Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Launches Amidst Turbulence

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: Addressing a Turbulent Launch

The launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 faced significant challenges, prompting an official response from the development team. Jorg Neumann and Sebastian Wloch, heads of the project, addressed player concerns in a YouTube video.

Unexpected Demand Overwhelms Servers

The developers acknowledged underestimating the game's popularity. The influx of players severely overloaded the game's servers and databases, leading to widespread issues. The system, tested with 200,000 simulated users, was unable to handle the actual player count, causing significant strain on data retrieval.

Login Queues and Missing Content

Attempts to mitigate the problem by increasing server capacity and queue size proved temporary. The database cache repeatedly collapsed under pressure, resulting in extended loading times and, in some cases, the game freezing at 97% loading. The missing aircraft issue stemmed from this incomplete data retrieval, with some content failing to load even after players successfully logged in.

Negative Steam Reviews Reflect Launch Issues

The significant launch problems have resulted in overwhelmingly negative Steam reviews. Players reported extended login queues and missing game assets. The development team is actively working to resolve these issues, as indicated on the game's Steam page, and has issued a public apology for the inconvenience. They promise continued updates via social media, forums, and the official website.