Two days after it first launched and it’s nonetheless not possible to play Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, because it suffers server and different technical issues.
It’s simple to be cynical when publishers withhold evaluate copies till a recreation’s day of launch. The speedy assumption is that they know they’ve acquired a dud on their palms and try to cover it till the final attainable second.
Often that’s precisely why it occurs however generally there are mitigating circumstances, particularly if it’s an online-only recreation or a developer has been speeding to get it able to hit an rigid launch date.
In the case of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 its non-availability earlier than launch was defined, by Microsoft, as being as a result of on-line providers not being prepared and a deliberate day one patch replace for Xbox and PC. As excuses go, that one didn’t sound too worrying. The drawback is these on-line providers are nonetheless not working and as we write this the sport has already been out for 2 days.
The actuality of Flight Simulator 2004’s scenario has turned out to be one thing wearyingly acquainted, particularly because it comes just a few days after the fourth anniversary of Cyberpunk 2077’s nightmare launch.
On attempting to begin Flight Simulator 2004, which regardless of being single-player requires an always-on Internet connection to play it, we had been greeted with a static Login Queue display explaining, ‘Too many customers try to attach on the similar time’. Apparently having numerous gamers attempting to play a triple-A title on launch day was a scenario no person had thought-about upfront.
The queue later modified to a server error, and the next day gave technique to downloading a number of gigabytes of property, which appeared optimistic till the obtain froze at 97%. Restarting the sport the identical factor occurred.
Later within the day we had been in a position to full that course of, solely to have the sport freeze within the set-up menus. Rebooting our Xbox Series X, we acquired to the identical display in set-up earlier than it froze once more. And once more. And once more.
A variety of PC gamers have managed to load the sport, and so they’re already complaining of a litany of glitches, damaged textures, and efficiency points. The indisputable fact that it’s been review-bombed right down to 1/10 on Steam is maybe comprehensible given the size of disappointment.
Reader Saints Stickman summed it up properly in Wednesday’s Inbox: ‘So, Microsoft need us all to imagine that cloud gaming is the long run. Yet they launch Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 at this time and all you get is a message saying, ‘too many customers try to attach on the similar time’.
‘That’s the software program put in domestically on an Xbox Series X simply attempting to hook up with the servers. If the infrastructure can’t deal with that, then how are they ever going to deal with streaming the sport down too! The solely cloud they’re in is Cloud Cuckoo Land!’
It additionally raises the long-standing concern of whether or not you truly personal a recreation once you purchase it digitally, particularly when, via no fault of your personal, you then can’t play it. The rise of digital purchases reveals no signal of stopping and but Flight Simulator 2024 makes a really clear argument towards it.
Reader Cassius2K alludes to precisely that in the identical Inbox: ‘In a world the place individuals purchase digital and by no means truly personal it, the highest model is £199.99. That’s some huge cash.’
It definitely is, and it’s a reminder that guidelines round digital possession might must be tightened as much as forestall corporations we purchase from with the ability to withdraw rights to a recreation, movie or piece of music every time they really feel prefer it or occur to be experiencing technical difficulties.
It can be totally different if there have been a built-in compensation course of – in case your prepare doesn’t run on time you get a partial refund – however regardless of costs for video games that stretch properly over £100, players don’t have any recourse besides venting their anger on Steam. If you may’t play the sport you obtain, robust luck. Nothing about that appears truthful.
We stay up for reviewing Flight Simulator 2024 and can accomplish that as quickly because it’s in a playable state. Unfortunately, we don’t know when that will likely be.
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