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Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, the latest installment in the iconic simulation series, struggled to take off as it faced significant server overload and technical issues on its launch day. Players worldwide were met with long load times, missing content, and server crashes, leading to a disappointing debut for a highly anticipated title.
When the game launched on November 19, at 8 AM PST, player numbers quickly overwhelmed the game’s infrastructure. Despite developers Asobo Studio and Microsoft simulating a load of 200,000 users in preparation, actual player interest far exceeded expectations. This resulted in technical problems across the board. Steam reviews consequently plummeted to an “Overwhelmingly Negative” rating as players voiced their frustration.
Some players reported waiting up to an hour before they could even begin the game. Even those who managed to get past the loading screens had their aircraft missing and game content that failed to load properly. Others found themselves completely locked out after reaching around 90% of the initial load, leading to hours of troubleshooting and repeated attempts to restart the game.
In response, Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, addressed the community’s concerns in a video. “We knew the excitement was high for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, but frankly, we completely underestimated how high, and it really has overwhelmed our infrastructure,” he said.
He also reassured players that the development team is committed to fixing the issues, stating, “The team is on it, and we will keep going.”
Asobo’s CEO, Sebastian Wloch, explained the root cause of the predicament. He said that while everything worked during their simulated load tests, a key database cache “crumpled under demand on launch day.” The large gap between the load tests and the real-world player base showed that their infrastructure lacked the scalability needed for a smoother launch. It further revealed the developers’ struggle to anticipate the enthusiasm for the new title.
To address these problems, Microsoft and Asobo have implemented several measures, including server upgrades, software patches, and a throttling system to manage player traffic more effectively. These steps, however, haven’t fully resolved the issues, as players continue to report some of the same bugs from launch day. Microsoft has yet to provide a concrete timeline for when all players can expect a stable gaming experience.
The rocky launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 serves as a reminder of the challenges game developers face in scaling infrastructure for massive player interest. With the developers openly acknowledging their missteps and focusing on improving server capacity, players are hoping for a better experience in the days to come.
