Microsoft Flight Simulator Expected to Stimulate Billions in PC Hardware Sales

[Uskompuf]

In a recent report from Jon Peddie Research (JPR) they estimate that $2.6 billion will be spent on PC gaming hardware in the next three years thanks to the release of Microsoft Flight Simulator. This $2.6 billion will be split across Entry-Level, Mid-Range, and High-End PC gamers with the High-End category contributing the most. JPR estimates that 2.27 million copies of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 will sell over the next three years. JPR predicts that these sales numbers will result in $2.6 billion being spent on hardware with the specific intent of improving the game's experience while much more will be spent over the title's complete life cycle.

This estimation includes new computer builds, processor upgrades, display upgrades, flight sticks and throttles, flight system control units, rudder pedals, simulation pit components such as seats and frames, and VR sales. This will benefit all computer components and accessory manufacturers as hardware upgrades are required across the board in most cases. With the introduction of 8K and VR support the game will continue to drive computer upgrades in the years to come.



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[Patriot]

Why would anyone build a pc for this, it is pointless... its a shitty optimized DX11 engine. It looks great but your system doesn't matter because its soo fucking CPU limited.

 

[DemonicRyzen666]

Why would anyone build a pc for this, it is pointless... its a shitty optimized DX11 engine. It looks great but your system doesn't matter because its soo fucking CPU limited.

Now a days you either usually end up gpu limited, or game/engine limited. Really a shame this sim only use 4 threads at max.
Baffling really with all the data it is trying to simulate.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Well it does require extravagant amounts of Vram.
Really needs a dx12 renderpath imho.

 

[Vayra86]

'Thanks to the release of MS FS'

Really? You sure this isn't an advertorial, even if we might not know it? Where is the similar piece talking about RT, because I do think that's a tiny bit bigger than a single Flight Sim sequel.

Or maybe RT really is dead in the water thus far...

 

[huguberhart]

Hopefully, Logitech will update their Logitech Extreme 3D Pro with Hal sensor for higher resolution..

 

[john_]

Why would anyone build a pc for this, it is pointless... its a shitty optimized DX11 engine. It looks great but your system doesn't matter because its soo fucking CPU limited.

I haven't tried a flight sim from the days I was still with an Atari Mega STe. Meaning last century. But this thing looks interesting. I mean, having a real map underneath and flying over real terrain by using Bing Maps, it is really unique as an idea. You don't have bombs and missiles, you don't fight other airplanes, but flying over something that looks like a real scenery? That's something new, that's something that looks ahead of it's time. For people who like to travel, this could be the cheapest and faster way to "visit" some places, even from above.

 

[ZeroFM]

This estimation includes new computer builds, processor upgrades
Yeah sure cpu upgrades ;D cpu usage 4 cores

 

[Vya Domus]

I really doubt that many people are interested in a flight simulator.

 

[cryohellinc]

Errr... no thanks Microsoft. Not interested in this game at all.

 

[TheDeeGee]

Looks amazing, but that's where it ends for me.

Last flight game i played was Jane's Combat Simulations F-15 (still own the boxed copy).

 

[Chomiq]

Remember prices of steering wheels before the sim racing boom? Expect the same for flight sticks.

 

[Markosz]

Doubt...
Computer builds, processor upgrades, display upgrades are just natural upgrades over the years, probably 1% of those purchases would be because of this one game, flight sticks sales will increase a bit, but the rest of the parts are only for the very few serious flight sim players, who probably already have those at home.
Looking at steam charts, twitch streamer and viewer numbers, it's not that much.

The guy who wrote the report must be new to flight sims and really hyped for this game...

 

[Frick]

So a few points.

1. I can't remember any flightsim that has garnered this much interest. I don't know how the proper enthusiasts have reacted to it, but I assume they like it. People want to try this game.
2. This is precisely the kind of game people upgrade specifically for, and the kind of people who are into this kind of thing are not afraid to go big. This is a game that will be played for years and years. EDIT: And this is a game people buy specific controllers for.

Maybe not billions, but it will definitely drive sales.

 

[stimpy88]

Now we know why it's DX11 only...

 

[lemonadesoda]

Historical maps would be good.
Hot air balloon mod would make a nice screensaver, or a giant pogostick mod, having to follow hard ground, and flying saucer Mars Attack! mod with green lasers.
From the days of AVIATOR, points for flying under bridges upside down would be good.
As for totally realistic flight sim, with minute-for-minute accuracy flying London to New York, with 95% on autopilot over the sea? Yawn.
Realistic Messerschmitt vs Spitfire squadron battles, now you're talking. Hell yeah.

I like the idea of real maps - if they can upgrade the data further still, perhaps not the whole world, but real roads, real towns, let me drive sim those, in MS Drive Simulator 2021. I'm a buying. Let those speed cameras flash!

 

[Chomiq]

Historical maps would be good.
Hot air balloon mod would make a nice screensaver, or a giant pogostick mod, having to follow hard ground, and flying saucer Mars Attack! mod with green lasers.
From the days of AVIATOR, points for flying under bridges upside down would be good.
As for totally realistic flight sim, with minute-for-minute accuracy flying London to New York, with 95% on autopilot over the sea? Yawn.
Realistic Messerschmitt vs Spitfire squadron battles, now you're talking. Hell yeah.

I like the idea of real maps - if they can upgrade the data further still, perhaps not the whole world, but real roads, real towns, let me drive sim those, in MS Drive Simulator 2021. I'm a buying. Let those speed cameras flash!

To each its own, some people like to race in project cars others prefer euro truck simulator. Same here, some play DCS, others (including real airline pilots) prefer something like FS. Hell, there are even those that act as ATCs in flightsims.

 

[mrthanhnguyen]

Anyone here know how to fix crash to desktop error of this game? I press anykey to start then it just crashes to desktop without any error message.

 

[c2DDragon]

At first I was thinking "Smoke weed everyday".
But then I realized there are so many professional and amateur pilots on the planet that those big numbers can be real in the near future and they can be even higher

 

[silentbogo]

I think JPR is smoking something really potent. 2.6 billion for 2.27m copies, that's more than $1K per copy....
Either they overestimate how much an average(or even non-average) person is willing to spend on upgrades, or they simply assume that not a single person out of all 2+M has a computer and will spend a grand on one. Just by looking at their "recommended" spec, you can get something under $1000 with a monitor to run it, since it only requires a quad-core w/ HT or at most a hexacore non-HT CPU (basically a current-gen i3/R3, or pre-pre-last-gen i5/R5 will do). I'm sure you can even get by with a pre-built and probably have a few bucks left on a decent flight stick, if you settle on 1080p@144Hz monitor instead of 1440p.

But then I realized there are so many professional and amateur pilots on the planet that those big numbers can be real in the near future and they can be even higher

That's still a niche market. There are very few individuals willing to spend time and money into a properly eqipped sim cabin, and if you mean commercial applications (mall attractions, pilot training programs etc.) - it'll most likely run on existing hardware.

 

[_Flare]

Win10 is a must, but they were not able to use DX12 nor program with good hardware-usage in mind ... poor microsoft.
Never throw good hardware after bad-optimized software, it´s just idiotic.

 

[neatfeatguy]

Or, maybe folks like myself (which I'm sure there are a lot) will need to upgrade their PC hardware because their GPU (980Ti here) and CPU (i5-4670k) are aging and falling behind and/or won't be supported much longer.

So yes, because of just this game and only this game, are people going to be upgrading their PC hardware. /s

What a stupid story.

 

[RedelZaVedno]

Most flight sim enthusiasts already own high end PCs because optimization of flight sims is criminally bad in general (just look at the DCS World, XPlane until Vulkan) so most of them don't see much need for an upgrade. Plus MS FS 2020 is heavily CPU bottlenecked limiting average frame rates at 66 fps (1080p/medium) regardless if you use 2060S or 2080TI. Game engine needs some serious optimization. I don't see how it could run in VR especially on the HP Reverb G2 (4320x2160p resolution) in it's current state.

 

[QUANTUMPHYSICS]

I have the Saitek X45 with Logitech's Pro pedals... and I'm deciding whether to get the X-56 or wait for a replacement....or just buy a WARTHOG HOTAS.

When I built up my computer, I was sure to get 32GB of DDR4 and a 2080Ti, spending more money to ensure I had equipment ready for anything that came along. Many people claimed "you don't need that" "that's too much...a waste" but then a game comes along like Crysis or in this case MS Flight Sim that totally makes the purchase worth it.
I won't be building my next computer till DDR5 RAM is available which means I'll probably have an 11th gen Intel CPU and a 4000 series GPU.

 

[trog100]

people with none gaming PCs still want to fly an air plane.. these are the people that will drive hardware sales..

all i want is for them to release an updated version of combat flight simulator.. the first one from over twenty years ago was brilliant.. i remember it well..

trog