FSX 2020 vs FSX Play: What Is the Difference?

FSX 2020 and FSX Play are both simulation software applications from Foresight Sports, and both run on any Foresight launch monitor. FSX 2020 is the feature-rich platform that ships with every unit and is optimised for structured practice, skills games, and multiplayer. FSX Play is a newer, separately licensed platform built on a different graphics engine, with more realistic course rendering and a cleaner interface. You do not choose between them: if you own a Foresight launch monitor and purchase the FSX Play upgrade, you have access to both and can switch depending on what you want to do.

What Is FSX 2020?

FSX 2020 is the simulation application included with every Foresight launch monitor at point of purchase. It runs on Windows and gives you ten built-in courses plus a full set of practice and game modes. It has been in active use for years and is a stable, feature-complete platform with more game customisation options than FSX Play.

Practice and game tools in FSX 2020 include:

• A driving range with preset target distances from 50 to 350 yards

• Know Your Numbers, a club gapping tool that calculates average carry and dispersion for each club

• Glass Break and Inside 6ft mini-games

• Closest to the Pin, Long Drive, and global Tournaments

• Swing camera integration for video analysis alongside ball and club data

FSX 2020 also lets you customise which data tiles appear after each shot, how long they display, and where the minimap sits on screen. GCQuad owners in particular often stay in FSX 2020 for practice sessions because it allows all of the GCQuad's data points to be visible simultaneously, whereas FSX Play caps the display at nine tiles.

What Is FSX Play?

FSX Play is Foresight Sports' newest course-play platform, built on the Unity graphics engine. It delivers more realistic visuals than FSX 2020: 3D grass rendering, dynamic lighting, smoother animations, and a cleaner heads-up display. The UI is minimal compared to FSX 2020, with less clutter on screen during play.

FSX Play comes with La Jolla Pines as a free starter course. Premium courses featuring real-world venues are available for individual purchase and are added regularly. Foresight is also converting existing FSX 2020 courses to be FSX Play-compatible, so courses you already own will eventually be playable in both platforms.

FSX Play requires an internet connection during use. It does not support swing camera integration and does not have the club gapping or advanced data display features found in FSX 2020.

FSX 2020 vs FSX Play: Key Differences

Feature	FSX 2020	FSX Play
Included courses	10 built-in	La Jolla Pines (free), premium courses purchasable
Graphics engine	Established simulation engine	Unity, newer photo-realistic rendering
Swing camera integration	Yes	No
Club gapping (Know Your Numbers)	Yes	No
Data tile display	Fully customisable, unlimited tiles	Up to 9 tiles
Minimap position	Adjustable	Fixed (can be hidden)
Internet required	No	Yes
Mini-games (Glass Break, Inside 6ft)	Yes	No
Online tournaments	Yes	Yes
Cost	Included with launch monitor	Paid upgrade (requires FSX 2020 license)

Which Should You Use?

The most common approach is to use both. FSX Play is where most owners play rounds, given the better visuals. FSX 2020 is where they practice, run gapping sessions, use a swing camera, or run mini-games with friends or family.

If you are primarily after realistic course play and are less focused on structured practice, you will spend most of your time in FSX Play. If you are using your simulator to improve your game and want access to full data, club gapping, and swing video, FSX 2020 is the more useful tool.

For GCQuad users who want all measured data points visible at once, FSX 2020 is the better choice for practice sessions.

What About Third-Party Software?

Both FSX 2020 and FSX Play run alongside third-party simulation platforms. GSPro and Awesome Golf are both compatible with Foresight launch monitors and can run on the same PC. GSPro in particular has a large library of community-built courses and is a popular addition for owners who want more course variety than the FSX library offers. The FSX 2020 vs GSPro comparison post on cerogolf.com covers this in more detail.

FSX Play Upgrade: What You Need to Know

FSX Play is not a free update. An active FSX 2020 license is required to purchase FSX Play. The upgrade is available directly from Foresight Sports. Pricing and availability for customers in the UAE can be confirmed via cerogolf.com/foresight, where Foresight Sports launch monitors including the GC3 and GCQuad are available as part of custom simulator installations and all three Anywhere Golf Bundle tiers.

Summary

FSX 2020 and FSX Play are complementary, not competing. FSX 2020 ships with your Foresight launch monitor and handles practice, data, games, and swing video. FSX Play is a paid upgrade offering better course rendering for those focused on playing realistic golf. Most serious Foresight owners run both and switch between them depending on the session.