Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 has been universally praised for its incredible visuals, in-depth flight simulation systems, and all-around impressive world design. That's not to say the newest entry in the long-running franchise is perfect, though. Even a year after release, there are still a number of issues players keep running into.
A few updates and patches have been released over time to address some of these concerns, particularly with regards to optimization and performance. But there's still plenty of room for improvement even in the most impressive video games. While Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 boasts some of the best aviation in video games, it's lacking in a few major ways.
6 Further Optimization For Low-End PCs
One of the most amazing things about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is its visuals. Just about anywhere throughout its rendition of Earth, players can find moments where they could easily mistake in-game graphics for real-life video. Weather simulation at higher elevations is particularly impressive. However, for the most part, only players with beefy PCs or the most recent PlayStation and Xbox consoles can actually experience these incredible graphics.
Low-end PCs and the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are perfectly capable of running Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, especially with the July 2021 performance overhaul. But there's still plenty that can be done (and more settings that can be implemented) so that gamers of all hardware specs can fully immerse themselves in this beautiful game.
5 Terrain Generation, Particularly Bodies Of Water
When Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was first released, one of the most common glitches was seen in terrain generation. Using real-life data and mapping systems, developers at Asobo Studio were able to replicate just about the entire Earth on a 1:1 scale. This included accurate terrain, from mountains to valleys and everything in between.
However, there are a number of places throughout the world where the terrain generator didn't quite hit the mark. There have been a few updates to address this, but it's still very common to see vertical rivers, waterfalls in the middle of lakes, and even tall water columns in the ocean. The community would welcome adjustments to the height of certain places throughout the game, such as mountains that appear flat or plains with glitchy rises.
4 More Content In The Base Game, Not Paid DLC
In the base game of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, players have access to 20 planes ranging from bush aircraft to full-on passenger jets. There's a lot of variety there, but there's an enourmous variety in the number of DLC aircraft that players can download for real-life money.
While a player can have a complete experience with the offerings in the base version of the game, it's exciting to get to try out famous planes from history or well-known contemporary aircraft. It's a shame that a lot of it is locked behind a paywall. It would be great if there were more free DLC – or even a modding scene that was officially supported by Microsoft.
3 Buildings, Cars, Boats, And Others Load Incorrectly
Similar to the terrain generation, the way that the game creates human settlements and vehicles relies on real-world data – some of it, like flight control patterns, is even based on real-time data. However, similar glitches plague this type of generation too. Players often see boats underwater, cars floating above the road, or buildings rising far higher than they ought to above their city.
There are some third-party methods to resolve this issue, such as a fix for London which fixes how the urban landscape is represented. The problem here, though, is that a lot of these third-party solutions aren't free. The game is impressive in a lot of ways and has pioneered how real-time data can be used in video games, but that's not to say the algorithm is flawless.
2 Lack Of In-Depth Tutorials
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 lacks one major feature: decent tutorials. There is a basic tutorial in the game which goes over the fundamental aspects of taking off, maneuvering in the air, and landing. However, it doesn't go much deeper than that.
A tutorial for each aircraft would go a long way in making the simulation feel all the more realistic. For hardcore fans of the game, online tutorials explaining the control panels and cockpit layouts are essential to understanding how a unique plane functions. It would be handy to have this functionality embedded in the game instead of forcing players to alt-tab out.
1 Better Multiplayer Functionality
In addition to graphical fixes and technical changes, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 could use some major improvements on is its multiplayer functionality. Right now, the game's multiplayer system is convoluted, unreliable, and completely reliant on Xbox accounts rather than their respective console or PC platform.
Additionally, players can only fly together in separate aircraft. There is no way to play together controlling one plane as Pilot and Co-Pilot. There are three multiplayer game modes: Live Players, All Players, and Group Only. However, the differences between the three are mostly based on personal preference for weather and live connectivity.