The latest Microsoft Flight Simulator update has some good news for gamers that are short on storage space — the Microsoft Flight Simulator Install Size has been cut by more than half.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is the newest iteration of the long-running flight simulation franchise. What began as a game that only supported flying around four American cities has evolved into an experience that crosses the entire world. Unfortunately, making a map that big takes up a lot of storage space — but after the latest update it will take up a lot less!
What's New in Microsoft Flight Simulator Update 1.16.2.0?
The biggest change in Microsoft Flight Simulator Update 1.16.2.0 (via Reddit) is a massive reduction in the Microsoft Flight Simulator install size. The game previously took up over 170 GB on your hard drive; now, it uses a little more than 80 gigs of space. That's a reduction of more than 50%!
This wasn't the only change, mind. New FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) data has been brought into the game to improve its navdata. Air traffic control has also had its language improved in some places to better comply with FAA standards.
Saved storage space aside, this new update also makes some improvements in terms of graphics efficiency. The weather data bandwidth has been reduced and it's now easier than ever to deactivate weather effects if you want to save a few frames; you can read about these and all of the other many changes in the full Microsoft Flight Simulator Update 1.16.2.0 patch notes.
What is the Microsoft Flight Simulator Install Size?
The Microsoft Flight Simulator install size is now 83GB. That's much, much smaller than the 170+GB that the game used to take up on your storage space.
You can enjoy all of the flying fun (and at half the install size) by buying Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 for PC via Steam or the Microsoft Store starting at $59.99 or your regional equivalent.
What do you think of the improvements to the Microsoft Flight Simulator install size? What other games would you like to have smaller storage requirements? Let us know in the comments below!
