Windows Central Insider
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has a bit of a scandal on its hands, and sadly, it's one that seems to have been around for some time and is rearing its head once again.
It centers on the in-game marketplace, a shopfront for players on all platforms to purchase add-on content. Mods are a fundamental part of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and you would be right to assume that the curated marketplace should be the safest place to get content from.
But one creator in particular, MScenery, keeps grabbing attention for the wrong reasons. In a marketplace Microsoft is supposed to monitor, this name is causing outrage over content it's taking money from players for.
So what is MScenery supposed to be doing in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
The video above by YouTuber AvAngel explains the situation in full, but the short version is that there are serious reasons for concern over the quality of MScenery's products and the way in which the marketplace is being manipulated.
At the top, MScenery appears to be using AI-enhanced imagery for its thumbnails rather than direct in-game screenshots that actually reflect the quality of the product.
Then there's the actual quality of the work, which, as the video above describes, is average at best. The detail and textures are poor, there's a distinct lack of functionality, and the ratings for MScenery add-ons are suspiciously and consistently a perfect 5 stars.
The quality of these paid add-ons is far below even the free content that comes with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. MScenery's name as well, you could say, is deliberately misleading. Microsoft has nothing to do with it, but a newcomer could easily fall for believing otherwise.
This recent Reddit thread covers the same topic, too, and MScenery's suspect behavior seems to go back to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, too. Technically, they're not doing anything wrong, but that still doesn't make it right, especially when they're trying to take money for it.
The buck ultimately stops with Microsoft
Nobody is saying Microsoft is responsible for this type of low-grade content, but equally, it's the company's name at the top of the marketplace. Therefore, it inevitably falls at their feet to fix.
Microsoft has a duty to its players to get a handle on this. If it's happening once, it's almost certainly not an isolated incident. While it might not be Microsoft's doing, it's still Microsoft's game and its reputation.
Be that a closer scrutiny of add-ons submitted to the marketplace, a ban on the use of AI imagery, and better attention paid to the review scores and potential bot influence. It's not an easy task, but the marketplace is also not on the scale of something like the Microsoft Store.
While the core community is aware and on the lookout for this type of behavior, there are plenty out there who never go on Reddit, who never visit forums or specialist websites.
For now the best advice is to do that if you have concerns. The official Microsoft Flight Simulator forums are full of knowledgeable and helpful people; likewise, drop by Reddit and ask questions. Even if it's a perfectly legitimate piece of quality content, the community will always be happy to help.
I've reached out to Microsoft for comment, but as it was a federal holiday leading into the weekend, I'll update as and when I get a response. It's clear something needs to be done; what that looks like, we'll have to wait and see.
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