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Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

A Leisure , News and Tech News podcast

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About the show

When it comes to video games and the hardware and tech we play them on, the team at Digital Foundry are unparalleled experts. Each week, DF Direct breaks down the latest breakthroughs in video game visuals, sound, and performance happening on PlayStation, Xbox, the most powerful PC setups, and more. If you’re a geek for graphics, GPUs, or just video games in general, DF Direct will help you get the most out of your gaming setup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newest episodes

DF Direct Q+A: Ex-Sony Boss Calls For $300 PS5 - Should Console Makers Focus On Cost?

47 min

Should consoles makers focus on price as hardware costs continue to skyrocket? An ex-Sony executive thinks so - but is a $300 PS5 even remotely achievable? In a similar vein, could cloud RAM work as a stopgap solution? Meanwhile, we discuss whether Xbox Helix could have a path tracing advantage over PS6 and how FSR 4 will affect comparisons between current-gen consoles. All this and more revealed in the latest DF Direct Q+A. 00:00 Introduction 00:40 News 1: Ex-Sony exec says $300 PS5 should be next-gen priority 07:52 Supporter Q1: Should platform holders focus on console cost and ease of development again? 14:42 Supporter Q2: Could consoles use cloud RAM to extend hardware budgets? 21:50 Supporter Q3: Will Xbox Helix have a path tracing advantage over PS6? 30:44 Supporter Q4: Will FSR 4 on Xbox make console comparisons interesting again? 35:59 Supporter Q5: Why hasn’t Nvidia shipped frame gen for Switch 2? 44:12 Supporter Q6: What will DF be doing one, five, and 10 years from now? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #289: Should Zelda Use DLSS? Nintendo HDR Issues, Xbox FSR 4.1.2 Performance

1 hr 18 min

Looking for an ad-free Direct? Join the DF Supporter Program for an ad-free RSS feed and ad-free, high quality video downloads of everything we do, plus early access: https://www.patreon.com/digitalfoundry A packed Direct this week as the panel discuss the pros and cons of DLSS for Nintendo first party games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Meanwhile, HDR experts aren't too impressed by Nintendo's HDR implementations, Rich takes time to test out the Xbox FSR demo on PC and God of Way Laufey gets a three month delay. And looking back in time, the panel has praise for EA's 30th anniversary game package, it's 20 years since the launch of Nvidia's 8800 GTX and a decade since John posted his epic Tomb Raider DF Retro episode. And finally, hilarity as Rich discovers how old Oliver was when Tomb Raider first released... 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:57 News 1: Should Ocarina of Time have used DLSS? 0:18:02 News 2: Does Nintendo need to step up on HDR? 0:29:30 News 3: Frame-times released for FSR 4 on Xbox Series 0:48:25 News 4: God of War Laufey delayed 0:52:52 News 5: GeForce 8800 GTX turns 20! 1:03:52 News 6: EA remasters 7 classic PC games 1:11:06 Retrospective: 10 years since John’s Tomb Raider DF Retro! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Current-Gen Consoles: Success Or Failure?

58 min

How will history regard the current console generation: success or failure? The panel decides! Meanwhile, will Chinese fabrication tech solve the AI hardware crisis? Is using the RTX 5090 in our videos baiting the audience at this point? All this and more in the latest DF Direct Q+A show. 00:00 Introduction 00:42 Supporter Q1: How will history judge this console generation? 17:41 Supporter Q2: Will Chinese RAM save the PC market? 27:00 Supporter Q3: Will PC hardware price spikes cause developers to target ‘potato’ PCs? 31:54 Supporter Q4: Should DF stop testing the RTX 5090, because of its poor availability? 41:11 Supporter Q5: Why is Anthropic blocking game decompilations from Claude Code? 48:40 Supporter Q6: Why didn’t Sega use their arcade hardware team for home console designs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The newest 50 of 372 episodes

DF Direct Q+A: Ex-Sony Boss Calls For $300 PS5 - Should Console Makers Focus On Cost?

47 min

Should consoles makers focus on price as hardware costs continue to skyrocket? An ex-Sony executive thinks so - but is a $300 PS5 even remotely achievable? In a similar vein, could cloud RAM work as a stopgap solution? Meanwhile, we discuss whether Xbox Helix could have a path tracing advantage over PS6 and how FSR 4 will affect comparisons between current-gen consoles. All this and more revealed in the latest DF Direct Q+A. 00:00 Introduction 00:40 News 1: Ex-Sony exec says $300 PS5 should be next-gen priority 07:52 Supporter Q1: Should platform holders focus on console cost and ease of development again? 14:42 Supporter Q2: Could consoles use cloud RAM to extend hardware budgets? 21:50 Supporter Q3: Will Xbox Helix have a path tracing advantage over PS6? 30:44 Supporter Q4: Will FSR 4 on Xbox make console comparisons interesting again? 35:59 Supporter Q5: Why hasn’t Nvidia shipped frame gen for Switch 2? 44:12 Supporter Q6: What will DF be doing one, five, and 10 years from now? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #289: Should Zelda Use DLSS? Nintendo HDR Issues, Xbox FSR 4.1.2 Performance

1 hr 18 min

Looking for an ad-free Direct? Join the DF Supporter Program for an ad-free RSS feed and ad-free, high quality video downloads of everything we do, plus early access: https://www.patreon.com/digitalfoundry A packed Direct this week as the panel discuss the pros and cons of DLSS for Nintendo first party games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Meanwhile, HDR experts aren't too impressed by Nintendo's HDR implementations, Rich takes time to test out the Xbox FSR demo on PC and God of Way Laufey gets a three month delay. And looking back in time, the panel has praise for EA's 30th anniversary game package, it's 20 years since the launch of Nvidia's 8800 GTX and a decade since John posted his epic Tomb Raider DF Retro episode. And finally, hilarity as Rich discovers how old Oliver was when Tomb Raider first released... 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:57 News 1: Should Ocarina of Time have used DLSS? 0:18:02 News 2: Does Nintendo need to step up on HDR? 0:29:30 News 3: Frame-times released for FSR 4 on Xbox Series 0:48:25 News 4: God of War Laufey delayed 0:52:52 News 5: GeForce 8800 GTX turns 20! 1:03:52 News 6: EA remasters 7 classic PC games 1:11:06 Retrospective: 10 years since John’s Tomb Raider DF Retro! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Current-Gen Consoles: Success Or Failure?

58 min

How will history regard the current console generation: success or failure? The panel decides! Meanwhile, will Chinese fabrication tech solve the AI hardware crisis? Is using the RTX 5090 in our videos baiting the audience at this point? All this and more in the latest DF Direct Q+A show. 00:00 Introduction 00:42 Supporter Q1: How will history judge this console generation? 17:41 Supporter Q2: Will Chinese RAM save the PC market? 27:00 Supporter Q3: Will PC hardware price spikes cause developers to target ‘potato’ PCs? 31:54 Supporter Q4: Should DF stop testing the RTX 5090, because of its poor availability? 41:11 Supporter Q5: Why is Anthropic blocking game decompilations from Claude Code? 48:40 Supporter Q6: Why didn’t Sega use their arcade hardware team for home console designs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #288: Phantom Blade Zero PC Tested, FSR 4.1 Handheld, Switch 2 Lite?

1 hr 14 min

In a packed new Direct, Rich dissects the PC version of Phantom Blade Zero - does it run well on mainstream hardware? What about RT and path tracing? Meanwhile, Oliver discusses the latest Apple hardware, there's conjecture on a potential Switch 2 Lite, Rich gets to grips with the more efficient FSR 4.1 for handhelds, while John looks to get an "anti PS5 Pro patch" fixed for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. The show reaches a crescendo with the team celebrating ten years of PS4 Pro - and the Digital Foundry Supporter Program! Looking for an ad-free Direct experience? The DF Supporter Program has an ad-free private RSS feed along with high quality ad-free video downloads: https://www.patreon.com/digitalfoundry 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:02 News 1: Phantom Blade Zero tested on PC! 0:20:02 News 2: Apple announces OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro 0:33:45 News 3: Switch 2 Lite rumours emerge as new Samsung process unveiled 0:43:36 News 4: FSR 4.1 tested on ROG Xbox Ally X20! 0:56:11 News 5: Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse suffers low-res rendering bug on PS5 Pro 1:01:43 Retrospective: 10 years of PS4 Pro, 10 years of DF Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Helix 2028 "Delay"...? Xbox's Review Problem Fixed? Will Switch 2 DLSS Improve?

48 min

Ever wondered why game coverage often neglects Xbox consoles? It's an issue we've highlighted before and after Call of Duty failed to register on Metacritic, Microsoft is finally doing something about it. In the new Q+A, the team discuss the issue, its impact on DF and hopes that things will genuinely improve. Meanwhile, what to make of the reported Project Helix delay to 2028? Will new CPU releases get caught up in the hardware crisis? Was Sony's QSSR a direct response to a potential FSR 4.1 on Xbox consoles? And will Nintendo update its Switch 2 DLSS tech? Looking for an ad-free DF Direct? The DF Supporter Program offers a private ad-free RSS feed and high quality ad-free video downloads: https://www.patreon.com/digitalfoundry 00:00 Introduction 01:03 Xbox attempts to solve creator/journalist review code problems 11:08 Supporter Q1: Why is Xbox Helix suffering an apparent delay to 2028? 24:56 Supporter Q2: How will Xbox Helix offer hardware expandability? 32:08 Supporter Q3: Will CPUs continue to stagnate, or will they advance further in 2027? 38:07 Supporter Q4: Was QSSR designed to counter FSR 4.1 on Xbox Series? 43:37 Supporter Q5: Will Nintendo revise their DLSS tech for Switch 2? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #287: Xbox Helix $1200-$1800? BioWare Shut, FSR 4 RDNA 2 + Xbox, Sony Frame Gen!

1 hr 13 min

Big news this week from Fortune, with an insider feature on Xbox that combines deep access to senior management along with a range of big reveals: a Helix console costing between $1200 to $1800 coming 2028? A handheld in 2027? Disagreements between the Xbox and Microsoft OS teams? There's a lot to discuss here. Meanwhile, the team lament the end of BioWare and mull over the leaked Mass Effect trailer, and there's good news for RDNA 2 GPU owners - and Xbox Series console users - as FSR 4 arrives ahead of time. A potential PlayStation frame generation technique is discussed and finally, five years of Oliver Mackenzie at Digital Foundry! The panel look back at his first video and discuss his approach to working on the channel. Looking for an ad-free Direct experience? Join the DF Supporter Program for an ad-free podcast feed and high quality, ad-free video downloads: https://www.patreon.com/digitalfoundry 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:04 News 1: Article lays out Xbox next-gen plans 0:21:26 News 2: EA shutters BioWare, Mass Effect Universe trailer leaks 0:31:33 News 3: AMD ports FSR 4.1 to RDNA 2, handhelds, Xbox 0:45:51 News 4: Sony patents frame extrapolation technique 0:59:30 Five years of Oliver! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Has RTX 5090 Actually Been Discontinued? GTA 6 PS5/Pro Differences?

1 hr 3 min

Reports that Nvidia's RTX 5090 gaming flagship would be discontinued gathered pace, with Nvidia finally denying cancellation of the card. But in a world where a 5090 can cost $8000, is its presence in the gaming market all but over? Can Nvidia do anything about it? Meanwhile, DF Supporter have questions about GTA 6 on PlayStation and in the absence of actual information, we can only offer our thoughts and speculation. Finally, what would actually constitute a Switch 2 "impossible port"...? 00:00 Introduction 00:35 News 1: Nvidia refutes RTX 5090 discontinuation rumours, but questions linger 22:46 Supporter Q1: With the high cost of memory, should Sony have used a larger GPU in PS6? 34:10 Supporter Q2: Could the ROG Xbox Ally X20 screen be used in a Switch 2 OLED? 37:20 Supporter Q3: How will Rockstar configure GTA 6 on PS5 and PS5 Pro? 42:45 Supporter Q4: How long will GTA 7 take to develop? 48:22 Supporter Q5: Why are so many UE5 games shipping with hardware Lumen and MegaLights now? 53:09 Supporter Q6: Which Switch 2 ports meet the criteria for an impossible port? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #286: Xbox Ally X20 Tested, DLSS Frame Gen/DLSS 5 Perf Boost, Epic All-In On AI

1 hr 4 min

A year on from its initial launch, Xbox Ally gets a brilliant OLED upgrade for the new X20 edition but are we any closer to an actual Xbox-like experience? Meanwhile, Nvidia delivers faster frame-gen and DLSS 5 while Epic acts like a lightning rod for all the AI hate with its latest pivot. Oliver tests out The Crew Motorfest on Switch 2, while John has thoughts on Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. Looking for an ad-free experience? The DF Supporter Program offers private RSS feeds for all of our podcasts along with high-quality ad-free video downloads: https://www.patreon.com/digitalfoundry 00:00 Introduction 02:07 News 1: Nvidia debuts faster frame gen, DLSS 5 18:13 News 2: Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 tested! 32:44 News 3: Epic embraces AI coding for new Epic Games Launcher 48:22 News 4: The Crew Motorfest tested on Switch 2 54:39 News 5: Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse impressions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: GTA 6 - Will AI Enable "Pirate" PC Ports? How Will Sony React To The PS5 Jailbreak?

46 min

In the new AI era, it seems that decompilation, recompilation and unofficial ports are child's play - so what are the chances of an unofficial GTA 6 PC port before Rockstar delivers the real thing? And adjacent to that, how is Sony going to react to the massive impact of the recent PS5 jailbreak? Meanwhile, the panel are asked about the importance of PS5 Pro as it nears its second anniversary and questions are asked about the support level for the recently released QSSR. Join the DF Supporter Program for a private, ad-free RSS feed and high quality ad-free video downloads of all DF content, including DF Direct. 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Supporter Q1: Will Rockstar move up GTA 6’s PC release date because of PS5 emulation? 15:22 Supporter Q2: Will Sony adjust their policies in response to PS5 jailbreaks? 21:09 Supporter Q3: Have you changed your opinions on PS5 Pro over the past couple of years? 26:36 Supporter Q4: Will Sony abandon QSSR? 32:56 Supporter Q5: Can Nintendo force VRR to work on Switch 2 games? 38:05 Supporter Q6: Why do PC graphics vendors not implement upscaling with DRS as a default? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #285: Dragon's Dogma 2 Switch 2, P.T Native PC Port, Galactic Racer PC Tested!

58 min

Dragon's Dogma 2 launched with problematic performance on current-gen consoles, making a Switch 2 port seemingly impossible. But the game improved and now the Switch 2 version is here and it's almost brilliant. The panel discuss the new port in depth, before moving on to their thoughts on the PC version of Star Wars: Galactic Racer. Then it's on to a remarkable native PC port of Hideo Kojima's P.T - complete with ray tracing! - before the show ends on a more sombre note with Sony selling off its VR patents to Meta. And presumably that means the end of PSVR. Looking for an ad-free DF Direct? Join the DF Supporter Program for ad-free audio and video downloads a private RSS feed: https://www.patreon.com/digitalfoundry 00:00 Introduction 01:37 News 1: Dragon’s Dogma 2 on Switch 2 tested! 15:14 News 2: Star Wars: Galactic Racer PC impressions 25:18 News 3: Star Wars: Galactic Racer documentary discussion 38:31 News 4: Kojima’s P.T. ported to PC 48:33 News 5: Sony sells off VR/XR patents as PS VR3 hopes dwindle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Is PS5 QSSR Really A Game-Changer? Will Xbox Series X|S Get ML Upscaling?

41 min

After the out-of-the-blue, completely unleaked release of QSSR upscaling for PlayStation 5, Digital Foundry supporters and the panel attempt to provide some answers, while tackling the question of whether Xbox Series consoles will receive a similar technology. Meanwhile, what are the chances of The Witcher 3 on Switch 2 getting VRR support - and what dead franchises would the DF team like to see returned and rejuvenated for modern and next-gen hardware? 00:00 Introduction 02:36 Supporter Q1: Why did Sony make QSSR? 14:11 Supporter Q2: Which games would benefit most from QSSR? 19:17 Supporter Q3: Will Microsoft release an INT8 version of FSR 4 for Xbox Series? 26:18 Supporter Q4: Should The Witcher 3 get VRR support on Switch 2 when docked? 31:47 Supporter Q5: What dead franchise would you like to see resurrected? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #284: Ghost of Yōtei QSSR Tested, Star Wars Galactic Racer, Gears E-Day PC

1 hr 15 min

DF returns to QSSR coverage with a closer look at Ghost of Yōtei, with John weighing in with his opinions on Marvel's Wolverine too. Rich reveals that Sony isn't the first to port an AI upscaler to a non-AI based GPU, showing FSR 4 running on the RDNA 1 Radeon RX 5700 XT. Meanwhile, John's very happy with the PC version of Gears of War: E-Day. And after sharing some stories on anniversary DF content, the Star Wars Galactic Racer review embargo hits in real-time - and John's got a lot to say about it... 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:13 News 1: QSSR tested in Ghost of Yōtei 0:25:19 News 2: FSR 4 port on RDNA 1 RX 5700 XT 0:35:36 News 3: Gears of War: E-Day PC impressions 0:53:27 Retrospective: Switch OLED 1:00:13 Retrospective: Mantis Burn Racing 4K60 on PS4 Pro 1:06:46 Star Wars: Galactic Racer review reaction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Special: PlayStation QSSR - AI Upscaling For Standard PS5 - A Current-Gen Gamechanger?

32 min

A surprise to be sure - and a welcome one. Out of the blue, Sony has released QSSR - Quick Spectral Super Resolution - a refactoring of PS5 Pro's PSSR for the standard PlayStation 5. In this video, Rich and Oliver share their initial thoughts on the technology. We've got image quality comparisons from Marvel's Wolverine, we've got early performance testing from a PS5 dev kit, comparisons with PSSR and much more. 00:00 Introduction 01:29 What is QSSR? 05:28 QSSR vs IGTI 11:13 QSSR vs. PSSR 16:51 QSSR performance 26:04 Will QSSR be in GTA 6? 28:35 Concluding thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: PS5 Emulation on PC, Will Halo Move To COD Tech, Will PCs Replace Consoles?

49 min

The progress in PS5 emulation for PC is becoming extremely rapid - so just how viable is it and should Sony be worried? Meanwhile, Rich, Oliver and Will discuss a range of topics: can PS5 Pro run PSSR and FSR frame gen together? Will PCs eventually replace consoles? Can a Project Helix console replace both a gaming PC and an Xbox console? And... would the Project Helix concept have changed if Xbox had won the console generation? 00:00 Introduction 00:41 PlayStation 5 Emulation on PC gathers pace 13:55 Q1: Why can't PS5 Pro run PSSR and FSR 3.1 frame gen together? 21:27 Q2: Will PC eventually replace console gaming? 27:25 Q3: Will Halo move onto the Call of Duty engine? 34:02 Q4: Will Project Helix replace both PC and console? 39:09 Q5: Would Project Helix be different if Xbox Series won the console generation? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #283: Halo Moves To Activision, Next-Gen TFLOPs, Silent Hill Townfall Tested!

1 hr 0 min

An extremely busy week at the Foundry but the Direct cannot be stopped - the team discuss the latest news as the "Xbox Reset" enters Phase Two and Halo is shipped off to Activision. Meanwhile, Rich, Oliver and Tom join forces to run the rule over Silent Hill Townfall, becauise the show moves on to discuss the implications of the next-gen consoles' respective GPU TFLOPs numbers. And finally, ending the show on a high note, Rich revisits 007 First Light path tracing, finding a night and day improvement in performance over the original release. 00:00 Introduction 01:12 News 1: Halo Studios decimated as Halo moves to Activision 17:26 News 2: Silent Hill: Townfall tested on PS5, PS5 Pro, and PC! 36:54 News 3: Rumour says PS6 at 40 teraflops, Xbox Helix at 56 teraflops 48:28 News 4: 007 First Light gets path tracing performance boost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Switch 2 60FPS Frame-Gen - How Good/Bad Is It? Should Next-Gen Be Delayed?

50 min

Stellar Blade on Switch 2 enforces the use of frame generation to target 60fps - and Capcom is offering the same feature with a toggle in the upcoming Dragon's Dogma 2 port. So how does it work and what have we learned from testing it in Stellar Blade? Beyond that, Tom, Rich and Oliver discuss whether next-gen hardware should be delayed, why Nintendo is avoiding DLSS in its own Switch 2 titles and whether Valve should release an ARM-based handheld. And finally, what's the point of chromatic aberration? 00:00 Introduction 00:44 Supporter Q1: Is frame gen a good fit for Switch 2 games like Stellar Blade? 17:18 Supporter Q2: Could a next-gen hardware delay be a good thing? 25:03 Supporter Q3: Does Digital Foundry need to produce a “frame health” reference? 32:28 Supporter Q4: Is Nintendo avoiding DLSS so they can switch to AMD for Switch 3? 37:44 Supporter Q5: Should the next gen Steam Deck be ARM-based? 43:15 Supporter Q6: What’s the point of chromatic aberration? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #282: 007 First Light Path Tracing, Kingmakers Gameplay, New GPUs Delayed To 2028?

59 min

In a bit of a slow week for news, the team goes hands-on with a bunch of cool games to present their findings - principal amongst them being 007 First Light's visually stunning, but incredibly taxing path tracing upgrade. Redemption Road's 12-minute Kingmakers gameplay deep dive impresses the panel before Tom delivers his thoughts on Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave on Switch 2, with Oliver testing Diablo 4 also on the Nintendo hybrid. Meanwhile, reliable leaker Kepler_L2 says that we're only looking at one new GPU launch in 2027 - and it looks like the desktop version of the same GPU slated to appear in Microsoft's Project Helix... Looking for an ad-free Direct? Join the DF Supporter Program for a private RSS feed, ad-free video downloads, news updates from the team and more: https://patreon.com/digitalfoundry 00:00 Introduction 01:17 News 1: 007 First Light gets PC path tracing patch 18:28 News 2: Kingmakers resurfaces in extended trailer 26:44 News 3: Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave impressions! 39:34 News 4: Diablo 4 tested on Switch 2 47:49 News 5: Rumour: new Nvidia, AMD GPUs won’t be released until 2028 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Hands-On With Steam Frame, Half-Life Alyx Standalone + More

51 min

With Steam Frame just missing the embargo for the last DF Direct, John, Rich and Oliver share impressions of Valve's latest hardware plus there's some ARM standalone testing of Half-Life Alyx, Cyberpunk 2077 and Streets of Rage 4. Beyond that, it's Supporter Q+A time: why doesn't From Software fix 30fps frame-pacing issues? If DLSS 5 isn't really DLSS, how should DLSS evolve? Finally... with the legendary Kallax having been modded into Skyrim by Ikea, what other Scandinavian furniture should be added to the game?! Want an ad-free DF Direct experience? Get a private RSS feed and high quality video downloads with the DF Supporter Program! https://patreon.com/digitalfoundry 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Hands-On With Steam Frame, Half-Life Alyx Standalone + More 27:06 Supporter Q1: Is a language barrier to blame for Elden Ring frame-pacing issues? 35:15 Supporter Q2: What new tech should Nvidia explore in a new DLSS? 44:52 Supporter Q3: What Ikea furniture should be included in Elder Scrolls 6? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #281: Kojima's Psyint Canned By Sony, Coming To Xbox, Switch 2 VRR, Ocarina of Time

1 hr 34 min

A massive week for news. PlayStation ends decades of partnership with Hideo Kojima as Physint is cancelled by Sony - but picked up by Microsoft, meaning it's coming to Xbox. The team take a look at the surprise-but-a-welcome-one reveal of VRR coming to Switch 2 docked mode, while there's commentary and analysis on the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and a brand new Nintendo Direct. John and Oliver compare notes on Marvel's Wolverine, Rich takes us back to the PS4 Pro reveal on its tenth anniversary while John tells us about the co-op fun he's been having with Big Walk. The DF Supporter Program gives you early access to DF Direct, an ad-free private RSS feed, high quality video downloads and more: https://patreon.com/digitalfoundry 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:28 News 1: Kojima’s Physint dropped by Sony, picked up by Microsoft 0:24:57 News 2: VRR finally available in Switch 2 docked mode 0:34:17 News 3: Ocarina of Time remake shown at Nintendo Direct 0:46:15 News 4: Nintendo Direct highlights: Kirby, Metroid, Monster Hunter, Resident Evil, Stellar Blade, Persona 1:02:00 Content discussion: have reviewers been too harsh on Wolverine? 1:13:45 Retrospective: PS4 Pro announcement 1:26:32 John recommends Big Walk! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Will AMD Deliver Its Own DLSS 5? Will CD Projekt RED Bring Back The RED Engine?

42 min

The DF Direct Q+A Show returns and suffice it to say, there's a huge amount of interest around DLSS 5. Will AMD and indeed Intel deliver equivalent tech? What are the limits of DLSS 5 and how will they be overcome? Meanwhile, is Pearl Abyss developer of the year? And is The Witcher 3 Remastered evidence that CD Projekt RED will return to the RED Engine? For an ad-free experience check out the Digital Foundry Supporter Program for ad-free high quality video downloads and a private RSS feed: https://patreon.com/digitalfoundry 00:00 Introduction 01:02 Supporter Q1: Should AMD create their own DLSS 5 equivalent? And what basic limits does the DLSS 5 architecture have? 19:32 Supporter Q2: How do Pearl Abyss develop Crimson Desert at such a breakneck pace? 23:57 Supporter Q3: Why does Onimusha: Way of the Sword skip some of RE Engine’s more advanced features? 28:16 Supporter Q4: Could CD Projekt Red be planning to use REDengine in the future? 32:27 Supporter Q5: Could Sony license PlayStation to third parties? 39:14 Supporter Q6: Why didn’t my Digital Foundry pint glass arrive with anything in it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #280: John on GTA 6, State of Play Disappoints, Helix "Family of Devices"

1 hr 16 min

The Digital Foundry panel convene to talk about Sony's disappointing State of Play, John shares his thoughts on the Grand Theft Auto 6 Extended Look and there are more hints about Xbox's next-gen strategy as Asha Sharma discusses a family of devices - amongst other things - in an interview with the BBC. For an ad-free DF Direct Weekly with a private RSS feed and high quality video downloads, support us here: https://patreon.com/digitalfoundry 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:43 News 1: Sony releases disappointing State of Play 0:25:49 Supporter Q1: What does John think of the GTA 6 Extended Look? 0:41:59 Supporter Q2: Is Microsoft pivoting to a more mainstream “family” of next-gen Xboxes? 0:57:18 Supporter Q3: Will Microsoft regret their disc-to-digital program? 1:04:49 Supporter Q4: Will the PSP 3 actually be able to play PS5 games? 1:09:43 Supporter Q5: Should Nintendo implement a global frame-rate cap option for Switch 2? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DLSS 5 Tested: NBA 2K27 Image Quality + Benchmarks, Mods And More

1 hr 17 min

Six months after its reveal, DLSS 5 has launched with NBA 2K27 and its utilisation is a world apart from the first clips, not to mention the vast array of modded footage we've seen since its leak last week. Rich, John and Oliver compare notes on the difference it makes, the huge performance cost, what is achievable with mods and more. Join the DF Supporter Program for ad free video downloads and a private ad free RSS feed. https://patreon.com/digitalfoundry 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:27 What is DLSS 5? 0:15:36 DLSS 5 visuals in NBA 2K27 0:25:07 DLSS 5 performance in NBA 2K27 0:42:17 Mods: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 0:50:03 Mods: Forza Horizon 6, Monster Hunter Rise, Starfield 1:00:14 Concluding thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #279: The Witcher 3 Remaster Reaction, Xbox Disc To Digital, Best of Gamescom 2026!

1 hr 17 min

While Grand Theft Auto 6's gameplay reveal somewhat overshadowed proceedings, it was indeed Gamescom 2026 this week and with Rich's legs giving out, it was down to John to represent us at the show. So, after dispensing with some gaming and technology news, John delivers his own "best of" tour of Gamescom, discussing the titles he loved. Looking to enjoy DF Direct Weekly ad-free? Gain access to a private RSS feed and video downloads on our Patreon: https://patreon.com/digitalfoundry 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:01 News 1: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered revealed 0:12:52 News 2: Xbox disc to digital program officially announced 0:23:18 Gamescom demos: Fable 0:30:46 Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve 0:38:01 Capcom: Mega Man: Dual Override, Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen 0:46:51 Sega: Alien Isolation 2, Stranger than Heaven 0:54:48 Konami: Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Silent Hill: Townfall 1:10:20 State of Decay 3 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grand Theft Auto 6 Extended Look: The Most Impressive Real-Time Game Graphics Yet?

1 hr 16 min

26 minutes of actual GTA 6 gameplay "dropped" - and on balance, it's one of the most extraordinary visual accomplishments ever seen in real-time game graphics. It's not perfect - nothing can be - but in this DF Direct Special, Oliver and Rich share their thoughts and reactions to the presentation. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:24 Overall impressions 0:10:09 Performance: 30 FPS only 0:25:22 Lighting: shadowmaps, RT reflections, RTGI 0:37:31 Simulation and the open world 0:45:49 Image quality 0:50:57 Supporter Q1: How will next-gen consoles and PCs improve on the PS5 visuals? 0:56:55 Supporter Q2: Will PS5 Pro fix GTA 6’s image quality issues? 1:01:45 Supporter Q3: Will GTA 6 become a new highly contested PC benchmark? 1:04:56 Supporter Q4: How did the Netflix-only trailer launch go? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: What If PlayStation 6 Is Actually The New PS Portable/Handheld?

45 min

At the time of recording, it was the lull before the storm that is Gamescom 2026 - but we've still got a bunch of fascinating questions to wade through. Have we got it all wrong with PlayStation 6? Is it actually the hotly rumoured handheld with Sony pivoting in a Nintendo-like direction? If games hit photorealism, where does that leave Digital Foundry? And are plasma TVs the new CRT? 00:00 Introduction 01:21 Sponsored by MSI QD-OLED 02:42 Supporter Q1: Could the next-gen PSP and PS6 be the same thing? 14:26 Supporter Q2: Should PC games rename their graphics settings to constrain performance expectations? 22:27 Supporter Q3: If games become photorealistic, what will Digital Foundry do? 31:20 Supporter Q4: Are plasma TVs the new CRTs? 42:58 Supporter Q5: Will DF leave secret messages about upcoming hardware in DF Directs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #278: Sony Undecided On PS6 Price/Launch Date, Black Myth Zhong Kui Gameplay

1 hr 15 min

We're not going to be commenting on leaks from a stolen GTA 6 build that's years old and promoting a memecoin but we WILL be talking about Sony's comments on not knowing PS6's pricing and release date and assessing the Black Myth Zhong Kui gameplay reveal. Rich is intrigued by Alan Wake's big PC upgrade for AMD users, while John muses over the reported end of live service elements in Horizon Hunters Gathering. Finally, five years ago, Alex made a range of predictions about Switch 2 and DLSS... so how accurate did they turn out to be? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:49 News 1: Sony undecided on PS6 release date 0:20:18 News 2: Remedy adds FSR 4.1 support in Alan Wake 2 0:27:23 News 3: Black Myth: Zhong Kui demoed 0:34:57 News 4: Horizon: Hunters Gathering drops live service elements 0:45:38 News 5: Doom ported to 12 year old camera 0:51:59 Retrospective: Alex’s Switch 2 DLSS predictions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Oblivion Remastered - Can Switch 2 Optimisations Fix PS5/PC/Xbox Versions?

52 min

Bethesda is promising a new patch for Oblivion Remastered based on the Switch 2 version's optimisations - but is there any evidence to suggest that the Switch 2 improvements will make any real differences for the other versions? Meanwhile, Oliver clarifies his comments on which PC specs reflect next-gen consoles, whether Project Helix will make much of a difference for Microsoft and whether Epic should make their own console (!). Finally, how come Switch 2 hasn't really much in the way of cross-gen first party exclusives? 00:00 Introduction 01:19 Supporter Q1: Can Switch 2 Optimisations Fix Oblivion Remastered on other systems? 16:47 Supporter Q2: How should we think about GPU VRAM and next gen consoles? 25:13 Supporter Q3: How was Nintendo able to transition from Switch 1 to Switch 2 so quickly? 32:24 Supporter Q4: If Microsoft stops shipping Xboxes, what will be lost? 40:57 Supporter Q5: Is Valve not being stringent enough with their Steam Deck Verified program? 45:49 Supporter Q6: Should Epic make their own Epic Games Machine with Unreal Engine optimizations? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #277: Crimson Desert Switch 2 Confirmed, Gears E-Day PC Tested, Viture XR Glasses!

1 hr 24 min

The team react to Pearl Abyss' statement that Crimson Desert is - somehow - coming to Switch 2, but the first order of business is to share impressions (and performance testing) for the Gears of War E-Day MP beta on PC... and while extremely impressive, we do have some concerns. Rich tests a remarkable system for playing Switch 2 games on the go in TV move with a virtual 174-inch OLED display, John's excited by a new wave of announced VR titles, there's curiousity around Xbox/Game Pass app games coming to Linux and there's some eyebrow-raising data on Resident Evil Requiem physical disc sales. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:36 News 1: Gears of War: E-Day tested on PC! 0:24:28 News 2: Switch 2 port of Crimson Desert confirmed 0:36:11 News 3: Viture Beast, Pro 2 XR glasses tested 0:50:11 News 4: Resident Evil Requiem figures show high physical sales 1:00:37 News 5: Project Xodus brings Xbox PC games to Linux, Mac 1:09:23 News 6: VR Games Showcase demos upcoming VR titles Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Celebrating DF Independence - One Year Since Leaving IGN!

59 min

It's been a year since Digital Foundry parted ways with IGN, buying out its shares and becoming completely independent. The team discuss the challenges of the last 12 months within the context of continuing bad news within the games business, before discussing what we've achieved from our objectives, where we've fallen short and how we're looking to revamp our tools. Beyond that, there are more questions about the future of the console business, the idea of an Xbox Helix "add in card" for PC, how Nintendo has achieved success without compromising its identity and finally... what PC spec today would match the consoles of tomorrow? 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Celebrating one year of DF independence! 27:42 Supporter Q1: Should we blame Microsoft for the state of PlayStation? 37:32 Supporter Q2: Should Sony follow Nintendo’s first-party centric console approach? 46:22 Supporter Q3: Could Xbox Helix be a system-on-a-chip for PC systems? 50:46 Supporter Q4: What PC hardware will you need for next generation games? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #276: GTA 6 An Extended Look Reveal Reaction, Quakecon 2026, Xbox 360 On PC

1 hr 27 min

What was looking like a fairly quiet week turned into a frenzy with the news that Rockstar will be publishing an "extended look" at Grand Theft Auto 6 on August 27 - but what should we expect? And why on earth would Netflix pay for a six-hour exclusivity window? Meanwhile, The Verge reveals Microsoft docs confirming Xbox 360 emulation for PC, Xbox Disc2Digital should be coming soon and someone has Half-Life Alyx kinda running on Meta Quest 3. Finally can the Steam Hardware Survey really be trusted? Are there really more 16GB GPUs out there than 8GB GPUs? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:26 Sponsored by Alienware 0:03:46 News 1: Rockstar announces GTA 6 “Extended Look” 0:22:54 News 2: QuakeCon 2026 brings back Quake memories 0:44:46 News 3: Xbox 360 games reportedly coming to PC backwards compatibility 0:57:55 News 4: Half-Life Alyx demoed on Meta Quest 3 1:07:22 News 5: Steam Hardware Survey suggests 16GB GPUs, 8 core CPUs are ascendant 1:16:40 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Sony Finally Responds To End-Of-Disc Backlash - And It's Not Good News

55 min

It took a Q+A session of its own within a financial earnings call - as opposed to talking directly to its users - but Sony has finally responded to the backlash whipped up by its announcement of the cancellation of physical media. What do we make of the response? And if it's just a small minority of PlayStation users upset by the news, is it right that Sony ignores the very negative feedback? Beyond that, we talk next-gen "secret source", whether it's possible for PC users to get a curated out-of-the-box "good settings experience" and where does Project Helix back-compat stand compared to PlayStation 6? 00:00 Introduction 00:44 Supporter Q1: Does Sony’s response to disc discontinuation critics miss the mark? 19:46 Supporter Q2: Do disc enthusiasts represent a minority Sony can ignore? 33:27 Supporter Q3: What ‘secret sauce’ will sell PS6 and Xbox Helix? 42:52 Supporter Q4: Is it too much of a hassle to get good PC performance? 49:34 Supporter Q5: Will Helix be disadvantaged relative to PS6 when playing last gen software? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #275: This Is The Most Performant Console Generation Since 16-Bit 2D

1 hr 24 min

The news has been pretty grim for the last few months, so why not concentrate on the positives? PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have delivered the best performing videogame generation since the 16-bit 2D era with more support for 60fps gaming than any other 3D-focused console. How did this happen and what are the drawbacks? Meanwhile, if those same consoles are effectively pint-sized PCs using PC components, why is there the sense that PC gaming is far less performant than it should be? John, Rich and Oliver discuss this, with a cameo from Tom talking Splatoon Raiders and OG Xbox "back compat" improvements. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:41 News 1: This is the most performant console generation in 30 years... but what about PC? 0:32:23 News 2: Have we gone too easy on Halo: Campaign Evolved? 0:47:00 News 3: Will Xbox Helix cut out Steam? 0:59:05 News 4: Splatoon Raiders tested! 1:14:40 News 5: Improvements for Xbox BC on PC! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Too Expensive? No Exclusives? Is Next-Gen Just For Enthusiasts?

53 min

The hardware situation grows more bleak by the week, so where does this leave next generation consoles? If they're too expensive, will developers target them over current-gen hardware? Is enhanced RT and path tracing enough to make people upgrade? Will there be actual next-gen exclusives? Would it make more sense to buy a higher-end PC now? All this and more is discussed in the latest show. 00:00 Introduction 00:57 Supporter Q1: Why should people want next-gen consoles? 19:09 Supporter Q2: Will people hold on to PS5 and Series X to play their disc games? 28:59 Supporter Q3: Should we just buy expensive PCs now, in lieu of next-gen consoles? 40:29 Supporter Q4: Does Xbox BC on PC threaten Steam? 46:57 Supporter Q5: Will we see future Xbox ports for Switch 2? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #274: OG Xbox/Xbox 360 PC 'Back Compat', Valve - Memory Crisis "Getting Worse"

1 hr 20 min

In the latest DF Direct Weekly, we go deeper into the OG Xbox emulator for PC... which is actually running within an Xbox 360 emulator, Inception-style. So what's the masterplan from Microsoft? The team mull over the reaction to Halo: Campaign Evolved, more details emerge on the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 2 and it's panic stations - again - as Valve predicts that the memory crisis is only going to get worse. Much worse. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:03:25 News 1: Xbox BC tested on PC! 0:23:48 News 2: Halo Campaign Evolved: a beautiful remake 0:44:56 News 3: Konami reveals resolution, frame-rate targets for new MGS collection 0:55:40 News 4: Valve warns memory crisis “getting worse” 1:10:24 Retrospective: Xbox One S review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Creation Engine 3 in Elder Scrolls 6/Fallout 5, Is Doom THE Great American Videogame?

51 min

The Q+A show returns, with Rich, Oliver and Will getting to grips with the potential of the Creation Engine 3 in The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5, while assessing the merits of Doom as THE great American videogame. Sony's new vapour chamber patent is considered for PS6 viability, while questions linger over what Sega's support for Nvidia's RTX Spark actually amounts to. And there's more: what would the generation have looked like if it stuck to 30fps? Is Sony killing discs really about its post-handheld ecosystem? And what's the deal with Oliver's cat? 00:00 Introduction 00:42 Supporter Q1: What can we expect from Bethesda’s Creation Engine 3? 13:58 Supporter Q2: Is Doom (1993) the great American video game? 20:37 Supporter Q3: Does Sony’s new vapour chamber patent mean they are ditching liquid metal? 26:58 Supporter Q4: Will developers deliver native ARM versions of their games for RTX Spark? 33:16 Supporter Q5: Would console graphics look better if developers skipped 60 FPS modes entirely? 41:40 Supporter Q6: Has the next-gen portable PlayStation driven Sony’s decision to kill discs? 46:58 Supporter Q7: When will we see the non-tail parts of Oliver’s cat? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #273: The Future of Fallout + Elder Scrolls, Xbox Account Deletion, Switch 2 OLED?

1 hr 37 min

Bethesda tweets out its current Fallout/Elders Scrolls plans... but why? Meanwhile, digital accounts and draconian anti-consumer limitations come into focus, the Ryzen 7 7700X3D is released and Capcom reveals good news about its upcoming Dragon's Dogma 2 Switch 2 port. Dying Light The Beast is cancelled on last-gen, rumours emerge of a Switch 2 OLED and the team reflect on the tenth anniversary of our reveal of the original Nintendo Switch specs. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:40 News 1: Bethesda announces new Fallout games in massive post 0:25:44 News 2: Streamer’s Microsoft account pulled, reinstated after outcry 0:47:51 News 3: Capcom claims Dragon’s Dogma 2 on Switch 2 “exceeding expectations” 0:58:04 News 4: Dying Light: The Beast cancelled on last-gen consoles 1:06:34 News 5: Ryzen 7700X3D tested! 1:18:13 News 6: Nintendo reportedly considering Switch 2 OLED 1:28:22 Retrospective: Nintendo Switch 1 specs reveal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: How Does The Xbox Reset Impact Project Helix?

47 min

The fallout from the Xbox Reset continues as more questions are raised: does Xbox's recent pivots change the plan for Project Helix? Will it still allow other PC stores to run on it? Will it have a disc drive? Meanwhile, other questions are asked: will cancelling PlayStation Plus make Sony rethink its physical media cancellation? What about the "code in the box" GTA 6? And is Nintendo the last platform holder that not to lay-off its developers and antagonise its audience? 00:00 Introduction 01:06 Supporter Q1: If Microsoft makes so much money as a platform holder, why will Project Helix let you play Steam games? 14:41 Supporter Q2: Could Project Helix have an optional disc drive? 19:46 Supporter Q3: Could players sway Sony’s mind on PS5 discs by cancelling PlayStation Plus? 26:09 Supporter Q4: What’s the worst thing Nintendo has ever done? 34:20 Supporter Q5: Should we buy GTA 6 in physical form to prove a point to Sony and Take-Two? 37:17 Supporter Q6: What PS3 game should get the Black Flag Resynced treatment? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #272: id Software Lay-Offs Damage Control, COD Black Ops PS5, 5 Years Of Steam Deck

1 hr 25 min

In the wake of the outcry against the decimation of id Software, Microsoft and seemingly id itself try to downplay the damage and reassure the audience - but what do we think of this - and indeed John Carmack's statements on the issue? Meanwhile Oliver has some bad news about Call of Duty Black Ops on PS5 or rather, the "Just There" edition as Rich dubs it. Beyond that, the petition against the end of PS5 physical media crosses the 250,000 threshold and there's further evidence that RTX 50 Series Super is happening. Finally, after wading through a bunch of bad news, the team find something to celebrate as we hit the five year anniversary of the Steam Deck reveal. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:32 News 1: Doom: The Dark Ages DLC arrives, while id layoffs linger 0:35:23 News 2: “Don’t kill the disc” petition crosses 250,000 signatures 0:55:07 News 3: Black Ops 1 & 2 launch on PS4, PS5 1:02:53 News 4: PSU maker drops RTX 50 Super series info 1:13:18 Retrospective: 5 years of Steam Deck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Xbox 'Reset' Worse Than Expected - Huge Job Losses + The End of idTech?

1 hr 3 min

One part necessary re-organisation, one part liberation for key developers, one part vandalism of Xbox studios, it's a mixture of disbelief and anger from the DF panel as the full extent of Xbox's so-called "reset" becomes clear. If Asha Sharma's report on the business is on the level, clearly something had to be done - but as the scale of the lay-offs and the astonishing cuts to id Software become clear, are spreadsheets now more important to Microsoft than its audience? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:51 Supporter Q1: Why is Microsoft laying off 3200 people? 0:28:39 Supporter Q2: Will Sony be forced to be more flexible with their digital storefront, now that physical discs are on the way out? 0:45:04 Supporter Q3: Should Microsoft and Sony just call their next-gen consoles off? 0:54:48 Supporter Q4: Could the PS6 SoC be revised? 1:00:19 Supporter Q5: Could you use PCIe expansion to attach graphics expansion tech to current consoles? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #271: The End Of PlayStation Physical Media & True Game Ownership

1 hr 11 min

Sony announces the end of PlayStation game discs via a three paragraph blog post - bringing to an end the era of physical media and actually owning the games you buy, along with the right to resell them, share them and preserve them. A sombre panel assesses the full implications of Sony's decision, why it's doing it, the damage it'll cause and how the PlayStation Store needs a major revamp to take the place of physical media. Also: Sony shuts down the PS3 and Vita stores, Xbox may have alternative plans for potentially phasing out discs and a new Switch 2 LCD panel will hopefully address the problems of the current one. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:52 News 1: Sony planning to cease manufacturing new PlayStation games 0:43:32 News 2: Sony pulling PS3, Vita digital stores 0:54:47 News 3: Xbox disc to digital program reportedly planned 1:01:55 News 4: New Switch 2 display reportedly enters the fray Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: The Big "$1000 Next-Gen Console" Debate + Is GTA 6 Over-Hyped?

1 hr 0 min

In the wake of Steam Machine pricing and sharp Xbox MSRP increases, are we looking at the prospect of a $1000 next-gen console? John, Rich and Oliver discuss. Meanwhile, in the current climate, how can you save money on gaming hardware? Is GTA 6 in danger of being the most over-hyped game ever? And if time travel were available, how could the current Xbox crisis have been averted? 00:00 Introduction 00:51 News 1: How does the gaming industry survive recent hardware price bumps? 24:54 News 2: What’s your advice for saving money on gaming hardware? 33:44 News 3: How is John feeling after the GTA 6 code-in-a-box fiasco? 42:11 News 4: Is GTA 6 the most overhyped game ever? 46:57 News 5: If you could time travel, how would you fix Xbox? 55:28 News 6: What’s the future of the Steam Machine? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #270: GTA 6 Screens: Are They Real-Time, Xbox Price Jump, FSR 4 on RDNA 3

1 hr 18 min

Oliver, Rich and Tom discuss GTA 6. Are the 63 new screenshots indicative of actual gameplay? What about the "code in a box" situation? Are the latest PS5 Pro rumours plausible? Meanwhile, the panel is shocked by the huge Xbox price rises, somewhat more positive about FSR 4 arriving on RDNA 3 GPUs, and there's a full breakdown of Sonic Frontiers for Switch 2. And finally, SteamOS can now power a range of desktop PC hardware - but wasn't Bazzite doing that already? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:37 News 1: New GTA 6 assets, details released 0:32:43 News 2: AI-driven price rises hit Xbox, Apple 0:45:52 News 3: FSR 4.1 released for RDNA 3 GPUs 0:57:50 News 4: SteamOS 3.8 supports wide range of AMD PCs 1:05:53 News 5: Sonic Frontiers tested on Switch 2! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Steam Machine - The Big Price/Performance/Form Factor Debate

39 min

In the wake of our Steam Machine review, Rich and Will tackle a range of Supporter questions on the price, value and design of the hardware, the ability of Valve to supply it - and the future of SteamOS in general. 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Supporter Q1: What should we think of the value of the Steam Machine? 12:03 Supporter Q2: What’s the target audience for the Steam Machine? 20:01 Supporter Q3: Should Valve have used unified memory? 25:19 Supporter Q4: Is Valve incapable of shipping hardware in volume at the moment? 29:30 Supporter Q5: Will Nvidia be supported in future SteamOS releases? 35:09 Supporter Q6: Why doesn’t the Steam Machine have a lunchbox-style handle? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #269: GTA 6 News Reaction, UE5 Upgrades, UE6, Gears E-Day Tech Demo

1 hr 11 min

Actual GTA 6 news - and a new clip - see John, Tom and Oliver "concerned" over missing RT reflections. Then it's onto Unreal Fest with discussion on the latest Unreal Engine 5 upgrades and the implications of AI in Unreal Engine 6 workflow. The Gears of War: E-Day tech demo demands attention, while John gets to grips with a staggeringly expensive VR headset. And would you believe it's been a whole five years since we published our massive PS1 launch episode of DF Retro? John's got some stories to share. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:33 News 1: Rockstar releases new GTA 6 footage 0:11:10 News 2: Unreal Engine 5.8 demonstrated at Unreal Fest 0:31:10 News 3: Epic reveals new Unreal Engine 6 details 0:39:41 News 4: New PS5 8TB SSD costs nearly $3000 0:45:20 News 5: Call of Duty Black Ops 1 and 2 being ported to PlayStation 0:50:49 News 6: John tests Pimax Dream Air 1:03:56 Retrospective: looking back on DF Retro PS1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Xbox Reboot Studio Closure Reports, RTX 50-Series Super Returns? ARM ML Rendering

53 min

The team is left reeling after reports emerge of studios on the brink within Microsoft - a far cry from the highs of the summer showcase and previous comments from management about preserving their studio structure. Meanwhile, we discuss ARM's new ML rendering suite, the potential return of the previously cancelled RTX 50-series Super cards and... is Sega working on a retro handheld and if so, what would we want from it? 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Supporter Q1: What’s going on at Xbox? 21:08 Supporter Q2: Will Xbox become the next 3DO? 29:35 Supporter Q3: What do you think of ARM’s new AI rendering suite? 36:44 Supporter Q4: What should we expect from the 50 series Super cards? 44:00 Supporter Q5: What does Intel and Nvidia’s GPU collaboration mean for Arc? 49:35 Supporter Q6: Is Sega working on a new retro handheld? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #268: Ocarina of Time Remake, Nintendo Direct, Fable Gameplay, RTX 3060 Returns

1 hr 13 min

Nintendo Direct rounds off the big summer gaming events and... well, it's a mixed bag for sure. What have we learned about the Ocarina of Time Remake? How well are the third party ports holding up? John, Rich and Oliver have some thoughts on that before moving on to reactions to the 30 minute Fable gameplay demo. Meanwhile, Nintendo is planning a new Switch 2 revision with a replaceable battery and... somehow, the RTX 3060 has returned. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:12 News 1: Nintendo Direct: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 0:09:29 Xenoblade Genesis, Xenoblade 1-3 Switch 2 Editions 0:17:40 Kingdom Hearts 4, Kingdom Hearts 1-3 0:22:21 Third party games: Dragon’s Dogma 2, Onimusha, Metaphor Refantazio, Space Marine 2, The Duskbloods, Devil May Cry 5, Rise of the Tomb Raider 0:35:47 News 2: Fable previewed in 30 minute demo 0:42:55 News 3: Switch 2 gets easily repairable EU edition 0:50:46 News 4: Is the RTX 3060 coming back? 1:03:51 Retrospective: Five years of FSR 1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: The Big "Xbox Reset" Memo Debate - What Happens Next?

49 min

Our audience has questions, we've got answers - but first, the team gets to grips with the contents of Asha Sharma and Matt Booty's Xbox Reset memo. Beyond that, is Xbox console exclusivity the best route forward? Should Valve update Steam Machine specs? Will God of War Laufey get a massive PS6 enhancement? It's a big show and there's still more to discuss beyond that. 00:00 Introduction 01:00 What should we make of Asha Sharma’s “XBOX Reset?” 21:40 Supporter Q1: Will exclusives be enough to save Xbox? 27:47 Supporter Q2: Should Valve scrap Steam Machine for something more powerful? 33:44 Supporter Q3: Could God of War Laufey feature RTGI on PS6? 37:44 Supporter Q4: Are mainstream CPUs good enough for modern games? 44:18 Supporter Q5: Has the Series S secretly saved Switch 2? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #267: Resi Evil Veronica, FF7 Revelation, Stellar Blade 2 - The Big SGF Video

1 hr 6 min

Taped before we produced our Xbox Showcase coverage, it's John, Rich and Oliver at their respective microphones to discuss all the big games at the recent Summer Game Fest. Geoff came good - as this excellent line-up of titles reveals. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:28 Final Fantasy 7 Revelation 0:10:35 Resident Evil Veronica 0:19:20 Stellar Blade: Blood Rain 0:24:35 Mighty Cuphead Adventures 0:29:25 Alien Isolation 2 0:33:21 Gen Atlas 0:40:23 Clutch 0:45:12 Crossfire 0:52:42 Virtua Fighter Crossroads 0:58:14 Other games: Haex, Star Wars Galactic Racer, 1666 Amsterdam, Star Wars Zero Company, Hot Wheels Infinite Rush, Guild Wars 3, Super Yooka-Laylee Kart Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Special: Xbox Showcase 2026: Gears E-Day, Halo, Senua, Metro 2039 Reaction + More

1 hr 11 min

It's Xbox's time to shine with the latest in the big summer showcases and Team Green certainly delivered. Gears of War: E-Day finally breaks cover, Halo Campaign Evolved impresses, while Senua, Metro 2039 and Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy look phenomenal. But what's the deal with Microsoft's exclusivity strategy and will it actually work? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:46 Gears of War: E-Day 0:13:36 Clockwork Revolution 0:16:21 Is Xbox returning to exclusive games? 0:29:30 Halo Campaign Evolved 0:34:24 Persona 4 Revival and Persona 6 0:38:52 Senua 0:43:21 Spyro: A Realm Beyond 0:46:02 Metro 2039 0:49:35 Crazy Taxi: World Tour 0:53:20 Doom: The Dark Ages | Revelations 0:57:57 Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember 1:00:48 Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy 1:04:40 Xbox 25th Anniversary Series X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Special: Nintendo Switch 2 - Year One - The Digital Foundry Verdict

51 min

At the time of publication, it has been one year and one day since Nintendo launched the Switch 2 console - so, as is DF tradition, it's time to look back over the last year and assess the system's track record so far. Strong back compat, impressive first and third party support, actual ray tracing and game-changing DLSS results - has Nintendo managed to put a foot wrong at all? 00:00 Overview 01:10 Is Switch 2 a generational leap over Switch 1? 11:40 What are the worst and best Switch 2 ports? 21:46 Has Nintendo extracted the most from Switch 2 in their own games? 27:34 Have we accepted Switch 2’s hardware flaws? 33:27 What do we make of GameChat, GameShare, and mouse controls? 37:51 How do we rate Switch 2’s backwards compatibility? 44:08 Concluding thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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