Microsoft Flight Simulator doubles performance: DF's test on GeForce RTX 30

Microsoft Flight Simulator doubles performance: DF's test on GeForce RTX 30

Microsoft Flight Simulator doubles performance

While Microsoft Flight Simulator's World Update 3 invites players to soar over the UK's scenic wilderness, the development team offers an interesting insight into NVIDIA's latest generation of GPUs.

In collaboration with Digital Foundry experts, Asobo presents an overview dedicated to aspiring pilots active on PC. Specifically, the software house wanted to offer an in-depth examination of the increase in performance of Microsoft Flight Simulator made possible by a transition to the GeForce RTX 10 and 20 series GPUs to those of the GeForce GTX 30 series. Powered by the Ampere architecture, the latter have demonstrated the ability to deliver a substantial upgrade, tested on the road by the Digital Foundry editorial team.



Overall, it is reported, the transition from the RTX 10 series the most recent RTX 30 is able to generate even double the performance, with peaks of 2.4 times. The improvements allowed by a switch from RTX 20 to RTX 30 are less marked, but in any case more than significant. In this case, the increase in terms of performance averaged 53%. The impact of the GeForce RTX 30 proved particularly relevant especially in 4K resolution, with the frame rate able to remain anchored to values ​​above 60 fps, for a fluid and at the same time visually satisfying experience.



An Xbox Series X | S version of Microsoft Flight Simulator will arrive in the summer of 2021.







Optimization of Microsoft Flight Simulator for Xbox is helping PC version

Developer Asobo continues to work hard on the upcoming summer release of Microsoft Flight Simulator for next-gen Xbox systems. At first glance, it may seem like that development has nothing to do with the PC version, but Asobo has alluded to the PC version seeing some improvements thanks to this development. Namely, with memory optimization. As transcribed by Stormbirds, during a recent Q&A livestream, some of the devs confirmed that “a lot of work” is being done on the memory optimization of the sim on PC. And that is “being driven in part by the Xbox release.”


We already knew that DirectX12 support is on the way for the PC edition of the simulator alongside the Xbox edition. All things considered, it now seems very likely that the PC version of Microsoft Flight Simulator should be running a lot better for more folks come this summer. Or, you can just bust the bank for an RTX 3090 and get those gains now (kidding).


The good news didn’t stop at performance improvements. Asobo has also confirmed that several other aspects of the sim are being worked on. For instance, the flight model is still being tweaked and built upon, which is something that many core simmers have had a few misgivings about.


Another thing that was confirmed is that the updates to the Garmin G1000/G3000 GPS systems that were set to be apart of the recent Sim Update 3 have been pushed back. The reason for this is because Asobo has hired the Working Title team. Working Title was formerly a community team making its own improvements to the GPS systems and the Cessna Citation CJ4. Its work was loved by many core simmers, so it’s no surprise that Asobo has taken notice.


There were some other tidbits included. Exportable controller profiles are in the pipeline, altimeter temperature is being added to the flight system, and the weather system is continuing to be worked on — something that’s now a bit less controversial. Weather was a point of contention for many players just a few months ago. The in-game marketplace will also be updated to support a community section. It will soon include popular mods like the venerable FlyByWire A320neo project.


Work is also continuing on World Update 4, which is set to come in April. The update features scenery enhancements for France and Benelux, just a shore away from the recently updated UK and Ireland.


On the topic of updates, the following Sim Update 4 and World Update 5 will now no longer be individual. Rather, they’ll be rolled into one update. The reason for this change is to reduce the number of builds and to improve testing, with the latter point being very important considering that some past updates have had adverse effects on the sim (including the most recent one causing FPS issues). Asobo is also making sure to include third-party devs in the testing process for the next updates, likely to verify that nothing conflicts with their products.


Microsoft Flight Simulator Cub In The Canyon


The last bit of news to come out of the Q&A is that a new aircraft is in the works. The developer didn’t even hint as to what that new aircraft might be, though. The sim is inundated with general aviation planes, so another airliner would be grand. Though that is a tall order considering their complexity. We’ll have to wait and see. Also, there was no mention if this would be a free new toy or payware.


Microsoft Flight Simulator is only going to get bigger as time goes on. Between Asobo’s consistent updates and the ever-growing collection of both payware and freeware content, players everywhere have quite a lot to look forward to.