MSFS 2024 Review: Problems remain
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is one of the most anticipated releases in flight simulation, but how good is it really since its launch? We review analyzes performance, ATC, and realism issues using real data from the FlightSim Community Survey 2026. While the simulator delivers industry-leading graphics and strong immersion, many users report persistent problems with stability, default ATC, and system depth.
Instead of asking whether MSFS 2024 looks good, we examine whether it actually works as a complete simulation platform. Is MSFS 2024 performance reliable? Are core systems like ATC and weather radar functional enough for realistic operations? And how dependent is the simulator on third-party add-ons?
If you are wondering whether MSFS 2024 is worth upgrading to—or what its biggest weaknesses are—this analysis provides a clear, data-driven answer.
88 Euros for the sim – is it worth it?
MSFS 2024 – Problems, but Operational
Status: Operational – With Restrictions
MSFS 2024 is currently the leading flight simulator platform, but it is not a fully complete or self-contained simulation environment. Strong visuals and high adoption are offset by performance issues, weak ATC, and reliance on third-party tools.
1. MSFS 2024 Adoption: High Growth, But Many Users Hold Back
MSFS 2024 adoption has been rapid. According to the survey, 49.5% of users now use it as their primary simulator, showing a clear shift from the previous version . However, this growth is not universal. A key detail often overlooked:
“41.8% of respondents who have MSFS 2020 as their primary simulator have not switched.”
This suggests that a large portion of users are still hesitant to upgrade. In practical terms, MSFS 2024 has momentum—but not full trust. Many users appear to be waiting for improvements in performance, stability, and system depth before committing fully.
2. MSFS 2024 Graphics and Visual Quality Are Not Enough
MSFS 2024 graphics are widely considered the best in the industry. The survey confirms this clearly:
“Graphics [remain] the strongest-performing category.”
Default aircraft and weather systems also perform well, with most users reporting that expectations are met or exceeded .
However, this creates a key imbalance. The simulator excels visually but struggles to match that quality in deeper systems. The report highlights this directly:
“This highlights a gap between visual quality and system depth.”
In other words, MSFS 2024 looks realistic—but does not always simulate reality with the same depth.
3. MSFS 2024 System Depth Problems: Core Features Still Underdeveloped
One of the biggest MSFS 2024 problems is system depth. Several core features fall below user expectations:
“Air Traffic Control, Weather Radar, and Missions show the highest shares of responses below expectations.”
These are not minor features—they are central to realistic simulation.
- ATC controls structure and realism
- Weather radar affects operational decision-making
- Missions are a core part of the new gameplay design
The fact that all three underperform suggests that MSFS 2024 has not fundamentally solved long-standing limitations from earlier versions. And the complaints an dproblems on career are still persistent. Which ones!
4. MSFS 2024 ATC Problems: The Biggest Weak Point Remains
MSFS 2024 ATC is the most criticized feature in the entire report:
“ATC is the most frequently mentioned area at 16.3%.”
This is especially important because it comes from open-ended user feedback. It is not prompted—it is spontaneous.
For a simulator focused on realism, weak ATC is a major limitation. As a result, many users rely on third-party solutions such as VATSIM or AI-based ATC tools instead of the default system.
However, this issue is nuanced. Many experienced simmers prefer external ATC regardless of quality. Even so, the default system is widely seen as insufficient for realistic operations.
Conclusion:
Default ATC in MSFS 2024 is not reliable enough for serious simulation use.
5. MSFS 2024 Performance and Stability Issues
MSFS 2024 performance is one of the most important concerns for users. The survey states:
“Simulator Stability and FPS remain more mixed but continue to lean slightly negative.”
This indicates:
- inconsistent FPS
- ongoing stability issues
- performance that does not always meet expectations
For casual flying, this may be acceptable. But for longer flights or complex aircraft, performance issues can significantly reduce immersion and usability.
6. MSFS 2024 User Sentiment: Positive, but with Clear Limitations
Despite these problems, overall sentiment toward MSFS 2024 is positive:
- 44.8% promoters
- 10.5% detractors
This shows that most users enjoy the simulator. However, positive sentiment does not mean the platform is complete.
Users appreciate the visuals and experience—but still recognize the limitations in performance, ATC, and system depth. What is not in the data, but plain obvious, if you look at YouTube and facebook: the career mode is still buggy, which is a major osbtacle for many simmers, in particular the newbees MSFS2024 is supposed to attract.
7. MSFS 2024 vs Expectations: Why It’s Not the Defining Release
One surprising result is how MSFS 2024 compares to other releases:
“Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 appears at 5.7%” in best product release responses
For a major platform launch, this is relatively low. It suggests that while MSFS 2024 is widely used, it is not seen as the most exciting or groundbreaking release in the ecosystem.
8. MSFS 2024 Addon Dependency: Not a Complete Simulator Yet
A consistent pattern across the data is MSFS 2024’s reliance on third-party tools:
- flight planning is dominated by external tools
- charts are dominated by third-party platforms
- ATC is often replaced by external solutions
This means MSFS 2024 functions more as a platform than a complete simulator.
For many users, this is acceptable. But it also means:
The base simulator alone does not deliver full realism.
Final Verdict: Is MSFS 2024 Worth It?
MSFS 2024 is worth using—but not perfect.
Best for:
- visual immersion
- casual to semi-serious simming
- users willing to use third-party add-ons
Not ideal for:
- fully self-contained realism
- users expecting strong default ATC
- users sensitive to performance issues
MSFS 2024 Pros and Cons
Pros
- Industry-leading graphics
- Strong adoption and ecosystem
- High immersion
Cons
- Weak default ATC
- Performance and stability issues
- Limited system depth
- Heavy reliance on add-ons
SimDispatch Conclusion: Operational Status and Limitations
Aircraft: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Status: Operational – With Restrictions
MSFS 2024 delivers a strong visual experience and dominates the current flight simulation market. However, it still shows clear weaknesses in performance, ATC, and system depth.
For now, it is best understood not as a complete simulator, but as a powerful platform—one that depends on external tools to reach its full potential.
MSFS 2024 is not the simulator it claims to be—yet.
But it is the simulator most people are using anyway.
