What?! A replay mode in Microsoft Flight Simulator? Yes! After the clunky and often confusing replay tool in MSFS 2020—so convoluted that many users gave up on it entirely—the MSFS team decided to turn to the community for help.
And who better to assist than Fabio Merle, the creator of Flight Control Replay (FCR), one of the most popular third-party record-and-replay tools for MSFS 2020? The result is a built-in replay tool that provides a robust, integrated solution for simmers to record, replay, and revisit their flights—no third-party add-ons required. While there’s still some room for improvement, the new tool is more user-friendly and packed with impressive functionality.
Replay your best (and worst) moments
At its core, the replay tool does what you’d expect: it records your flights so you can play them back at any time. Takeoffs, landings, in-flight maneuvers—every moment is captured, including animations like gear deployment and flap adjustments. You’ll find the tool in the top menu under the FCR option, and getting started is as simple as hitting Record.
Once you’ve captured your session, you can save it for future viewing, letting you relive the entire flight or fast-forward to specific moments.
Features to explore: Instant Replays to Ghost Formations
The replay tool doesn’t stop at basic functionality—it includes a selection of other cool features:
- Instant Replay:
This feature continuously records the last five minutes of your flight, so you can quickly revisit a specific moment without needing to plan ahead. It’s perfect for capturing that perfect landing—or reviewing what went wrong during an otherwise routine approach. - Ghost Mode:
With the ability to spawn up to five ghost aircraft flying alongside your own, this feature unlocks plenty of creative opportunities, such as practicing formation flying or setting up a cinematic sequence. The tool allows you to customize positions, distances, and delays for each ghost plane. - AI Playback:
Saved recordings can be loaded as AI-controlled planes, which play back your movements while you observe from a third-person perspective. It’s a useful feature for setting up scenarios or simply seeing your flight from a fresh angle. - Cinematic Tools:
Slow-motion playback, showcase camera angles, and fly-by views allow for stunning visuals, making this tool particularly useful for content creators!
Not without its quirks
While the replay tool is a significant addition to MSFS 2024, it’s not without its quirks. Like much of the sim in its current state, it can be a bit buggy. For example, loading a replay can sometimes result in incomplete scenery, especially if the terrain hasn’t had time to load fully. This can lead to unexpected moments, like your aircraft plunging into the ground before the world catches up. It’s not ideal, but it’s the sort of issue that’s likely to be ironed out in future updates.
The user interface could also be made more intuitive. It’s hard to know what some buttons do without some trial and error, so be ready for some unexpected results when first trying out the system. However, once you become familiar with its quirks, it’s quite powerful!
The Flight Control Replay Quick User Guide is highly recommended for users looking to familiarize themselves with FCR in MSFS 2024. It provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on the tool’s features. Additionally, you can watch the video below from Blu Games, which demonstrates the tool’s capabilities and how to effectively use it.
With Flight Control Replay now embedded in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, simmers finally see the fulfillment of a long-standing community request. It’s a promising start, offering a way to relive the best moments—and perhaps inspire even greater creativity in the skies. Let’s hope the tool remains a focus for ongoing improvement!
