Beware: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024’s jaw-dropping bandwidth demand peaks at 81GB/Hour
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024’s technical tests show internet bandwidth usage reaching 180Mbps at points.
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What you need to know
Veteran flight sim enthusiast and aspiring pilots alike should double-check their internet connections.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024requires a constant internet connection to play, as the data for the game is streamed in constantly while players soar across the world. While thePC requirements for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024list a 50Mbps connection as meeting the recommended specs, the game’s usage could spike higher in particular situations.
YouTube channel Compusemble tested the technical alpha for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (thanks,Tom’s Hardware), finding that internet bandwidth usage could spike as high as 180Mbps in certain situations, roughly 81GB per hour (pray your ISP doesn’t have data caps).
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Now, to be fair, the usage also went well below the recommended requirements in many places, with lower-detailed areas seeing the download rate fall to merely 10Mbps in places.
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It’s also worth noting that this technical alpha was around a 9 GB install, while the full game will be larger at about 30 GB. This means more data might’ve been streamed during the test that will be locally installed in the full game.
Ultimately, we’ll have to wait and see how the whole game pans out to know exactly what the data usage looks like, but you should definitely be prepared for a high rate, just in case.
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I had the chance togo hands-on with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 for a preview, and I enjoyed my time with the game, though there are many aspects I couldn’t test.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is launching across Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC on Nov. 19, 2024. Like other Xbox first-party games, it’s included at launch inXbox Game Pass Ultimateand PC Game Pass. If you’re unsure how you want to play, consult my guide on thedifferent editions of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
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Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Twitter@SamuelTolbert.
