Microsoft's "biggest" game has the worst pre-install offering I've seen — gamers won't escape these gigantic day-one downloads

[Windows Central]

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is available for early installs on PC and Xbox Series X|S consoles before release, but the reported storage size doesn't make any sense.

Microsoft's "biggest" game has the worst pre-install offering I've seen — gamers won't escape these gigantic day-one downloads : Read more

 

[GraniteStateColin]

Any theories as to why this happened? Usually assets are stable and that's why they can pre-download them, just holding the final code bits until launch day to include. So that would imply that either A) they can't properly separate the assets from the code like that, B) the anticipated day-one updates involve changes to the core assets, which seems weird, or C) (variant on A) it would take extra effort to properly prepare the advance download of assets and they're not willing to put in the effort/cost on their end do to that.

Curious.

 

[Ben Wilson]

It could be anything, but it does seem like a huge missed opportunity. I've suffered so many headaches while trying to test MSFS 2020 on various gaming laptops/CPU components we get in review, but it became so tedious that I stopped trying to download from its ultra-slow servers.

I fully expected the pre-install to happen within a dedicated launcher, but there's just.. nothing there. On PC, it's just a 12MB jpg with a "Limitless" codename on its window.

It could sour people's interest, especially for those on Game Pass who just want to check it out for an hour or so. Even if Microsoft has the game down 50GB and is streaming all the assets.. 300MB is such an insignificant chunk of that.

 

[bijio]

so I was stunned when I saw this happen tonight. I, like you, was obviously hoping to get even this way more manageable 50gig download well out of the way before launch. or takeoff, if you like.

but I know what it is. I do know what it is, though I can't really believe it actually IS.

what I have to assume this is is the GamePass Pre-install to the Microsoft Flight Simulator INSTALLER app. the 2020 release had this same groovy feature, where you don't download from Steam or even GamePass but an actual, factual Microsoft Flight Simulator dedicated installer app. so I guess that's what "Limitless" is.

it's the sort of gag that'd be great in a parody about modern gaming, only it's real life and life isn't a parody. it's ----ing obnoxious as hell. and the grooviest part, for those not aware, on Steam just using that install app WAS considered playing the game -- I was over eight hours past the Steam Refund Window before I even got into the actual menu. clever!

or no. horrible. yeah. horrible, not clever. or cleverly horrible. it's a bad, bad joke. sorry to be so cynical. Gaming in 2024 does seem to bring it out of me.

if you bought MFS 2020 on a computer that couldn't handle it, sorry - shoulda known better. "Recommend System Specs" REALLY means "Barebones 12fps Medium Settings. 1080p. enjoy your flight, *******. btw, you're 12 hours past refund. sorry!"

well, here we are. this is our gaming culture in 2024. not all of it, but MUCH of it. be well, everyone. we'll get there. -b