Online services suspended in Russia

[DaSpider]

I have a few questions regarding online services, that appear to have been disabled for the whole Russian Federation from yesterday, 1st of March 2023.

Now just after loading, at the start of every flight I get this dialog:

"Your bandwidth is too low for data streaming, you have been switched to offline mode"

I haven't changed anything and my fíber connection has always been 1Gbps up and down. So I tried firing up the VPN and, sure enough, everything worked fine. The problem returns when the VPN is disconnected.

It appears Microsoft has unplugged all services related to online streaming, including maps, telemetry, etc. Everything gets flat, low quality and... offline. The questions:

Can anyone confirm that this is a Russia-specific issue?

My VPN drops the speed of my connection to around 15Mbps, which is terrible and results in long loading times. Is there any workaround that doesn't involve the use of a VPN?

I understand they want to punish Putin, as he's probably a big fan of Flight Simulators. But I bought this game while still in America and payed full price for it, much more on expansions. Should I get punished just for living at the wrong place in the wrong time?

And finally, is this misguided action ground for a full refund claim, including program and expansions?

Thanks!

[Narf]

Bit onesided and quick to decide that the problem is Microsoft locking out Russians, no? It might just be the other way around - Russia blocking Microsoft services. Or it might just be a routing issue of your provider which you circumvented with the VPN - have you checked with them?

[DaSpider]

Автор сообщения: Narf

Bit onesided and quick to decide that the problem is Microsoft locking out Russians, no? It might just be the other way around - Russia blocking Microsoft services. Or it might just be a routing issue of your provider which you circumvented with the VPN - have you checked with them?

Nope! Good try though on deflecting blame. There is a public list of blocked sites and services, Microsoft is not in it. Furthermore, if the Russian gvnmt wanted to block MS they would've started with Bing, News and services like MSNBC, which are all working, not with their games.

That's just MicroSoft jumping on the bandwagon of the woke russiophobe neo libtards in Washington.

If you are not here to answer any of the questions or to contribute in any meaningful way, you should just refrain from posting.

[★Macman★]

Why are Microsoft not doing their part to sanction Russia? That is traitorous and ignorant of the World Economic situation created by just 1 tyrant.

[DaSpider]

Автор сообщения: ★Macman★

Why are Microsoft not doing their part to sanction Russia? That is traitorous and ignorant of the World Economic situation created by just 1 tyrant.

Not helpful.

They are not even sanctioning Russia. They are blocking access to paying customers, many like me, not even Russians.

It is just a misguided low blow that accomplishes nothing. The Russian economy won't collapse because we can't play MSFS20. Average Russians don't even buy M$ products, they just use pirated versions. Us idiots pay for just to be denied service later on.

[burthole]

I don't know but I hope it's just a russian specific issue. Why are rooskies even allowed on steam anyways?

[Twelvefield]

Автор сообщения: DaSpider

Should I get punished just for living at the wrong place in the wrong time?

If this is your biggest problem, then yes. However, you aren't the only one.

[Yadovid]

Автор сообщения: DaSpider

Should I get punished just for living at the wrong place in the wrong time?

We don't know if this is in any way related to this war, but if it were - unfortunately when war happens people who are in wrong place and wrong time suffer. There are civilians like you in Kiev who suffered even more, to the point where some of them can't even complain, not because they are not allowed, but because there was Kalibr falling on their house and now they are dead. Unfortunately Russia is agrressor in this conflict and you should expect some inconvenience as a person who live in Russia, just use this VPN for now, and be happy you can play games at all ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[★Macman★]

The truth is Russia is suffering their economy by a lot. I read on here that VPNs do not get by your position for purchases. Anyways you have access via your VPN to the Servers as you stated. Can you get to Putin and "take him out" for a pint and a chat? He has lied to the IMF about Growth % since Sanctions began.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU0resswOds&ab_channel=DWNews

[Thogmar]

Why are you posting on a Steam forum that is for the use of user and the developer ASOBO, who actually have their own forums for active responses anyway.

And more specifically, if Microsoft was blocking server access to certain countries due to political or other reasons, they would freely tell that to the public and their customers. It would be done for public relations purposes and would not be a SECRET.

So maybe go to the official MSFS or other Microsoft forums, or use an official phone number or email address and get an actual answer from one of their hundreds of thousands of employees?

[DaSpider]

Thank you all for your opinions on the matter, besides a bit off from the original questions.

Just a warning, don't believe anything you read or watch in any media. There is a narrative war going on and neither side is telling the truth. As an eye witness, here in Moscow, I can say that nothing has noticeably changed since the start of the "special military operations". Everything seems and feels the same, except for some Internet blocks easily circumvented with a VPN.

Yes, I've lived in the UK, US, Japan and now in Russia but couldn't get arsed to read about or care about the politics of any. Should I care, I'd probably start with America, that invaded 2 additional countries and bombed the sh** out of 3 more just since I left LA. Couldn't care about Ukraine either, just another of US's many proxy wars.

I'm closing this thread as it turned into a venue for xenophobia and hate speech. I'll just ask for a full refund and go back to not caring. I've payed for a game and expect it to work regardless. Simple exchange of cash for goods. It's called free market capitalism. Whoever doesn't like it, can move to north Korea.

[Twelvefield]

до свидания, although I wish I knew the Russian for "Adieu", as that would be so much more appropriate for you.

[Bongo Cat]

Hello. I am also in Russia and I have exactly the same problem.
Despite the sanctions and general Russophobia, I doubt that Microsoft would not have notified users / players about disconnecting from the server.
No matter how much I search on the Internet, only you and I are having trouble. Even on Russian-language forums, there is not a word of mention of this problem.
If you're going to "get rid" of the game, that's up to you. But I still don't lose hope.
Good luck.

[burthole]

Автор сообщения: DaSpider

Thank you all for your opinions on the matter, besides a bit off from the original questions.

Just a warning, don't believe anything you read or watch in any media. There is a narrative war going on and neither side is telling the truth. As an eye witness, here in Moscow, I can say that nothing has noticeably changed since the start of the "special military operations". Everything seems and feels the same, except for some Internet blocks easily circumvented with a VPN.

Yes, I've lived in the UK, US, Japan and now in Russia but couldn't get arsed to read about or care about the politics of any. Should I care, I'd probably start with America, that invaded 2 additional countries and bombed the sh** out of 3 more just since I left LA. Couldn't care about Ukraine either, just another of US's many proxy wars.

I'm closing this thread as it turned into a venue for xenophobia and hate speech. I'll just ask for a full refund and go back to not caring. I've payed for a game and expect it to work regardless. Simple exchange of cash for goods. It's called free market capitalism. Whoever doesn't like it, can move to north Korea.

Or they can move to russia.

[DaSpider]

UPDATE: Got an email from support about my ticket. Apparently services to the Russian Federation have been fully restored, we apologize for the inconvenience, bla bla. Not much explanation.

I reinstalled MSFS22 and everything seems to be working again.

My guess is they received enough refund claims to reconsider their decision.

[Schmegg]

Автор сообщения: DaSpider

My guess is they received enough refund claims to reconsider their decision.

Doubt it. They would have no legal requirement to refund in this case.