FlyByWire Simulations has shared a new development update detailing how the team plans to handle aircraft development for both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 moving forward.
In the post, the team explained that maintaining a single package compatible across both simulator platforms has started to create limitations as MSFS 2024 continues to evolve. As a result, FlyByWire will begin transitioning towards simulator-specific releases, allowing each version of its aircraft to better utilise the features and technologies available in its respective platforms.
The move is expected to benefit both performance and stability, whilst also enabling the team to take greater advantage of native MSFS 2024 functionality without needing to maintain backwards compatibility with MSFS 2020 at all times. Moving forward, a new versioning scheme will be used, as best shown with the image below.
Updating your FlyByWire Simulations aircraft will still be done via the FlyByWire installer, but you will need to ensure you’re using the correct version for the simulator you wish to install in.
FlyByWire says this change will also simplify development internally, reducing the complexity that comes with supporting two simulators with increasingly different foundations.
Currently, aircraft such as the A32NX and the in-development A380X are available for both simulators, although the team notes that they are not yet considered fully native MSFS 2024 products. The eventual goal is to deliver dedicated versions built specifically for each simulator platform.
Despite the change in direction, FlyByWire stressed that support for MSFS 2020 is not ending immediately. Instead, the transition will happen gradually over time, with both platforms continuing to receive support during the process.
No timeline was provided for when fully separated releases will become available, although the team says more information will be shared in future development updates. You can watch how the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 native version will improve performance in the A380-X based on the Keynote from FSWeekend 2026.
