Microsoft is poised to unveil the next iteration of its acclaimed Flight Simulator series, with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 set to take off on November 19. In anticipation of this launch, the tech giant has released a comprehensive overview of the enhancements and updated system requirements for the latest version, which promise to streamline the gaming experience while maintaining the high standards that fans have come to expect.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 System Requirements and Recommended Specifications
One of the most notable changes is the significant reduction in installation size. The original 2020 release required a hefty 130 GB for the base game, and subsequent updates ballooned that figure to nearly 400 GB. However, with the new version, the base game now requires only 30 GB, a remarkable feat achieved through innovative cloud streaming technology. This allows players to download only the necessary data for their chosen flight path, rather than the entire world at once.
Microsoft has outlined three tiers of system requirements: Minimum, Recommended, and Ideal. Here’s a closer look at what players will need:
<table tabindex="0" class="tablewrapper tablewrapper–inbodyContent tablewrapper–sticky tablewrapper–divider”>
<thead class="tablehead”>
<tr class="tableheadrow”>
<th class="tableheadheading tableheadheading–left” colspan=”1″>Header Cell – Column 0
<th class="tableheadheading tableheadheading–left” colspan=”1″>Minimum System Requirements
<th class="tableheadheading tableheadheading–left” colspan=”1″>Recommended System Specifications
<th class="tableheadheading tableheadheading–left” colspan=”1″>Ideal System Specifications
<tbody class="tablebody”>
<tr class="tablebodyrow”>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Operating System Version
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Windows 10 with latest update
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Windows 10 with latest update
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Windows 10 with latest update
<tr class="tablebodyrow”>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>DirectX Version
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>DirectX 12
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>DirectX 12
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>DirectX 12
<tr class="tablebodyrow”>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>CPU
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Intel Core i7-6800K or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Intel Core i7-10700K or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Intel Core i7-14700K or AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
<tr class="tablebodyrow”>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>GPU
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Nvidia GTX 970 or AMD RX 5700
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Nvidia RTX 2080 or AMD RX 5700 XT
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Nvidia RTX 4080 or AMD RX 7900 XT
<tr class="tablebodyrow”>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>GPU VRAM
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>4 GB
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>8 GB
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>12 GB
<tr class="tablebodyrow”>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>RAM
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>16 GB
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>32 GB
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>64 GB
<tr class="tablebodyrow”>
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>Storage Space
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>30 GB
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>30 GB
<td class="tablebody_data” colspan=”1″>30 GB
As Microsoft elaborates, the reduced installation size allows players to get airborne more swiftly, with the ability to stream additional data as needed. This means that while the base game requires 30 GB, users may need an additional buffer of around 20 GB for the specific areas they intend to explore. This flexible approach marks a significant improvement over the previous version’s cumbersome storage demands.
However, the ambitious nature of Flight Simulator 2024 is reflected in its Ideal RAM requirements, which soar to 64 GB. While this figure may seem daunting, it underscores the game’s capability to simulate vast landscapes with stunning realism. For those seeking a more leisurely experience, the new hot air balloon mode offers a gentler way to enjoy the skies.
