How Big is the Download for Microsoft Flight Simulator? Everything You Need to Know

Hey flight sim fan! Microsoft‘s new Flight Simulator is a incredible technical achievement, delivering a hyper-realistic flying experience all around the globe. But you may have heard about its famously massive file size. So just how much drive space do you actually need for those long haul flights? Let‘s dig in!

The Standard Edition clocks in at a beefy 70-100 GB download. Step up to the Deluxe and you‘re looking at 85-110 GB. And the top-tier Premium Deluxe soars to a whopping 130-170 GB install! Clearly, Microsoft Flight Simulator is no lightweight bird.

What Makes the File Size So Huge?

There‘s good reason for the large footprint. Microsoft Flight Simulator pushes boundaries by laser-scanning the entire planet in intricate detail using Bing Maps data and satellite imagery. Billions of buildings, trees, roads, rivers and more are rendered from this photogrammetry and available to fly over.

On top of that, all the planes and airports are crafted with incredibly high resolution 4K textures. And advanced weather, aerodynamics and flight modeling requires tons of complex background data. No wonder it takes up so much room!

But while 170 GB is admittedly extreme, all that detail opens up a whole new world of virtual flying at your fingertips. Once installed, you can experience the thrill anywhere on the globe. Well, anywhere with a large enough hard drive!

Breaking Down the Install Size

Let‘s look at how the download size varies depending on which platform and edition you choose. This can help plan how much space to allot.

PC (Steam):

• Standard Edition – 98-127 GB
• Deluxe Edition – 109-135 GB
• Premium Deluxe – 127-170 GB

PC / Xbox (Microsoft Store):

• Standard Edition – 83-102 GB
• Deluxe Edition – 84-106 GB
• Premium Deluxe – 87-110 GB

As you can see, the Microsoft Store and Xbox downloads are a bit more compact, while Steam‘s are larger overall. But even the minimum 70 GB for Standard is beefy by most gaming standards.

Estimated Download Times

With files in the multiple gigabytes range, your internet speed is definitely a factor. Here‘s a rough estimate of how long you‘ll be waiting to take-off:

• 50 Mbps connection: 2-3 hours
• 100 Mbps connection: 1-2 hours
• 200 Mbps connection: 50-70 minutes
• 500 Mbps connection: 25-40 minutes
• 1 Gbps fiber connection: 20-30 minutes

Obviously faster is better, but even blazing 1 Gbps will require 20-30 minutes for the Premium Deluxe edition. I‘d recommend starting the download overnight or before stepping away for a bit.

Ideal PC Hardware for Smooth Flying

To handle all that visual data smoothly, Microsoft Flight Simulator works best on higher end gaming rigs when maxing out the settings. These specs will deliver silky smooth performance:

• CPU – Ryzen 7 5800X or Core i7-10700K
• GPU – RTX 3070 or Radeon RX 6800 XT
• RAM – 32GB DDR4
• Storage – 1TB NVMe SSD

You can certainly fly on lesser hardware by adjusting the graphics down. But for the full cinematic experience at 4K resolution, some beefy parts are recommended.

Tips to Save Space With the Install

While you‘ll always need a sizable chunk of drive space, here are some tips to slim down the install a bit:

• Only download scenery/airports for regions you‘ll actually fly over
• Move the folder to an external SSD to save room on your boot drive
• Enable offline caching so photogrammetry data isn‘t re-streamed
• Adjust texture and terrain quality or uninstall planes you won‘t use

I was able to shave almost 20 GB off by disabling South America scenery since I mainly fly in the U.S. Definitely helps ease storage pressure!

How Does MSFS Compare to Other Flight Sims?

Most modern flight sims require at least some hefty space. But Microsoft Flight Simulator is in a class of its own when it comes to sheer scale. For comparison:

• X-Plane 11 – 24 GB basic up to 75 GB fully installed
• Prepar3D – 26 GB basic up to 100 GB decked out
• Aerofly FS 2 – Just 8-12 GB due to smaller scope

So while not every sim needs a dedicated hard drive like MSFS, they certainly benefit from having room to grow.

Is the Premium Deluxe Edition Worth the Space?

The Premier Deluxe spans a massive 170 GB, nearly double the Standard Edition. Are those extra planes and airports worth it? Well it depends on what you‘re looking for:

Pros

• 40 highly detailed airports vs 30 in Standard
• 30 aircraft like 747 and A320 vs 20 in Standard
• Future DLC and content updates included

Cons

• Much larger download and hard drive requirements
• Casual users may not utilize full content
• Large $90 premium over Standard edition

For hardcore aviation nuts, the full meal deal is great. But for many users the Standard Edition delivers plenty to explore for a lower cost and install footprint.

Final Takeoff Checklist

Well that covers everything you need to know size-wise before taking to the virtual skies! To recap the key points:

• Brace for a 70 GB+ download even for Standard Edition
• Premium Deluxe soars to 170 GB – clear ample runway
• Faster internet = quicker download time
• Beefy hardware recommended for smooth 4K flights
• Tweak settings to save space if needed

With the right gear and a little planning, you‘ll be ready for those epic virtual journeys all around the planet. Whether you‘re gazing down at accurate 3D cities in photogrammetry or flying through dynamic weather, Microsoft Flight Simulator is an incredible technical showpiece. Happy (virtual) flying!