Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition: PC requirements and the PC you need

About Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition

Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition is a simulation game, made by Asobo Studio and published by Xbox Game Studios. It came out on 25 Aug 2026. You can play it single player or multiplayer. It works fully with a controller and has in-game purchases. It is rated PEGI 3.

What Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition needs

In plain words: to play at all it needs basic graphics: built-in graphics on a modern processor, or an old entry-level card, and to play it well the makers suggest an entry-level graphics card, with 16GB of memory.

A low-spec PC or a high-spec PC?

The gap between the minimum and recommended spec is modest, so a mid-range gaming PC gives a good experience.

On a PC that only just meets the minimum, the game will start and play, but on low settings: simpler shadows and textures, shorter view distances and fewer frames each second, so fast moments can feel less smooth. A 1080p screen is the sensible match.

On a PC that meets or beats the recommended spec, you can turn the settings up: sharper textures, proper shadows and lighting, more detail in the distance, and a smoother picture. A stronger PC also lets you use a sharper 1440p or high-refresh screen.

Questions about Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition on PC

How we match: we compare the graphics card and the memory in each PC with the makers' spec, because those decide most of how a game runs. For very new or demanding games, ask us and we will check the processor too. More help: graphics cards explained, how much RAM, which screen.