Download Flight Simulator 2020 Free and Challenge Yourself with Dynamic Weather Conditions
How to Download Flight Simulator 2020 for Free
If you are a fan of aviation or simulation games, you have probably heard of Flight Simulator 2020, the latest entry in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series that has been around since 1982. This game is a stunning achievement that lets you fly highly detailed and realistic planes in an incredibly lifelike world. You can create your own flight plan and fly anywhere on the planet, enjoying flying day or night and facing challenging weather conditions.
But how can you get this amazing game for free? Well, there are two ways to do that: either by subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which gives you access to the Standard Edition of the game on PC, or by purchasing it on Steam, which offers a free trial option. In this article, we will show you how to download Flight Simulator 2020 for free using these methods, as well as what features you can expect from the game, what system requirements you need to run it smoothly, how to install it properly, and how to play it like a pro.
download flight simulator 2020 free
Features of Flight Simulator 2020
Flight Simulator 2020 is not just a game, it is a simulation of the entire Earth using data from Bing Maps, enhanced with photogrammetry, which converts 3D scans of the environment into the game world. Microsoft Azure's artificial intelligence (AI) generates the three-dimensional representations of Earth's features, using its cloud computing to render and enhance visuals, and real-world data to generate real-time weather and effects. Here are some of the features that make Flight Simulator 2020 so impressive:
Realistic graphics and physics: The game boasts stunning graphics that make you feel like you are really flying in the sky. You can see every detail of the terrain, buildings, water, clouds, shadows, and lighting. The game also has a physics engine that provides realistic flight control surfaces, with over 1,000 simulated surfaces, as well as realistic wind modelled over hills and mountains.
Global map and weather data: The game covers the whole world with over 37,000 airports, 2 million cities, and more than a billion buildings. You can fly over any location you want, from famous landmarks to remote areas. The game also uses real-time weather data from Meteoblue to create dynamic weather conditions that affect your flight. You can see storms on the horizon, lightning cracking inside the clouds, raindrops on your windshield, foggy or clear skies, and more.
Different planes and airports: The game offers a variety of planes to choose from, ranging from light planes to wide-body jets. Each plane has its own characteristics, performance, cockpit design, instruments, sounds, and liveries. You can also customize your plane with different options and settings. The game also features different airports with varying levels of detail, complexity, traffic, services, and challenges.
Multiplayer and VR modes: The game allows you to fly alongside your buddies or other players from around the world in the multiplayer mode. You can join a shared world with live traffic, real-time weather, and animals. You can also create your own group and invite your friends to fly together. The game also supports VR headsets, such as Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Windows Mixed Reality, for an immersive and realistic experience.
System Requirements for Flight Simulator 2020
Flight Simulator 2020 is a demanding game that requires a powerful PC to run smoothly. The game has different system requirements depending on the level of graphics and performance you want to achieve. Here are the minimum, recommended, and ideal specs for the game:
Specification
Minimum
Recommended
Ideal
CPU
Intel Core i5-4460 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
Intel Core i7-9800X or AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 2700X
GPU
Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 or AMD Radeon RX 570
Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 590
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 or AMD Radeon VII
RAM
8 GB
16 GB
32 GB
Storage
150 GB HDD
150 GB SSD
150 GB SSD NVMe or better
OS
Windows 10 version 18362.0 or higher (64-bit)
Windows 10 version 18362.0 or higher (64-bit)
Windows 10 version 18362.0 or higher (64-bit)
DirectX Version
11
11
11
[assistant](#message) Besides the hardware specs, you also need a good internet connection to play Flight Simulator 2020. The game uses online streaming to deliver high-quality visuals and data, which means it consumes a lot of bandwidth. The game has different internet speed requirements depending on the level of graphics and performance you want to achieve. Here are the minimum, recommended, and ideal speeds for the game:
Preset Scale
Data Consumption Per Hour (Approximate)
Data Consumption Per Month (Approximate)
Minimum Speed Required (Approximate)
Average Speed Required (Approximate)
Ideal Speed Required (Approximate)
Low-end Preset Scale (50)
1.5 GB/hour
45 GB/month (30 hours of gameplay)
5 Mbps download / 1 Mbps upload
10 Mbps download / 2 Mbps upload
20 Mbps download / 4 Mbps upload
Middle Preset Scale (100)
3 GB/hour
90 GB/month (30 hours of gameplay)
10 Mbps download / 2 Mbps upload
20 Mbps download / 4 Mbps upload
40 Mbps download / 8 Mbps upload
High-end Preset Scale (200)
8 GB/hour
240 GB/month (30 hours of gameplay)
20 Mbps download / 4 Mbps upload
40 Mbps download / 8 Mbps upload
80 Mbps download / 16 Mbps upload
[assistant](#message) Some additional sentences to complete the table are: - Highest-end Preset Scale (400)
- 20 GB/hour
- 600 GB/month (30 hours of gameplay)
- 50 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload
- 100 Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload
- 200 Mbps download / 40 Mbps upload
If you want to play Flight Simulator 2020 in VR mode, you also need to meet the PC requirements for your VR headset. Here are some examples of VR headsets and their PC requirements:
Name of VR HeadsetPC Requirements
Oculus Rift S
CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or better
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 480 or better
RAM: 8 GB or more
OS: Windows 10 version 1903 or higher (64-bit)
USB Ports: 1x USB 3.0 port
DisplayPort: Compatible Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter included with Rift S
HTC Vive Cosmos
CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350 or better
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290 or better
RAM: 4 GB or more
OS: Windows 10 version 1903 or higher (64-bit)
USB Ports: 1x USB 3.0 port
DisplayPort: 1x DisplayPort 1.2 or newer
Windows Mixed Reality
CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD Ryzen 5 1400 or better
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX 460 or better
RAM: 8 GB or more
OS: Windows 10 version 1903 or higher (64-bit)
USB Ports: Compatible HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 for 60Hz HMD Mode, HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 for 90Hz HMD Mode
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0 (for accessories)
How to Install Flight Simulator 2020
Once you have met the system requirements and chosen your method of getting Flight Simulator 2020 for free, you can proceed to install the game on your PC. The installation process may vary depending on whether you are using the Microsoft Store/Xbox App or Steam, but here are the general steps you need to follow:
Download the game launcher: The first step is to download the game launcher, which is a small file that will allow you to download the rest of the game files later. If you are using Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you need to download the Xbox App on your PC and sign in with your Microsoft account. Then, you can find Flight Simulator 2020 in the Game Pass library and click on Install. If you are using Steam, you need to download the Steam client on your PC and sign in with your Steam account. Then, you can find Flight Simulator 2020 in the Steam store and click on Play Game, which will prompt you to install the game launcher.
Download the game files: The second step is to download the game files, which are about 150 GB in size. This may take a long time depending on your internet speed and bandwidth, so be patient and make sure you have enough space on your PC. If you are using Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the game launcher will automatically start downloading the game files after you install it. If you are using Steam, the game launcher will ask you to choose a folder where you want to install the game files before it starts downloading them.
Optimize the download and installation process: The third step is to optimize the download and installation process to make it faster and smoother. Here are some tips you can follow:
Close any other programs or applications that may be using your internet connection or CPU resources.
Use a wired connection instead of a wireless one, if possible.
Pause and resume the download if it gets stuck or slow.
Check for any updates for your PC, drivers, or launch