Source: best place to buy msfs? – Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) – The AVSIM Community
Posted November 21, 2021 (edited)
I have both versions ( as a developer, I need to test both ), and these are the differences:
– Both the MS Store and the Steam version will allow you to choose an install location. However, this is not really relevant because, that would be the location of the fairly small executable, the bulk of the program (99% of its size) is in the content folder which is asked later on during the installation, which also works the same on both version.
– The MS Store version has the executable folder encrypted in a mounted Virtual disk you have no access to, not even in read only. This doesn’t really affect normal users but, if you are a developer too, there are some interesting packages there you can look at (mostly related to the html/js interface), to supply to the lack of an official documentation and you can’t see those files on the MS Store version, that’s another reasons why I had to buy another copy on Steam, that doesn’t restrict access to that part of the program.
– Add-ons bought from the MS Marketplace are not cross-compatible between the MS Store version and the Steam version of the sim. Which means, if you want to switch from a version to the other one, you’ll lose all the **Marketplace** add-ons. Add-ons bought on 3rd party sites are not affected, of course.
– If you use VR, depending which headset you have, you might prefer one version or the other. For example, if your headset works natively with SteamVR (Valve Index, Pimax), you might prefer the Steam version, since you’ll have to launch SteamVR anyway. Something like the ReverbG2 but also the Oculus, which can work directly with OpenXR without starting SteamVR, might be easier to work with the MS Store version.
– The Steam version has a better/easier update process, while the MS Store version sometimes requires logging out from the store, or restarting Windows before seeing the update. This is usually more of a problem if you also test Betas. However, this again refers only to the main and small executable “core” set of files. The bulk of the updates are done in the same way in both versions, through the in-game update process. The Xbox version (which is, in fact, an MS Store version too), instead, has the better/faster update system of all, because it does most of it externally through the normal Xbox update process.
– The MS Store version will let you use the Xbox version too, at no extra charge.
– The MSFS Store version can be TRIED for as little as $1, by purchasing a one-month Gamepass Trial. Of course, if you already are a Gamepass subscriber, getting the MS Store version should be a no-brainer. Getting a Gamepass just for MSFS might be overkill but, if you play other games or, you have kids, it’s the best deal in the industry right now. With two kids in their full gaming age (12 and 14), I don’t even remember the last time I bought a game at full price.
– When you buy a 3rd party add-on from the Marketplace and your MSFS was bought on Steam, the 3DP gets less money, because there’s another middleman involved. So, if you are worried about supporting 3DP, you should prefer the Store version. However, if you are *really* worried about supporting 3DPs, the version won’t matter, if you buy all your add-ons directly…
Edited November 21, 2021 by virtuali
