Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: Addressing a Turbulent Launch
The highly anticipated release of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 experienced a challenging launch, marked by significant server issues, bugs, and instability. Jorg Neumann, head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Sebastian Wloch, CEO of Asobo Studio, addressed these problems directly in a YouTube video.
Unexpected Demand Overwhelms Servers
The developers acknowledged significantly underestimating the player base. The influx of users overwhelmed the game's infrastructure, causing major server strain. Neumann explained that the initial data requests from players overloaded the server's cache, which, while tested with 200,000 simulated users, proved insufficient for the actual launch numbers. Wloch elaborated on the cascading effect: server restarts and repeated retries, due to cache saturation, led to excessively long loading times and the infamous 97% loading screen freeze.
Login Queues and Missing Content
Attempts to mitigate the issue by increasing queue size and speed were temporarily successful, but the underlying cache problem persisted. This resulted not only in lengthy login queues but also in missing aircraft and other game content for some players who managed to log in. The missing content stemmed from the server's inability to deliver complete data due to the overwhelmed cache.
Negative Steam Feedback and Ongoing Solutions
The launch issues have resulted in overwhelmingly negative player reviews on Steam. The development team is actively working to resolve the problems, and the Steam page now indicates that the immediate issues have been addressed and player access is stabilizing. A sincere apology was issued, along with a commitment to ongoing communication through social media, forums, and the official website.
