Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, released in November 2024, arrived with high expectations but faced a rocky launch. Players quickly encountered persistent cloud server issues that disrupted gameplay, alongside a slew of bugs and technical glitches that significantly hampered the overall experience. These early problems led to frustration within the community and caused many to abandon the game shortly after release.
In response, Aerosoft recently delivered a substantial update known as Sim Update 2, labeled patch 1.4.20.0, which addresses over 5,000 bugs across a wide spectrum of issues. This patch improves everything from core game features to intricate graphical errors and aircraft model refinements, while also boosting general stability and performance. As the largest update to date for MSFS 2024, it marks a major effort by the developers to salvage the experience and bring the game back to a playable and enjoyable state.
Despite these sweeping fixes, the question remains: has this update been enough to bring lapsed players back? Data from SteamDB reveals that MSFS 2024 currently peaks at around 4,000 concurrent players over a 30-day period — a steep decline from the original peak of 24,000 concurrent users immediately following launch. Moreover, the Anniversary Edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 continues to enjoy greater popularity among Steam players, maintaining a stronger and more active player base. Given that MSFS 2024 is also available through Xbox Game Pass, actual engagement numbers may be somewhat higher but still don’t reflect a significant resurgence.
It’s now been roughly a week since Sim Update 2 was released, and early signs indicate the patch has had limited impact on increasing the player count, despite the introduction of new features such as enhanced weather effects and a fresh career mode. Nevertheless, the developers remain committed to the title, actively working on subsequent patches and improvements. According to recent developer blog posts, the next major update is already in development and is available for testing by beta players, suggesting that ongoing enhancements could gradually rebuild community confidence over time.
