accept by governments (like FAA, for instance), we also provide the power to be used as a simulation machine that contributes to an official acceptance for those entities and, so, making the flying future be more accessible to the communities, especially the youngsters,

What is the minimum computer specification or what is the recommended specification to effectively run this new release - 2024 Microsoft Flight Simulator?

1. Are there to be any more new aircraft included in MSFS2024
2. Is there a projected price for this new program?

I have over 2000 hours in MSFS in VR. Will 2024 have VR? Is there a new operating engine to accommodate all the new animation and graphics? Will we need to transfer ALL the community folders to 2024?

Thank You. John.

In all honesty, what keeps me flying MSFS2020 are the amazingly natural satellite map textures, in terms of flying techniques I was much more satisfied with my beloved FSX, whose discs I treasure.

Regarding the future MSFS2024, when the time comes I will see what decision I make, if it becomes oriented towards a game and stops being a simulator, I will automatically reinstall my old FSX.

I will also see the investment issue, I live in a country submerged in continuous economic crises and a change of PC is not contemplated at the moment. I'm flattered that you requested my humble opinion. Thank you very much and receive my respects.

Once again a new flight simulator is released by Microsoft (Asebo) which is full of promises, this was the same with the impending release in 2020 for Microsoft Simulator 2020, now nearly 3 years later there are still numerous bugs in 2020, that still have to be fixed. I will wait and see as it is once again a release full of promise, but will they deliver?

I hope the Grumman Aa1 and Aa5 will be included or available as built-in or as add-ons. I use VR and a 3-D sim to enhance the experience. I fly in real life for CAP and own a C172 and a Grumman Aa1 with a tail wheel and GRT glass panel.

I'm an EAA Member and also fly for Angel Flight. The sim lets me stay current and practice my flight maneuvers. It should be an acceptable platform for FAA IFR currency.

My comment is still the same as 3 years ago... since Micro Soft won't let me download the game because of an uncorrectable password issue... I'd like to find somewhere else to pay and download it but so far no luck.

Although I am only running MFS 2020 with upgrades I find the program fabulous, and the scenery is always great. I live in Queensland Australia and do most of my flying on the East Coast, I have added the third-party program allowing me to add everything into my Airports such as new Airports, Aircraft, and Airport equipment.

I have just finished adding on the new Brisbane BNE North East runway complete with taxis and get-offs, and the new runway is recognized by the Control Tower, also added the Brisbane shipping port and the new Cruiseship Terminal at Luggage Point in the Brisbane River. I am retired and find Microsoft Flight Sim and Fly Away Simulations to be wonderful entertainment.

I’m hoping the product graphics do not require $1,000-$2,000 USD graphics cards with massive onboard Vid RAM to render the world as real as they appear in MS previews. Additionally, I am a CFS2 simmer as well as FSX. I would like to see a very upgraded CFS2-type sim released with the graphics and flight modeling available today. October will mark CFS2’s 23rd birthday.

Please give us some airlines at launch across both PC users and Xbox. Not having airliners or high-quality airliners in flight same is shameful to the flight sim community.

Give the deluxe owners more content across the board.

Work with developers and help them where you can when problems arise.

Airline missions and airline fly-ins/events.

More airliners

MD-80 series

CRJ series jets

MD-11

757

A380 or have plans to allow developers to import their planes to the store…it’s ridiculous that pc gets free planes from developers that are funded by the flight sim community but because of MSFS store policies, they can not submit to the plane to the store for free for the flight sim community for Xbox users. I’m the future allow developers to submit their products for free to the Microsoft store. Xbox users shouldn’t be punished because we choose to play the flight sim on Xbox.

I do not have the latest version of Flight Simulator therefore I cannot comment on its performance.

I too would like to understand the minimum and recommended specifications for pc builds. I'm just about to build a new desktop so I would prefer not to have a bad surprise when it is released.:-)

Time to buy a new computer again #$%.

Just wondering what the cost will be. Recently purchased MSFS2020.

WOW, nice encapsulation., MS threw the whole sim community for a roll. But, as many folks have been aboard FS since 95 or before, we old sim pilots have concerns.

1. Is this SIM, going to be "complete upon release" unlike its Predecessor, MSFS-2020, which had massive holes, mistakes, and planes which could not be flown/navigated? It took till SU05 for ILS/Vnav/Lnav to function to a limited degree in both Big Boeings. TO DATE, those planes are slated for extensive AAU updates later this month. For those who track, that is almost 3 years from the release date before those two planes can fly as they should have from the beginning.
2. I am not again going to be an "unpaid beta tester for this version". And Asobo shares some of the faults, in the beginning, when hundreds of users asked to help "Fix the mess MSFS-2020 was, they were ignored and insulted by Asobo. Many of those folks had thousands of hours in previous simulators, some were even real-world Pilots, they were insulted. "OH, WE DO NOT NEED ANY HELP FIXING THIS, NOTHING WRONG". That haughty attitude mirrors exactly what MS and many companies today are projecting, we are right, you just listen to us. Sorry, they lost me at that point. I
3. I pre-ordered MSFS-2020 and have MSFS2020, but in actuality, X-Plane 11 & 12 fly better, the controls devices work easier and better, and I get a response from CS in less than a day, even Austin Meyers answered me directly. The CEO of Asobo/MS has not done so when questions are posed. Their customer focus has been eclipsed, and this is nothing but a continuation of the money train, hooking in inexperienced young gamers. My bug report has been answered only twice. The second one to date has not been fixed, which was buildings at PMDY being gone, they were there prior to the last update, now gone.
4. For me, based on Trailer, just not excited, none of those missions/particulars inspire me to again, put off hard-earned money for maybe something vastly broken at release. Going to wait at least 6 months to see how it performs and what the community feels about its performance. I can still install FSX-AP and COF-2004, both of those work.

My gut tells me MSFS-2020 will be a done deal by the end of 2024 or the first half of 2025, as keeping alive two sims is vastly expensive. If 24 is a mess, at release, then most of the old sim pilots will not buy it, and it may bomb. So out of the gate, it had better be perfect, or as close as possible, their reputation is on the line with this one. Oh, one other thing, there had better be some written down specifications, directions, and guidelines on the settings in it, or again, not be interested. PMDG with plane 117-page introduction plus a 75-page tutorial flight document. X-Plane 12 online manual, plus other manuals to read for the FMS/C system among other things.

I hope that the acceleration-esque part has some navy carrier ops like the original acceleration. If not I don't see a reason to buy 2024 asap, personally. ...in fact, I was quite disappointed that the 2020 version did not include this.

I am "extremely" excited about this one! Looking forward to following its take-off and development.

I am interested to learn more, especially in the fields of system specs, VFR navigation add-ons, and compatibility with recreational aircraft and VATSIM. I haven't used FS for 5 years because of the deplorable quality of Windows, and my move to MACOS. If this delivers what I need, I will happily build a system to run it. I would be delighted if it didn't need Windows.

I'm finding it harder to use each Series of MS Flight Simulators as they come out. The myriad of cameras to use taking more and more keys etc are a fu.....great waste of time unless you want to make a movie. My second great beef is the complexity to get a smooth set of controls. Once you just had to connect the auto mode and your yaw, rudder, etc were nulled and most models handled perfectly. I know most joysticks etc come with a program but one still has to go through and set them up. I am coming to my late 70s and cannot program such things so my days of flight swimming are coming to an end and I have used all MSFS since inception. Cheers.

Hello, from Blind flight simmer Pilot Ron Kolesar. In short, I hope that Microsoft isn't running away by throwing a new flight sim at us. I hope that FS 2024 will finally become fully accessible to us who need a screen reader program to interact with our computer like the flight sim program FSX was.

I saw run away because we gave feedback on why fs 2020 wasn't and still isn't fully accessible and it was like don't call us, we'll call you, and don't hold your breath while waiting for our reply. A blind flight simmer pilot like the sighted world demand as close to the real world at all times as much as possible. We the blind also demand that within reason, the program also be fully accessible at the same time.

For further feedback on my comments, I gave my address which I won't post here inside the body of my letter. I welcome the opportunity to work with you on making a program that all who would love to be able to fly but can't for some medical reason can't may enjoy flying. I hope I can get my hands on a beta copy of fs 2024 or the opportunity to give feedback after stress testing fs 2024 out to give feedback on why it too may be and may not be fully accessible and if not accessible, fix those areas so that it may be a program that all will enjoy.

Very Thankfully Yours, Ron Kolesar In the flight sim world known as the Blind Pilot In the real world known as a Member of the Pennsylvania West County Amateur Radio Emergency Communication Team, also a certified Licensed Amateur Radio operator by the call sign of KR3DOG.

I don't care too much about nice graphics. That's nice for gamers. For me, it's more important how accurate the airplanes are to fly close to real airline simulators.

I would hope that the graphics would be better for the lower Delaware Bay between Lewes, Delaware, and New Jersey where the Cape May-Lewes Ferry operates and goes past two breakwaters and Lighthouses which are non-existent in FS2020 last time I checked. With the President's summer home a few miles from here, you'd think more detail would be available.

I do hope for one fundamental change in the new sim …..namely….an absence of endless updates…. :)

Of course, they are going to offer it as an all-new stand-alone product! More money in the bank. After all, they could hardly charge us for a mere upgrade.

Unfortunately, I think what is going to happen is the same thing that happened with X-Plane. I had been a steadfast X-Plane user since Austin Meyer first released X-Plane to the general public. With the advent of VR, I keep upgrading my computer and spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars to make it run well. Then they offered X-Plane 12 and I was truly excited. I purchased it and even though I had done all these upgrades to my system, X-Plane 12 ran like crap. I still have not gotten my system to the point where X-Plane 12 works half as well as MSFS2020.

I just hope the same thing doesn't happen here because a lot of people, including myself will be unable to run it without spending huge amounts of money to upgrade their systems. Only time will tell.

YOU GUYS DO A WONDERFUL JOB. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

Kevin.

MSFS2020 was for me, after flying with Microsoft since FS4, a big disappointment. A flight simulator should put full attention to flight-related details and not sideline practices.

If you have one hand on the yoke, how can you operate 2 combined keys at the same time? Why destroy the works of thousands of volunteers works by changing the structural software system of planes and sceneries? MSFS2020 is a slap in the face of the old-generation flyers, who suddenly have to learn a whole new set of commands and techniques.

Not to speak about the abnormal selection of the included airplanes. The commercial aspects of this concept have been clearly exposed and whatever changes are, or will be implemented, it can not wipe out this thinking.

It should be noted that a very big scenery club, providing free sceneries, has stopped further FSX developments in favor of P3D. Just to let you know. K/rgds.

Is this version an Xbox version only? Only missions or also having free flights?

Would love it to be released on Mac...

I have been a flight simmer for over 25 years. Have all of the Microsoft products over the years. I have spent all of my time flying military jets and commercial airliners. Today I only fly Boeing 787. And I am trying the Captain Sim 777. While I enjoy the MSFS, I wish they would spend more time and effort fully developing the functionality of these aircraft and fixing glitches. The graphics are fantastic but I spend more time in the cockpit as opposed to marveling over scenery. Make more switches functional and perfect the FMC. Thanks so much.

Looks amazing I just hope they don't spec the game so high that most people can't run it as has happened with some prior versions of the simulator. I'm all in at this point.

Surprise and concern I have a large investment in MS2020 with its 10-year plan so what happens now? Trust has gone with the belief that ms is milking me for more money. How much will it cost and what are the true add-on compatibility issues, I am not happy and feel ms and Asobo have deserted me.

It's good to see MS/Asobo continuing to work on flight simulation. My main concern is diluted support for the 2020 version and the hardware needed for the new 2024 version.

I think it will be a pc game pass from Microsoft for 15 dollars monthly. That is the mean reason I think, they call it a new sim, but after all, it is an update from the FS2020 beta.

MS24 will be for gamers and not for real virtual pilots. Not for me.

This is probably a good thing as it has the effect of separating MSFS and XPlane with one moving more to the gaming side and the other simulation. This then gives a clear choice for everyone wanting to fly Sims.

when do we get a release of the combat sim?

looks good very good but it will be all down to cost for a lot of us been with flight simm since it started, and just got a new graphics card and power pack, and at my age money is tight as most people are but I will keep an open mind and wait and see good luck with flight sim.

I hope there is an improvement in VR graphics particularly in cockpit images. Also removal of the ghosting images of small aircraft at a relatively close distance, I find 2020 very unrealistic to have the disappearing undercarriage of an aircraft on the ground and be unable to see the other light aircraft when less than a mile away just a blob of white light if anything.

I find 2020 being dragged more and more into a game since the Xbox release with add-ons like driveable cars. It's supposed to be a flight simulator, not a driving game.

Hello,

I am an enthusiastic supporter of the MSFS and am already looking forward to the new one. There is one issue that has been somewhat neglected in my view meer. There really is a sufficient collection of aircraft in the standard simulator. However, nowhere is there a description of the operating elements of the aircraft. It would be very helpful if there was a help section for each aircraft in the training section. In some aircraft, I had to search for a long time to find a handbrake, for example.

Small videos of each aircraft from take-off to landing would be really helpful. The videos on Youtube require you to go to a different place and often assume more basic knowledge. I would be pleased if attention was paid to this in the next product at the latest.

Seems promising !!! But, funny, there is no shot of any cockpit. And this is where I am stuck because I tried everything in my MSFS 2020 to no avail, I can't read the instrument panel of any of the aircraft. They are dark, even glass cockpits.

Of course, by zooming in you can see them but then, how can I roll on the ground, or see anything around? Not speaking of flying, either I see the world or my instruments. I tried to get an answer from you, from Asebo, from the forums, but nothing came back. I am using my FSX 11 and keep hoping for my MSFS. Thank you and regards, By the way, I use MSFS with the AI copilot flying and the exterior camera to see something around!

Looks great as did msfs2000 but why put all the effort into a new simulator when there are still lots of bugs in the 2000 one just a thought.

There seems to be no mention of the current 'Free Flight' option available in MSFS2020. Is that option going to be discontinued? If so then I will be sticking with MSFS2020 and NOT buying the 2024 version!

What sort of a price will 2024 be, and do you think there will be any concessions for the owners of 2020?

I am interested in 'missions', and I look forward to more of them!

A most important question remains unanswered: To run MSFS 2024, what computer performance is required?

Will there be comparability for previous MSFS2020 aircraft and add-ons?

Will it be a stand-alone program or will there be an upgrade path from MSFS 2020

Pre-list of hardware and software requirements?

Pricing?

Certainly, this feels like an expansion pack and it is becoming a better game rather than a simulation.

What is the cost of the initial installation?

MSFS2020 is certainly a game changer in flight simulation. The scenery is amazing. I have spent quite a lot of time on it now.

Not to detract from the game's great innovations, I have the following wishes that I hope will be included in FS2024:

1. I wish it doesn't take as long to boot.
2. I wish I can change aircraft mid-play.
3. I wish the "instant play-back" feature, a feature of FSX, but missing in FS2022, in which one can re-play the last few minutes of a sortie from all viewpoints, will be included in FS2024
4. I wish FS2024 supports multi-screens (I'm not a fan of VR, discussion for another time)
5. I wish the plane models are more realistic (like X plane). Currently, all FS2020 planes fly like radio control planes.
6. I wish there are more detailed explanations of technical jargon in the menu.
7. I wish the Power-input reversal for the helicopter is automatic.

I hope all the free content we have downloaded to the Community Folder will still work in FS2024.

As always, Microcost is the King of advertising, the King of dreams for the Simmer community!

But as always and this is for all editions, unfortunately. When the game comes out that's when we realize the disappointment between what was said with a lot of advertising and the sad reality for Fs20 when it was released c It was a real SHAME to dare to put on the market a game that was not actually finished!

Without counting on the inexperience of many programmers on this game, because of incessant bugs fixed one thing and then brought new bugs ... I could cite hundreds of examples but that would be useless the forums are there to trust my words.

To name just one: the famous graphic bug that appears all over the place, but after 3 years it has not been fixed! of course, it's random, and not everyone has it on their PC, but those who have it are constantly annoyed by it.

Then the Microsoft or Asobo programmers who were in charge of programming the command menu for our joysticks and other flight instruments. Have done a real job of people totally 'out of the race':

- Dozens of identical or almost identical items to assign a button and the majority never work, only 2-3 are valid and sometimes even there is no item that works. it's a shame to have released such a badly done, poorly thought out, complicated system, and moreover in terms of ergonomics here either, it really doesn't make things easier.

-Camera menus: here again there are hundreds of complaints on the forums to say that there are plenty of bugs with the various shortcuts saying to use it has become a gas plant ... and in addition, we can't even do what you want with exterior cameras, for example.

Fsx being outdated on many points had a correctly programmed system to assign commands to our joysticks and other instruments and if the cameras were also not terrible, Microsoft had not blocked its SDK to the designers. What they seem to have done for FS20. No add-ons can be made because the SDK does not give the option to do so.

The flight models of the planes ...... with a lot of explanation for the design of these and in results ... apart from 2-3 planes and the Cabri G2 helicopter which is really not bad. Fortunately, the addon developers have released top-level and good-level things for us.

As for the so-called 'extraordinary' landscapes of realism, let me kindly smile :-) or there are magnificent things but on a very small scale and for some of the most famous countries, which is already better than nothing. But the great reinforcements of Pub have distorted the reality of this FS20 simulation.

Because the terrain textures of 'Bing' date from 6-8 years behind and especially apart from the fetish regions, you end up with downright purple abominable areas or totally discolored colors... in short, it's super ugly! Fortunately there again a passionate SImmeur offers the community free of charge newer textures .....

So why did Microsoft give us 'outdated' textures... to save money of course... it's more interesting to spend millions on advertising to catch the 'pigeons' that we really are, but pigeons we want it to... since we end up buying! But these processes bother me a lot.

So Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, yes I will follow the evolution from afar but one thing is certain is that there it is OVER if I have to buy this version it will be at least 6 months to a year after its release maybe I will make the purchase and if all the points that matter to me are in line with my expectations, the forums will be there to bring up the good and the bad things.

And in the meantime, I will continue my life as a 'Passionate' Simmeuse using Fs20 which fortunately has improved a lot in 3 years... (but things that never worked well from the start: Cameras, Menus of commands) are still not up to par after 3 years and that really bothers me.

And when XPlane 12 will be from my point of view in line with my expectations, which is not the case for my expectations currently either, I will buy this simulation. Using the benefits of these flight models and flying on FS20 for relaxation and not a very serious simulation.

I completely agree with Simon F. Seems like this will be more of a "game", only with spectacular video. Personally, I'm not interested in Rescue Missions, Flights to deep water oil rigs, Fire Fighting, Sky Diving, etc, etc. If that is the case, count me out-- not for me. Also, I'm pretty sure that this will require a 'major' hardware upgrade, i.e., a new build.

My hope and wish regarding the 2024 edition is that the Cockpit/flight deck controls become fully functional. I'm quite annoyed With all the "inoperative" knobs and gauges.

What about weather radar integration?

How much will it cost? Will MSFS be like P3Dv1 to 5 with each upgrade costing us? I have invested too much in MSFS2020 to dump it for something that will probably cost as much.

Can MSFS 2024 be installed over MSFS 2020 or must 2020 be uninstalled first?

Your email of addons is very helpful for staying up to date.

but besides the graphical improvements, will there be improvements atc, the possibility of saving flight plans, flights, etc.. in a decent way?

Would like to see air tour activity with verbal narration as to highlights for a specific interest area. Think Smithsonian Air America series, only you fly and navigate the aircraft.

I am excited for a newer better flight sim, but I hope developers don't delay airplanes even further.

I left flight simulation altogether with the release of MSFS 2020 because I did not like the ATC. I only hope that they will rework ATC. Quite honestly I missed the GPS instrument. Also, why can't Microsoft create better voices and voice recognition in the Flight simulator? The graphics in MSFS2020 were awesome, but the airplanes did not fly very well for me. I had been in flight simulation for 11 years before I left.

Hello, I'm sorry but I'm in a department in Dordogne (France). Currently, I have a speed of 7.8 Mb/s / 900 kb. Here is my network situation and this for just about 1 year. I tried with a satellite network, not better, with a latency and a speed that decreases according to the number of connections the friends took off me I was still in the hangar...

You have to be angry. I started with FS 2004 then FSX + acceleration then P3D V4 and now FS 2020 but I give up ... at 82 I am tired of fighting against fans .... How do you want me to answer and analyze your work insofar as my pc tells me that I am limited in speed however I can tell you that I am very satisfied with your files to download even if I have to wait with such a low loading speed for files that are a few gigas ... In the country of Airbus the Rafale here is my situation ... Regards.

Is there a plan to add FSX spec aircraft onto MSFS? Example VC10, B707, BAC 1-11, Avro Lancaster...

Firstly it is good that MSFS 2020 will be replaced with MSFS 24, bearing this in mind I like to fly long-distance trips IE Perth AU to Heathrow.

Using FSX10 on arrival at one end or the other the place on Auto-Pilot would circle the arrival airport at about 50 to 100 miles from the airport. In 2020 the plane will circle at about 2000 miles. I don't have to luxury of time as I am my wife's care, which can be quite time-consuming.

I enjoy 2020 and don't want to return to FX10. Maybe not much of a request, seeing there is a new version coming could my problem be discussed and this is about my only outlet at home.

What is the cost of the initial installation?

I started flying in 1948 at the age of 16, and then spent 8 years in the RAF, before becoming a commercial pilot with BOAC/ BA/Air Lanka. Retiring in 1992. I have enjoyed most of the available Flight Simulators since then, and have, at the age of 91, recently had my first look at MSFS 2020.

I always enjoyed FSX but changed to P3Dv4 a couple of years ago. A colleague of mine suggested that MSFS was worth a try, as it had great potential of becoming something more than a great X-box game. I hope that the future plans for MSFS 2024 go beyond improving what is a great X-box game, and also consider the requirements of the many thousands of serious Flight Simmers worldwide.

I personally spent around 44 years looking at Real Scenery, and just cannot appreciate the computer-generated scenery available now. What are the chances of utilizing Google Scenery which is realistic, and up-to-date? I hope and trust that I can enjoy what MSFS 2024 is planning, in the not-too-distant future.

MSFS 2020 is a flight simulator and 2024 seems to be a game of flight simulation missions. Why is so restrictive, Why can not be a payable patch of 2020? I preferred Asobo invest in better connectivity with a real voice interface like vpilot to get the simulator "As real as it gets".

Remember this will be Day One on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

This means you can use Cloud Gaming and play through your iPhone, Android, tablet, or any PC/Mac/Chromebook.

I play it on the cloud these days (the current game).

Not for me I'm afraid - I want a flight simulator with study-level aircraft - not a clever game with all sorts of gimmickry.

Oh Boy, Yet another MS product rushed to market. The bugs in MSFS (20) as read in forums are not solved yet. And will this be another sim requiring us to be online, running up a substantial data bill? DA.

Will it be VR Capable, also, will there be avatars so we can actually walk to the plane and walk down the aisle, also real passengers would be a nice addition.

They made a decent simulator into a game console device with music, mislabeled taxiways, runways, and airports. No longer any good for flight training but pretty pictures looking out the window. Back to X-plane for me.

What will be required for people who enjoy making their own scenery? Is there something built in? Or some other complicated software like Blender?

When will FS get some agricultural planes and some realistic farm and crop duster airstrip scenery? MS never includes ag aircraft or crop duster airstrip or field scenery as part of the program.

They should fix what they have first!! MSFS2020 is full of problems like the pitiful CRJ4, No Piper aircraft except payware, awful ATC interaction that is nothing like the real world and cuts out after 30 to 40 minutes of flight time, missing IFR navigation frequencies at airports, etc.

I have been a great fan of and a flight simulator user since the earliest days of Bruce Artwick's Air Transport Pilot sim and all editions of MS Flight Simulator through MSFS 2020.

It has been a marvelous journey that taught me a great deal about flying. When MSFS came out I purchased a powerful PC so that I would get the best performance from MSFS 2020. However, as it has grown it has arrived at the point that despite many different attempts to load it on Steam or off-line, I can no longer get it to run on my PC.

I would love to be able to keep the adventure going but I have reached the point where I do not have the time, nor patience to try and make it work. What could help would be an online user-friendly tool that could be used by the FS community.

This smells of the “amazing”, ‘groundbreaking”, and on and on hype that Apple does with its entire product line just to find out when released that it’s nothing more than some polish on the same old tune. I agree with the other posters. Fix what you already have if you want credibility. Same the hype for somebody else.

As a day one investor in MSFS three years ago, what will the cost to end users be? I've bought every new FS edition since 1998.

I am a skeptic at this juncture. I see this new development as a way to simplify this into a "GAME" console rather than an expansion of flight simulation. Evidence of that, to me, is the significance of the word "missions" and the already numeral of those mentioned.

Pick a mission.......pick the game environment, and then play it. I think the fallacy of the comments about new technologies is important from a different perspective. ie, these newest and expanded technologies are EXPENSIVE in their very existence. The only access point will be having standardized missions that allow more from a choice of defined ones and then pick the complications to go along with them from a fairly standardized grouping.

The top-end players of MSFS 2020, I conjecture, are overly topped out in the investments they have already made, myself included, and will be hard-pressed to kick in large additional sums for either hardware or licensing fees for add-ons to "get in the game" further than they already have.

The only option to the contrary is to make things more standardized so that the masses not currently involved with flight simulation will be able to afford entry at this point without having to lay out a substantial new investment in hardware to even catch up to the existing MSFS 2020 simulator.

The solution is to create simplified access that requires substantially less hardware....and that means X-Box Game Consoles, not high-end PCs, and maybe not even VR. I will be sitting out on the new introduction for quite some time I suspect.

Well, this is what we all a cash grab. 180.00 a couple of years ago and now another ?? Of course, they would rather sell something than give away updates!

Does this use direct x 12? Are there any other positive technology additions so it runs better? Or just a few extra missions?

Is this going to be like x plane no updates just give them more money?

I have enjoyed all other versions and hopefully, I will enjoy this one.

Great news! Based on other comments, I must be in the minority. I stuck with FSX because I love the missions. Yes, I practice approaches once in a while, but I get plenty of real-life practice doing missions. Being older (retired) I don't need high-velocity action. I enjoy relaxing transport missions or search and rescue with a touch of challenge. Thanks for the in-depth announcement.

I’ve purchased all of the flight simulators going back to the early 2000s. After FSX I thought there wasn’t going to be one and then Microsoft 2020 was released and I was super excited.

I ran out and bought a $500 joystick throttle and pedals and spend $150 on the game, the game did bring a new level of realism, but a lot of the keyboard commands weren’t like the old FSX and all the older versions, and there were too many functions and features for those of us that are older now and can dedicate hundreds if not thousands of hours to go fly around.

I hope that there is great compatibility with joysticks and easy basic configurations so you can install the simulator using shortcuts and commands. We all know from fsx and before and just fly.

It is great to hear about a new product (MS2024) but worry to consume my SSD. It will be nice to add a new service as add on to the current product.

Hoping this iteration of MFS is actually ready for release like the 2020 release. The suspicion is ( and I hope I'm wrong) that the MSF 2020 was irreparably faulty, that the platform was already outdated at release, necessitating long and frequent updates and planes which never ( up to this day) worked well. If this was true then this would be a brilliant way of overcoming these mistakes and getting paid to do so by SELLING ( literally and figuratively) this as a new flight sim package Please prove me wrong!

Since I bought the new flight Simulator I have not succeeded in performing any flight with it at all, as I any of the mentioned keyboard function act as mentioned I cannot make it work. I need simple short mentioned instructions, not a 100-page handbook, I have more than 30 years of experience in FS simulators, and instrument flights in A380s as well, so help me if possible. my flight controls incl. pedals will not function with the new FS. Can I get the simulator on DVDs like the old ones?? I prefer that. Until now it has been a waste of good money.

Flight Simulation 2024 will need so much to even get most folks' attention. MSFS 2020 is just now getting to be enjoyable with all the fixes coming from after-market non-MS programmers' addons. Like taxiway signs that are realistic instead of MS MSFS 2020 toy taxiway signage.

MSFS's incorrect IFR communications and poor IFR real-world procedures, misplaced and misnamed fixes and incorrect IFR procedure approach plates, and MSFS's poor visual down close for VFR is comic. Square rectangle where Palm trees stand. A lot of these are now being fixed with add-ons, not from MS . So unless MS can fix the issues like above the MSFS 2024 will stay at the MS store for a long time for me.

Will Microsoft still update MFS2020? Or is the end for that simulator once the new one is released?

What computer specs will we need to run this new sim? More than the MFS2020 specs?

Please make sure: - flight dynamics are still realistic - system specs are reasonable (efficient graphics engine) - photo-realistic environment and aircraft become possible.

I am/was a licensed pilot.

I have owned and flown MS FSX Acceleration since it was released and use it for fun nearly every day. I fly aircraft from the glider to the Antonov 225, create long flights, short flights, and all types of weather and day/night scenarios. IFR, VFR, uncontrolled flights whatever the day feels like.

I strongly recommend that this new platform be a transition from the one I currently fly.

MSFS 2020 was not.

I have over 40 aircraft on FSX, improved airports, missions, etc. I would be interested in an upgrade transition, not starting from scratch. I use FSX for entertainment and relaxation but enjoy the realism it provides.

The ball's in your court!

Going to the Flight Sim conference in Houston tomorrow to hear from Microsoft in person on this.

I have an internet connection with 500Mbps and still get a low bandwidth error in msfs2020. There is no way I will throw away more money on msfs2024. I will stay with Xplane12.

I started flying in 1948 at the age of 16, and then spent 8 years in the RAF, before becoming a commercial pilot with BOAC/ BA/Air Lanka. Retiring in 1992. I have enjoyed most of the available Flight Simulators since then, and have, at the age of 91, recently had my first look at MSFS 2020.

I always enjoyed FSX, but changed to P3Dv4 a couple of years ago. A colleague of mine suggested that MSFS was worth a try, as it had great potential of becoming something more than a great X-box game. I hope that the future plans for MSFS 2024 go beyond improving what is a great X-box game, and also consider the requirements of the many thousands of serious Flight Simmers worldwide.

I personally spent around 44 years looking at Real Scenery, and just cannot appreciate the computer-generated scenery available now. What are the chances of utilizing Google Scenery which is realistic, and up-to-date? I hope and trust that I can enjoy what MSFS 2024 is planning, in the not-too-distant future.

A 2D instrument panel as in older versions of MSFS would be greatly appreciated and should be included in FS2024 for those of us who display our panel on a separate monitor. I created custom window views for my FSX setup, most useful is my "Left Front Cockpit Window" view, as I use my main monitor as the left front pilot's windshield, another monitor for the left front cockpit window, and a third monitor below for 2D instrument panel.

This is a very good setup for those whose computer will support the use of 3 monitors as it provides a very realistic and useful view from the pilot's seat for those of us with a budget or older computer system and/or with limited space for our simulator setup. Also appreciated would be a 747, 737, 757, 777, & Cessna 172 for us old-school guys.

I am quite happy to hear about Flight Sim 2024 especially if the aircraft and missions I have bought will work alongside it. I am sure some of the requested changes will be made as there are still a lot of faults to cure with the present flight sim at the moment. Aircraft on the runway in use etc.

I hope that special effects like para dropping, bomb release, gun- and rocket firing will be implemented. Especially for the WW2 warbirds like Lancaster, B-17, Spitfire, and P-51, etc. These effects make those aircraft do what they are designed for and without these effects they are unreal. Both FSX and Prepar3D had these effects.

So Microsoft is going to put all the updates that should have been sent out for MSFS 2020 into a "NEW" flight simulator MSFS2024 and "SELL" us 2020 users the new update package. This is B S and I'm not buying it.

MSFS2020 is a great video game, but not really a serious flight simulator. Of its dozens (hundreds?) of deficiencies, here's just one. I fly a C172 for real and in MSFS. I'd like the flight dynamics of this very simple airplane fixed so the model acts like the real thing.

Well, this is what we all a cash grab. 180.00 a couple of years ago and now another ?? Of course, they would rather sell something than give away updates!

Does this use direct x 12? Are there any other positive technology additions so it runs better? Or just a few extra missions?

Is this going to be like x plane no updates just give them more money?

Specs for PCs are the key information that most of us need to know, will we be looking at a significant upgrade to our home computers?

I started flying in 1948 at the age of 16, and then spent 8 years in the RAF, before becoming a commercial pilot with BOAC/ BA/Air Lanka. Retiring in 1992. I have enjoyed most of the available Flight Simulators since then, and have, at the age of 91, recently had my first look at MSFS 2020.

I always enjoyed FSX but changed to P3Dv4 a couple of years ago. A colleague of mine suggested that MSFS was worth a try, as it had great potential of becoming something more than a great X-box game. I hope that the future plans for MSFS 2024 go beyond improving what is a great X-box game, and also consider the requirements of the many thousands of serious Flight Simmers worldwide.

I personally spent around 44 years looking at Real Scenery, and just cannot appreciate the computer-generated scenery available now. What are the chances of utilizing Google Scenery which is realistic, and up-to-date? I hope and trust that I can enjoy what MSFS 2024 is planning, in the not-too-distant future.

So for me, MFS2024 better have an upgrade option because I am not spending another £100 on the same flight sim with the updates MFS 2020 should have had. This is again Microsoft ripping people off, MFS 2020 would be redundant after installing this so what is the point having both, offer an upgrade price or it won't be being installed by me.

Yes, for a long not all the bugs from FS2020 have been solved. To name one, saving a flight or Flightplan during an active flight (esc and then save flight/plan) does not work well. The saving seems to go well, but the loaded flight then lacks all kinds of features (like completely missing the taskbar when hovering in the upper screen region).

Still waiting too for the possibility to see planes that others have and I have not been in a group flight mode. It must be possible to copy a plane in a temporary cache and make it visible to other group members as long as the group exists.

Still, no seasons change in FS2020 default.

Seems like Microsoft / Asobo are out of money so they need to sell us a new version of the same game we already purchased. This is of absolute disrespect against us - the customers - as we paid for the flight sim back in 2020 and since then we had no final product which was stable but we got an open beta instead.

So they let us pay for their development then they let us test their product and tell them where to fix and improve things to now having us pay again for the next open beta?!?!?

*irony on* This is "great" - thank you! *irony off*

As a former private pilot, I now fly the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. for my area, it is so poorly done that I fly X-Plane 12. The main reason is that I have not seen any improvements to the Canadian landscape. My airfield that I used for several years is so poorly done. It is CPF4, the Bruce McPhail Memorial at Cobden, Ontario. After landing with FS2020, you must climb a very steep hill to the hanger area only to find storage buildings. In reality, this is a very level airfield with about a 1-meter difference anywhere on the field.

In Edmonton, Alberta, the many oil tanks are round buildings.

I see vehicles with drivers on the right side instead of the left as found in Canada.

Building facades are old European instead of Canadian.

When flying from Edmonton, West to Jasper, I found that when I reached the Hinton Airport (CEE4), flying over the Athabasca River, I noticed a waterfall which does not exist. As I flew closer, the falls started to move ahead of me.

I have to fly in the excellent X-Plane 12 to enjoy my Cessna 172 flying as it should, not like in FS2020.

As a result, I am very unhappy with the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (junk) and would not want to spend money on FS2024.

Hello, I want the new 2024 version to install on top of the 2020 version without having to reinstall everything. This is my main wish. Second, the English texts that appear can be copied to translate with Google. Not everyone speaks English. Well done for everything, keep it up. Cordially.

PLEASE REMEMBER THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED IF YOU CAN INCLUDE FEATURES TO HELP US IN MICROSOFT FLIGHT 2024 IT WOULD BE A NICE FEATURE! I'M LEGALLY BLIND AND FINE DETAIL IS HARD TO SEE. THANKS, STEVE ROBERTS.

I definitely want the 2024 version to be an upgrade to the 2020 version, not a completely new purchase from scratch, especially since I have several pieces of payware I want to make sure is compatible and I don't have to re-purchase again.

Also, I love what I am reading about 2024 but it's imperative that you don't have to keep buying more expensive machines to experience the new version(s). I have a nice gaming machine with a 3080 GPU and it does great right now with ultra settings, but would 2024 make my 3080 card feel obsolete?

Exponential advancements in software shouldn't mean exponential hardware to enjoy it. I guess that's my main takeaway.

I did not buy FS 2020 because it did not utilize Force Feedback. If 2024 has it I'm in, otherwise no way.

I have not played many hours with the last Microsoft flight sim. The reason is that there is no help when it comes to using the software. I and many others have paid good money to enjoy this software. If we could get help when needed that would be a good thing. I love flying the aircraft. If you would like to contact me by email, I would love to hear from you. Sincerely, Henry Harris.

The need to control your AI aircraft at airports and stop them from just appearing and running over/ into our aircraft. That's just not right and takes away from the emergence of the moments. Same with ground vehicles.

I hope you don’t have to buy a new computer to use this edition.

I have 2000 hours in an RW C172, so I know how it flies. I'd like to see Asobo or whatever get the flight dynamics of this very simple, basic airplane right.

As an avid GA Pilot, I would like the weak AI-generated background traffic to be fixed before another 20 different planes are released. We still have cars and buses driving under bridges and some in endless loops up and down the same street. This would make the experience far more realistic and a certain improvement on the current model. Thanks.

Should I buy a new pc? We do not yet know the necessary configuration.

Hello, for me the ideal would be an FSX with the graphics and scenarios of 2020, but to keep the cockpits in 2D, I have 9 monitors and all the FSX hardware that is not valid for 2020, my dream is an FSX with the views of 2020. Meteorology included and above all the possibility of DECALAR WINDOWS.

I have a ton of wishes. Here are some of them ...

Collision control (maybe walking mode) so you do not walk through walls Career mode (already planned?) More realistic ATC QNH in Hpa in Europe Lower grass in small airports (Much too high in MSFS 2020) Better manuals for airplanes Possibility to print the checklist in a suitable form Passengers.

I have the CD/DVD version of MSFS2020...I prefer this to the "cloud" version: will there be a CD/DVD version?

1. I NEED A COMPARISON BETWEEN MY SOFTWARE OF 1997/8 WHEN I BOUGHT FIGHT SIM AND LATER UPDATE TO GOLDEN DELUXE.
2. CAN I BUY THIS SOFTWARE IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH A CD DOWNLOAD AND PERMANENT INSTALLATION CODES? BECAUSE I AM NOT ABLE TO USE MY OLD SIM PROGRAM WITH ITS "PERMANENT" CODES ANYMORE AN I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT IT!
3. WHERE IN SOUTH AFRICA (THIRD WORLD NOW)CAN I BUY THE PROGRAM INCLUDING THE CDS TO DOWNLOAD, I DO NOT TRUST ONLINE DOWNLOADS.
4. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS THE FULL PRICE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
5. CAN I STILL USE MY CH PEDAL AND YOKE ?

I APOLOGIZE FOR THE MESSAGE WRITTEN IN CAPITAL LETTERS. I AM 75 AND MY EYES ARE NOT THAT GOOD ANYMORE. KIND REGARDS SAREL

I had FSX a number of years ago. I purchased a specific, highly upgraded desktop in April 2019, in anticipation of the launch of MSFS 2020 that matched Ultra settings. However, I am not an aviator. Instead, I am an explorer and sightseer.

Thus, I dove into 2020 with vigor to see the world via the Sim because I well knew that I would never be able to travel the world. That means to me that realistic scenery is far more important to me than the physics of actual flight and the controls.

Even in FSX, I flew the Hawaiian coasts and saw the sheer size of the volcanic mountains and gigantic cliffs of Molokai on the Northern Shore. I dare say that there are thousands of users just like me. Do not forget about us in the push for all the wonderful technological aspects of the flight sim.

You have a dual market, possibly even a few dozen different markets of people looking for different things in the sim. I travel the world through the sim. I cannot do that in real life.

Is this "new" version going to fix some of the problems in MSFS 2020? Like occasional CTD--for no apparent reason? How about the occasional flight--that begins with a NON-functioning throttle? How about airplanes that look like the name implies? (Example: An "F-16" that is depicted as a B737) Will there be downloadable aircraft for this version? (Please something in addition to WWII vintage aircraft!) Will there be a demo program, like a try-before-you-buy kind of thing?

That's all I can think of at the moment...

I have been a simmer with Microsoft since the beginning, but I agree with many that 2024 should be an upgrade, not a brand new simulator as planned, Asobo has not even finished improving MSFS2020 and they are planning a new one. Come on!!!!

I have the last two MSFS deluxe. . the new 2024 will be compatible with all Saitek units, eclipse, and Honeycomb Bravo throttle equipment, the Saitek components didn't work with the MSFS 2020.

I think they should do more to ensure that the equipment used to control the sim is all recognized and works correctly.

More ability to set up each control unit's sensitivity and confirm it operates correctly before launching into a flight.

Make the sim start up faster without too many preliminaries.

Can you tell me what processor and video card are the minimum? I own a cockpit from virtual fly for P3d and FSX I like to know if I can have a front view without a cockpit panel like in P3d and FSX.

It looks interesting but it will need to include: *Support for VFR, VATSIM, ATC & Comms & up to date scenery *Stability & reliability *No need for MS Windows

Ok, the advertising and hype, some promulgated from this forum on MSFS-2020 got a whole lot of attention. Since I had been simmer since FS-95, was really interested since I had just picked up my joystick again and was doing a great job in FSX. But like millions of people, I jumped on the early bandwagon, and BOY once I get the sim, was sorely disappointed.

First, not down and low and slow, I want to fly high and fast and do it in big iron. Thousands of hours in 737/C-17/747 in FS-98/2000/2004/FSX flying all over the world and up and down the west coast. Had relocated to East Coast, so flying 747 out of KATL would be a snap, But, that plane, the NAV systems in all the planes, ATC, and basically even the flight model for MSFS-2020 was INHO - JUNK. Planes would miss airports under IFR conditions, ATC would start to descend you at the airport you were going to land at, blah, blah, and blah. So frustrated bought X-Plane 11 which I had never used before.

So now after almost 4 years, (about the time for a new sim based on historical releases), they are coming out with a new one. More content online (a vast number of people have trouble getting the present process to install, and work) so putting even more of it online is going to make it even worse.

AAU2 was released last week, I have been testing 747 and so far, well it aint like the old days that is for sure. Better than release, but, if I create ORIGIN/DEST in the World Map, even importing a flight plan from Sim brief, the plane fly's circles all around my route. I tried last evening, but at 1 mile out, I had to cancel the AP/ILS approach and fly it in manually because it was never going to catch the ILS. The input of frequencies and courses for the ILS system is a mystery. I have to watch a video on it to figure out how to enter that information, unlike PMDG's 737 which has an excellent tutorial/and virgin flight plan all written out and very clear on how to do this and how to do that.

Tonight, took X-Plane 12 - 737-800, copied my plan into the plane, setup (old version of the FMS/C System), and started from the ramp, engines running, taxied to RW, push to 40% N1, hit my TOGA button and away she went, 400 feet, cleaned up, CMD button, and away that plane went on my route. Yes, I had to take out some holds built into the plan, but the plane FMC took those changes, got on final, pushed APP button, and she landed sweet as pie. It reinforced my skills, because IT JUST WORKED, Unlike MSFS-2020 which fails and fails and fails every time I try to do anything in it. So NO, MSFS-2024 might be the cat's meow, they have to prove it to me, just not interested. Only one thing would make me get it, if DC Designs decides to release their C-17 into that platform instead of 2020, and even then, I would have to think long and hard, having been disappointed just too many times in MSFS2020.

I am an extremely Passionate South African Flight Simmer, for the past almost 25 Years. Even before the release of Flight Simulator 2020, I already started gearing up for this exciting event, by means of purchasing a brand-new Custom Build PC, specifically to meet the FS2020 PC Requirements, and a 12GB Hard Drive, just for Flight Simulator 2020.

After the release of Flight Simulator 2020, I started Purchasing a lot of additional 3rd. Party Aircraft and I am still doing so. I must have laid out in the region of R150 000, so far, on Microsoft Simulator 2020.

I just don't want all this spending money to be wasted, because I must now start all over again, because of the release of Flight Simulator 2024

My two main questions are: 01 - will the FS2020 Aircraft still be compatible with FS2024, and what will the Minimum Hardware Requirements be, to run FS2024 Smoothly at Ultra high Graphic Settings?

Will my current 4-Year-old Custom Build FS 2020 P.C. be able to Handle FS 2024?

what is missing is the old FSX multiplayer. we could join a server of our choice and choose a server to join according to our degree of learning experience. say the msfs2020 is excellent but on the side of joining a server to our liking, humm its leaves something to be desired, according to me and other friends.

I've been flying the MSFS 2020 in my home simulator since the beginning. It is available as a Cessna 172 with appropriate hardware, Saitek, Honeycomb, and VR Insight further equipped. I attach great importance to the details of switches, knobs, levers, and so on with the corresponding function and its effect on The plane. I would be very happy if this could be realized.

I'm writing this post after FlightSimExpo 2023 and the presentation by Jorg Neuman (Microsoft) and Sebastian Wloch (Asobo). I have also read all the posts made on the topic on this site. I therefore assume that many of the questions posed have now been answered. I have been a passionate flight simmer for 25 years and for the past 10 years written and published many tutorials and articles. I was also a PPL holder in the 1970s.

I have been a Microsoft supporter since I began simming with MS '98 and the peak of my experience and enjoyment was with FSX. It was a favorite platform because of Multiplayer. I would prepare and publish flight plans of interest and host them on FSX with a significant following. My support for Microsoft began to wane when in 2009, Microsoft closed down Aces Game Studio, which was the department responsible for creating and maintaining the Flight Simulator series. All support for flight sim customers ceased as a result. This created an uproar in the flight sim community. There was a feeling that Microsoft had turned its back on its clientele of flight sim enthusiasts, especially the hardcore simmers (not gamers).

When MSFS 2020 was released I decided to wait at least twelve months before purchasing it. In the interim, I moved to X-Plane 11, purchased Honeycomb Alpha and Beta peripherals, a RealSimGear G1000 suite, and invested in a new high-spec computer in readiness for a return to Microsoft. The Honeycomb flight controls and throttle quadrant worked perfectly well with X-Plane and I enjoyed getting back into GA flying again since I had been restricted to 737-800 flying having had a 737-800 JetMax cockpit.

In more recent times I finally got around to buying the MSFS 2020, looking forward to the fantastic graphics and the ability to do effective VFR flights. To this day, however, I have not been able to use the platform. Despite viewing many reputable YouTube videos I have not been able to configure the Honeycomb peripherals to fly any of the aircraft in MSFS 2020, despite them working perfectly well with X-Plane. From a number of forums, this has been a common issue for many. To my knowledge, Microsoft has not addressed this issue along with many other bugs with the system.

From the comments above, this is a major and common concern for simmers when it comes to the new MSFS 2024. The refrain is, why introduce another simulator when the current one is far from complete? Will the new sim be release-ready and bug-free (as much as possible)? or, will Microsoft practice repeat itself, replete with multiple upgrades, and another complaint from 2020 users? Microsoft also says that it will continue the 10-year support of MSFS 2020. Given their past history of suddenly dropping out and the cost of supporting two platforms simultaneously, I am skeptical of this claim.

Microsoft has also claimed that of the 12 million copies of MSFS 2020 sold to date, 3 million are 'core' simmers, the remainder "are more casual people and that the 'core' simmers "invited Xbox players in". I would like to know what their definition of 'core' is and where their data came from for such a statement. It seems like weasel words such as this is an attempt to justify their focus of sales and profit towards casual gamers i.e. via Xbox at the expense of serious simmers - yet again. But Jorg Neuman specifically said at the FlightSimExpo, "but we are not a game". Yeah right!

The catch cry in the opening of the 2024 promo is "Pursue your dream of a career in aviation". It is inconceivable that any person is able to jump into any one of the aircraft featured in the mission scenarios without first having acquired basic flight instructions and experience. So where does this leave the beginners to flight simulation? Where are they going to be able to acquire the necessary learning to eventually master these scenarios? This is NOT 'as real as it gets' as the tired old mantra implies. It seems Microsoft is blind-sided in both directions - on the one hand, those not yet introduced to flight simulation, and on the other, those core simmers who are currently fully immersed as experienced virtual pilots who fly in their own niches and in which they have heavily invested.

The comment here has been directed towards Microsoft. The improvements made in the core sim and technology are welcomed. That has to be attributed to Asobo's participation in the project. Hopefully, many of the technical issues associated with 2020 will be addressed through these advances.

In conclusion, it is clear that I am skeptical about the assurance claims made by Microsoft, given their past track record. It is also clear that the financial bottom line is the driver for this latest iteration with a pitch to the casual Xbox gamer, yet again turning its back on the long-time, hard-core simulation enthusiasts. It's fair that companies need to keep shareholders happy. But in terms of the overall direction, Microsoft may have shot itself in the foot - or should I say experienced terrain impact.

Performance and pretty graphics are great but what I want is plug-and-play compatibility. If I have a G1000 or 530 display, or any other display or peripheral, I want to be able to boot up the sim and have it automatically recognize the display and automatically populate the screen. The drag-n-drop is annoying, even if you only have to do it once.