Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024's launch faced significant challenges, prompting an acknowledgment and apology from its leadership. Let's delve into the reasons behind the turbulent rollout.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: Addressing Day-One Launch Issues

Overwhelming User Numbers Strain MSFS Servers

The highly anticipated release of MSFS 2024 was unfortunately met with a wave of bugs, instability, and persistent server issues. In a YouTube video, Jorg Neumann (head of Microsoft Flight Simulator) and Sebastian Wloch (CEO of Asobo Studio) addressed player concerns directly. They explained that while they anticipated high excitement, the sheer volume of players significantly exceeded their projections, overwhelming the game's infrastructure. Neumann stated plainly, "It really has overwhelmed our infrastructure."

Wloch elaborated on the technical aspects, explaining the initial login process: players request data from a server, which in turn retrieves it from a database. While this database utilizes a cache system and underwent testing with 200,000 simulated users, the actual player count far surpassed this, causing a critical overload.

Login Queues, Missing Planes, and Loading Issues

The team responded by increasing the login queue size and speed fivefold. However, this temporary solution proved insufficient, as the cache repeatedly collapsed under the strain. Wloch explained that when the service becomes saturated, it fails, leading to repeated restarts and significantly prolonged loading times. This often resulted in loading screens freezing at 97%, requiring players to restart the game.

The reported issue of missing planes stems from incomplete or blocked content delivery. Even players who successfully navigated the login queue might find some aircraft or game assets missing. This, Wloch clarified, is a direct consequence of the overloaded servers and overwhelmed cache.

Negative Steam Feedback Reflects Launch Difficulties

Unsurprisingly, the launch problems resulted in overwhelmingly negative feedback on Steam. Players reported extended login queues, missing content, and general instability, leading to a "Mostly Negative" rating on the platform.

Despite the significant setbacks, the development team assures players that they're actively working on resolving these issues. Their Steam page statement reads: "We have solved the issues and are now bringing players in at a steady pace... We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience." They've committed to keeping players updated via social media, forums, and their website.