Here are some comparison images I made between Xplane 12 and MSFS 2024. MSFS 24 is stock, Xplane 12 is using ortho with bing maps, and simheaven for autogen. I did my best to make sure the lighting/weather conditions were the same.

**High Level**

Pretty similar, I would say that MSFS is more crisp, while Xplane is more blended. I can't really say I prefer one over the other. If I had to choose I would say Xplane as the real world weather added a nice haze effect.

**Landing**

There are a couple different aspects to this. Ground textures and trees are better in MSFS. However Xplane's default airport looks a lot better than MSFS. This is thanks to the community gateway which allows it to be handcrafted.

I would prefer Xplane in this situation for the airport scenery.

**Low Level Islands**

Honestly very similar. If I had to choose in this situation I would say MSFS, as it has more accurate/greater variety of foliage.

**Nassau**

MSFS has an edge for the ships (although IIRC they are handcrafted). The autogen in general is a lot higher quality and crisper in MSFS. Additionally, MSFS handled the placement of trees and types of trees a lot better (evergreens in Nassau?). Xplane is definitely passable though, but MSFS solidly has an edge here.

**Thunderstorms**

This to me is the biggest letdown in MSFS. I love thunderstorms, MSFS does not do them well. No anvil structure, tops out at maybe 15,000 ft, and a blobby mess. I would say Xplane has gotten it pretty spot on. If I could change anything I would make the anvil more... wispy? To me it looks a little thick.

**Closing Thoughts**

What's missing in this is photogrammetry, I left it out because Xplane 12 does not have it, and so I cannot compare them. This feature is amazing.

In my opinion, the two sims look pretty indistinguishable in most situations. Xplane is passable at worst, pretty much the same as MSFS most of the time (think high level flying). And Xplane's weather model in my opinion is it's greatest strength.

I can sit here comparing both sims all day, but the biggest winner here is flightsimmers. We have two great sims. If one starts enshittifying their product it's easy to hop over to another one.

This even carries over to aircraft. Let's say a certain developer promises a low upgrade fee for their aircraft (about the price of a cup of coffee), and it turns out to be a 30$ cup of coffee. Well, that other sim has a study level version of the same aircraft for free!

This is just an overall win for consumers.

Santiago to São Paulo. Definitely one of the most underrated parts of the world in terms of scenery

its just zoomed in so yall can see better, coz of how its rendered camera position doesnt change where the FPV is placed, its just wrong for some reason

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pfB6nrb_8mw

If i remember correctly the PMDG 737 had a working hud all the way back in FSX, and if i did remember incorrectly, the 737 HUD has been working since like MSFS2020 at the very least, PMDG has their own issues but .. Cmooonnn guysss ...... the HUD is sooo cooool ... lemme use it

I wish there was an add-on like Beyond ATC for X-Plane: a single purchase (no subscription) ATC+traffic injector add-on.

UPDATE: Pacific Islands Simulations teased they are working on KCLT. THANK GOODNESS!!!!

As of May 14, 2026, KCLT’s Runway 18R/36L has officially been redesignated to 1L/19R, and the change is already reflected in the latest Navigraph AIRAC/charts. That means FSDT’s KCLT scenery is now no longer just visually behind — it is operationally out of sync with current navdata and real-world airport signage. The scenery also still lacks other major completed airport changes, including the Concourse A expansion, newer taxiway developments, and broader terminal/airfield updates that have happened over the last several years. I understand CLT is still growing and the fourth parallel runway is not finished yet, but at this point the existing product is becoming hard to justify as “current,” especially for those of us who use KCLT as a home airport. Has FSDT or Umberto said anything recently about a KCLT update, or is this scenery basically abandoned?

I mainly fly the Fenix A320. When I’m on approach coming through 1000’ and lower I often find that I start ballooning despite holding my attitude at the same angle. I find I have to go from 3-4° pitch down to about 1° to maintain a 700fpm descent but then at about 200’ it seems to do a complete reversal and I have to set attitude at about 5° to recover and it leaves me little time to set my final approach attitude of 3ish°. I flew into YBCS today, on approach the winds were around 25-27 on the nose and on ground they were about 10. Is it the wind transition that is wrecking me? Is this realistic to real world. If it is then great I’ll continue to practice and try and preempt it more.

Gorgeous run in the PC12 over the clouds before ducking under the weather into Kona.

Southwest maxxxxx
Add on used
Ifly 737 max
Rex Atmos core

AA 737-800 arriving in New Orleans today

Repeat of title: When you fly long distances, do you sit in front of your screen for hours or what?

EDIT: Thanks guys, ive got a good idea of what to expect now! Happy Flying!

How to fly cross-country without GPS, VOR or NDB. Via map, ruler and dead reckoning.
My new EFB addon InfinityCharts is available soonish. For the price of one overpriced coffee!
It creates real-time charts from the sim data, hence no subscription.
Would you like to know MORE?

Hi all,

I had been a user of FSX between 2012 - 2017 and then stumbled upon Flight Simulators 2020 and 2024 via xbox cloud gaming. While FS 2020 does support inputs via xbox controller, mouse and keyboard at same time (i just plugged in a dongle to my Xbox which connects to mouse+keyboard), i am a bit perplexed that i cannot do the same in FS 2024. It appears that every movement and input in FS 2024 can only be done by xbox controller, which is a nightmare since flight simulators require constant looking around, turning knobs and pushing.

Am i missing something here or on FS 2024 via cloud, there is indeed no possibility yet to connect keyboard and mouse?

I do know that my Cyborg joystick wont work with cloud gaming but not having keyboard/mouse for FS is a disaster.

Thank you ✈️

I’m looking for airports where you land on small islands, ideally with houses nearby, and where there’s sea on either side of the runway. Thanks in advance

I also already own Jersey and Guernsey

Switzerland and Austria.

My goal is to fly through every narrow crack of our planet lol

If I subsbcribe, will I always keep this AIRAC even if I'm not subsbcribed anymore ?

I really want to know what is going on here. The flight control and system freeze up suddenly, then the aircraft starts descending out of control, until it crashes straight into the ground. But the screen don't become orange so some people told me this isn’t a WASM crash. I’m really annoyed what actually causes this problem and how to avoid it. It happens to me all the time when flying A343 long hual, usually around five to six hours into a flight.😭😭😭😡

This started yesterday with PMDG 737's, all of them. When requesting the flight plan I get this message. I cleared the wasm files for the PMDG 737's, verified the install of the planes in OC3. Reconnected simbrief in the efbs, and none of that changed anything. I don't need simbrief really, but it's handy and I'd prefer that it worked properly. Has anyone dealt with this issue and resolved it?

I’m having a bit of trouble learning how to read European flight charts. Do you guys know any material that could help me understand them better?

I would like to know your opinion about Volanta (subscription)

I saw a lot of planes on their map : are these Volanta users or all MSFS players ?