Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

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 Introduction0:02:36 News 1: Gears of War: E-Day tested on PC!0:24:28 News 2: Switch 2 port of Crimson Desert confirmed0:36:11 News 3: Viture Beast, Pro 2 XR glasses tested0:50:11 News 4: Resident Evil Requiem figures show high physical sales1:00:37 News 5: Project Xodus brings Xbox PC games to Linux, Mac1:09:23 News 6: VR Games Showcase demos upcoming VR titles Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Introduction01:07 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.

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 memories0:44:46 News 3: Xbox 360 games reportedly coming to PC backwards compatibility0:57:55 News 4: Half-Life Alyx demoed on Meta Quest 31:07:22 News 5: Steam Hardware Survey suggests 16GB GPUs, 8 core CPUs are ascendant1:16:40 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Introduction00:44 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.

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 Introduction0:01:41 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.

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 Introduction00:57 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.

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 Introduction0:03:25 News 1: Xbox BC tested on PC!0:23:48 News 2: Halo Campaign Evolved: a beautiful remake0:44:56 News 3: Konami reveals resolution, frame-rate targets for new MGS collection0:55:40 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.

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 Introduction00:42 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.

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.

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 Introduction01:06 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.

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 Introduction0:00:51 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.

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 Introduction0:00:52 News 1: Sony planning to cease manufacturing new PlayStation games0:43:32 News 2: Sony pulling PS3, Vita digital stores0:54:47 News 3: Xbox disc to digital program reportedly planned1:01:55 News 4: New Switch 2 display reportedly enters the fray Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Introduction00:37 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.

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 Introduction0:00:46 Gears of War: E-Day0:13:36 Clockwork Revolution0:16:21 Is Xbox returning to exclusive games?0:29:30 Halo Campaign Evolved0:34:24 Persona 4 Revival and Persona 60:38:52 Senua0:43:21 Spyro: A Realm Beyond0:46:02 Metro 20390:49:35 Crazy Taxi: World Tour0:53:20 Doom: The Dark Ages | Revelations0:57:57 Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember1:00:48 Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy1:04:40 Xbox 25th Anniversary Series X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Overview01:10 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.

With the welcome announcement of Call of Duty coming to Switch 2, the question is... can the hardware handle the series' signature 60fps? Meanwhile, what does Nvidia aim to achieve with its new RTX Spark processor? In the wake of the shock Steam Deck price rises, could a self-built PC potentially offer superior value? What's the fate of Xbox Series S in the Helix era? All this and more in the new DF Direct Q+A show.00:00 Introduction00:40 Supporter Q1: Do you think Modern Warfare 4 will be good on Switch 2?09:38 Supporter Q2: Is the Nvidia N1X an expensive, niche chip?24:25 Supporter Q3: Is a custom PC a better deal than Steam Machine?31:00 Supporter Q4: Are review embargoes becoming more strict?37:50 Supporter Q5: Will Microsoft ditch Series S when Project Helix arrives?42:07 Supporter Q6: Are high hardware prices a boon for game optimization? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The summer games showcase event season is upon us and Sony is first off the mark with an excellent showing. God of War Laufey and Marvel's Wolverine are the highlights of the event, but there's plenty more that caught our eye here. John and Oliver share their thoughts on the event.00:00 Introduction 01:13 God of War Laufey 08:44 Marvel’s Wolverine 16:46 Rayman Legends Retold 20:50 Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve 25:09 Stuntman Hollywood 28:55 Until Dawn 232:24 Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis 35:30 Kemuri 37:45 Omimusha: Way of the Sword 43:07 Concluding thoughts  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The shock news of +40% price rises for Steam Deck kicks off a BIG Direct this week, swiftly followed by the team's first impressions of the PC version of 007 First Light - and its ker-azy upscaling issues. The new Call of Duty coming to Switch 2 is a topic of much interest, as is the announcement of a brand-new expansion for The Witcher 3. Rich is dismayed by the presentation of bare buttocks in Metal Gear Solid 4's PS5 remaster, the panel reminisces on five years of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart - and we deliver an explainer on why it's getting more difficult to cover Xbox Series versions of third-party multi-platform games.0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:04 News 1: Valve restocks Steam Deck with massive price bump 0:20:26 News 2: 007 First Light suffers DLSS issues on PC 0:39:39 News 3: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 announced 0:47:13 News 4: New Witcher 3 expansion announced0:53:27 News 5: MGS4 PS5 port demoed! 1:04:33 News 6: Xbox whitelisting woes derail game coverage 1:14:08 Retrospective: Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart 5-year anniversary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The team sit down once more to discuss the latest questions from DF Supporters. What do we make of Unreal Engine 6's debut in Rocket League of all places? Has Epic delivered a version of Lumen that is performant enough for lower spec kit? Is Sony's quality control to be blamed for lower than expected PC sales and finally, the big one... if Steam is a monopoly, why do we like it?00:00 Introduction01:09 Supporter Q1: What should we make of the Unreal Engine 6 announcement?16:48 Supporter Q2: What does the new “medium Lumen” preset mean for Switch 2?21:52 Supporter Q3: Which UE5 game got closest visually to The Matrix Awakens?25:58 Supporter Q4: Has the RTX 4090 aged like fine wine?34:10 Supporter Q5: Should Sony’s declining PC port quality be blamed for poor sales?42:05 Supporter Q6: If people don’t like monopolies, why do they like Steam? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John, Oliver and Rich sit down to discuss the latest gaming and technology news, kicking off with the end of the road for Destiny 2. It's had a fantastic long run, but where does that leave Bungie? Following that, it's a - dare we say it - Unreal Fest. The team discuss the latest Lego Batman on PS5 and PC, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on Switch and more, before moving into retrospective mode - it's been one year since the Witcher 4 UE5 demo and five years since we went hands-on with the Valley of the Ancient demo, so what have we learned? And finally, the nostalgia continues: this week, it's been an incredible TEN YEARS of DF Retro!0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:16 News 1: Bungie ends Destiny 2 development0:19:44 News 2: Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight released 0:32:51 News 3: Yoshi and the Mysterious Book tested 0:45:41 News 4: Two new UE5 games buck engine trends 0:57:36 Retrospective: 5 year Unreal Engine 5 early access anniversary 1:12:07 Retrospective: DF Retro celebrates 10 year anniversary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The show kicks off with the news that Sony is no longer bringing its single-player narrative-driven games to PC before moving on to supporter questions! How competitive would PS5 with Linux be to Valve's Steam Machine? Will FSR 4.1 come to Xbox consoles and could a PSSR Lite come to base PlayStation 5? Would there be any point bringing Quick Resume to PS6 and... is it Xbox or XBOX and should we change our pronounciation of the name?!00:00 Introduction00:45 News: Sony says single-player Sony games will no longer release on PC08:14 Supporter Q1: Could a Linux-running PS5 be a good Steam Machine alternative?12:48 Supporter Q2: Will FSR 4.1 come to Xbox? What about a PSSR for base PS5?19:03 Supporter Q3: Could Sony implement Quick Resume for PS5?24:56 Supporter Q4: Could a new third party commercial game engine succeed?33:15 Supporter Q5: Do any of you double dip on game re-releases?40:42 Supporter Q6: Is it Xbox or XBOX? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PS5 Linux continues to yield dividends as Rich tests path tracing on PS5 with Quake 2 RTX, Portal RTX and Cyberpunk 2077 RT Overdrive (!) on Sony's console. Beyond that, there's great news with the announcement of FSR 4.1 coming to older Radeon graphics cards, and there's a hint that Xbox may have some kind of "disc to digital" way to bring your physical purchases over to a potentially disc-less Project Helix. Finally, the team celebrate a duo of key anniversaries - Uncharted 4 and Doom 2016!0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:03 News 1: Path tracing tested on PS5! 0:22:07 News 2: FSR 4.1 coming to RDNA 2/30:36:07 News 3: New 007 First Light footage shows 60fps PS5 Pro gameplay 0:46:23 News 4: Report suggests Xbox “disc to digital” program may be coming0:57:18 Retrospective: 10 year Uncharted 4 anniversary 1:09:36 Retrospective: 10 year Doom (2016) anniversary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's Direct, Oliver, John and Rich get to grips with the reveal of Nintendo's Star Fox remake for Switch 2, there's justified concern over the Nintendo price hike for its new console, while Activision confirms that the next Call of Duty will finally leave last generation hardware behind. Meanwhile, the Pragmata resolution saga continues with an undocumented resolution hike for the PlayStation 5 Professional, while Pragmata (again) has an unconventional way to boost performance on Switch 2. And finally, the panel mark the 10th anniversary of Nvidia's remarkable Pascal architecture.0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:19 News 1: Nintendo reveals Star Fox! 0:17:18 News 2: Nintendo increases Switch 2 prices 0:27:38 News 3: Next Call of Duty drops PS40:39:05 News 4: Pragmata gets surprise PS5 Pro resolution bump 0:46:39 News 5: Switch 2 GameChat can boost game performance! 0:56:24 News 6: Nvidia 10 series hits 10 year anniversary! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new Q+A show sees John, Rich and Alex tackle a number of big questions. Is Project Helix a console or PC? What's the difference nowadays anyway? Will Microsoft's "K2" initiative win back users lamenting the Windows experience? Meanwhile, with no games focusing on ray tracing, will rasterised fallbacks decline in quality going forward? All this and much, much more.00:00 Introduction 00:50 Supporter Q1: When does a console become a PC? 10:27 Supporter Q2: What should we expect from Microsoft’s “K2” plan for Windows? 21:33 Supporter Q3: Will developers stop caring about their raster-only graphics? 34:19 Supporter Q4: What do you think of the Neo Geo AES+?39:19 Supporter Q5: Why is Intel starting to ignore gaming dGPUs? 44:54 Supporter Q6: Is using frame gen to get to 30fps acceptable? 51:12 Supporter Q7: Do you know what pico means in Chilean Spanish? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploited PS5s can now run Linux - so obviously we had to check it out, running Steam versions of Crimson Desert, Black Myth Wukong and Pragmata on Linux via Steam, stacked up against the actual PS5 versions - with some fascinating results. Meanwhile, Alex talks us through an amazing tech presentation from the developers of Teardown, John impresses us with his new Anbernic RG477M, Tom provides us test data to prove that Oblivion Remastered is indeed still "broken", while Rich and Alex come to terms with the fact that it's time to say goodbye to the Ryzen 5 3600.0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:15 News 1: Linux gaming on PS5 tested! 0:26:31 News 2: Teardown devs highlight voxel ray tracing enhancements0:38:10 News 3: Anbernic retro handheld tested! 0:50:31 News 4: Oblivion Remastered is still broken 0:59:29 News 5: Saying goodbye to the Ryzen 5 3600 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some excellent questions from Digital Foundry Supporters this week. Does the F1 25 PS5 Pro path tracing demo and ReSTIR optimisations mean that path tracing is going mainstream - maybe for next gen? Is there still untapped potential in PS5 and Series X? Is Microsoft's new "We Are Xbox" strategy document just a massive balloon of hot air? Is Nvidia making path tracing an exclusive feature and what do we think about that? And... a year on from release, why Oblivion Remastered still broken?00:00 Introduction 00:35 Supporter Q1: Will path tracing efficiency improvements bring PT to current gen console games? 12:30 Supporter Q2: Is there still untapped potential in PS5 and Series X?19:25 Supporter Q3: Have we hit the peak of ML image reconstruction? 27:45 Supporter Q4: Why is path tracing exclusive to Nvidia in so many recent games? 32:54 Supporter Q5: Will Oblivion Remastered ever be fixed? 39:57 Supporter Q6: Would games really run 30% faster if they were optimized for Intel CPUs? 45:31 Supporter Q7: Do Microsoft’s recent Xbox promises mean anything? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new DF Direct arrives and with it, some remarkable news that failed to emerge from this year's GDC - namely that Codemasters has a demo of path tracing working on the PS5 Pro version of F1 25. How good is it? How fast is it? Alex clues us in. Meanwhile, the team discuss the AC Black Flag Resynced reveal, Tom looks at Mouse PI For Hire across several platforms and there's much excitement about the prospect of Panther Lake arriving in the handheld space. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:03 News 1: GDC talk: F1 25 path tracing implemented on PS5 Pro 0:20:22 News 2: LiberNovo Omni Chair [Sponsored] 0:33:15 News 3: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced revealed! 0:44:09 News 4: Game Pass Ultimate price slashed, Call of Duty access restricted 1:03:05 News 5: News 5: Mouse: P.I. For Hire tested! 1:18:11 News 6: Intel planning Panther Lake handheld reveal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new DF Direct arrives and with it, some remarkable news that failed to emerge from this year's GDC - namely that Codemasters has a demo of path tracing working on the PS5 Pro version of F1 25. How good is it? How fast is it? Alex clues us in. Meanwhile, the team discuss the AC Black Flag Resynced reveal, Tom looks at Mouse PI For Hire across several platforms and there's much excitement about the prospect of Panther Lake arriving in the handheld space.0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:03 News 1: GDC talk: F1 25 path tracing implemented on PS5 Pro0:20:22 News 2: LiberNovo Omni Chair [Sponsored] 0:33:15 News 3: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced revealed! 0:44:09 News 4: Game Pass Ultimate price slashed, Call of Duty access restricted1:03:05 News 5: News 5: Mouse: P.I. For Hire tested! 1:18:11 News 6: Intel planning Panther Lake handheld reveal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest Q+A show sees Rich, Oliver and Alex discussing a range of topics. If PSSR2 looks good at lower resolutions than the standard PS5 version, should developers focus on higher settings? There are plus and minus points. Should Nintendo add 120Hz and VRR support on Switch 2 when running Switch 1 software? Is an RTX 5080 good enough for path tracing? And should Sony's more affordable next-gen console actually live in the cloud? 00:00 Introduction01:18 News 1: Why do developers keep increasing internal resolutions in their PS5 Pro games with PSSR?08:57 News 2: Could Nintendo add 120Hz support or VRR for Switch 1 software on Switch 2?15:04 News 3: Should studios develop game engine specific upscalers like PICO?23:36 News 4: Can we solve uncapped frame-rates by capping the display to 30Hz? And why doesn’t Capcom cap their games?29:25 News 5: What will the rumoured Switch 2 Starfield port look like?35:23 News 6: Should I get an RTX 5080 for path traced games?40:36 News 7: Should Sony offer a PS6 Cloud Edition? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest Q+A show sees Rich, Oliver and Alex discussing a range of topics. If PSSR2 looks good at lower resolutions than the standard PS5 version, should developers focus on higher settings? There are plus and minus points. Should Nintendo add 120Hz and VRR support on Switch 2 when running Switch 1 software? Is an RTX 5080 good enough for path tracing? And should Sony's more affordable next-gen console actually live in the cloud?00:00 Introduction01:18 News 1: Why do developers keep increasing internal resolutions in their PS5 Pro games with PSSR?08:57 News 2: Could Nintendo add 120Hz support or VRR for Switch 1 software on Switch 2?15:04 News 3: Should studios develop game engine specific upscalers like PICO?23:36 News 4: Can we solve uncapped frame-rates by capping the display to 30Hz? And why doesn’t Capcom cap their games?29:25 News 5: What will the rumoured Switch 2 Starfield port look like?35:23 News 6: Should I get an RTX 5080 for path traced games?40:36 News 7: Should Sony offer a PS6 Cloud Edition? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new Direct sees Alex, Rich and Oliver reacting to the reveal of Metro 2039 - and it looks like another technical showcase from the brilliant 4A Games. Nvidia denies wanting to acquire a big PC manufacturer, but it kinda of makes sense, so is it going to happen? The team share disbelief about the quality of tech QA on Starfield PS5's launch, before moving on to Asha Sharma's comments about Game(s) Pass being too expensive. There's a warm welcome for the return of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D - but how much will it cost? And finally, what happened when Pragmata on PS5 ran at 1440p on Rich's PS5 - but only 1080p on Oliver and Tom's consoles? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:13 News 1: Metro 2039 revealed! 0:15:50 News 2: Nvidia: we aren’t acquiring a PC maker 0:22:58 News 3: Bethesda: Starfield PS5 crash fixes incoming 0:33:16 News 4: Asha Sharma: Game Pass is too expensive 0:44:16 News 5: Report: Ryzen 5800X3D to return 0:54:33 Content discussion: is Pragmata on PS5 1080p or 1440p? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new Direct sees Alex, Rich and Oliver reacting to the reveal of Metro 2039 - and it looks like another technical showcase from the brilliant 4A Games. Nvidia denies wanting to acquire a big PC manufacturer, but it kinda of makes sense, so is it going to happen? The team share disbelief about the quality of tech QA on Starfield PS5's launch, before moving on to Asha Sharma's comments about Game(s) Pass being too expensive. There's a warm welcome for the return of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D - but how much will it cost? And finally, what happened when Pragmata on PS5 ran at 1440p on Rich's PS5 - but only 1080p on Oliver and Tom's consoles? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:13 News 1: Metro 2039 revealed! 0:15:50 News 2: Nvidia: we aren’t acquiring a PC maker 0:22:58 News 3: Bethesda: Starfield PS5 crash fixes incoming0:33:16 News 4: Asha Sharma: Game Pass is too expensive 0:44:16 News 5: Report: Ryzen 5800X3D to return0:54:33 Content discussion: is Pragmata on PS5 1080p or 1440p? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest edition of the DF Direct Q+A show, we tackle the question of whether Switch 2 and the upcoming Sony handheld should spawn cheaper "micro-console" variants. We ponder the reasons behind the delay of the Switch 2 port of 007 First Light. Why do Xbox games have screen-tearing where Sony versions do not? And a big one - is console gaming and gaming in general stagnating? 00:00 Introduction 00:44 Supporter Q1: Should Nintendo release a home console-only version of Switch 2? And should Sony package their PS6 handheld as a home console? 10:16 Supporter Q2: Given recent handheld price spikes, what’s a realistic price for a PS6 handheld? 16:36 Supporter Q3: Is the 007 First Light delay for Switch 2 a good thing? 22:06 Supporter Q4: Why do Xbox games often tear when their PS5 counterparts are perfectly v-synced? 28:50 Supporter Q5: Have console stagnation and game engine homogeneity made gaming boring? 38:51 Supporter Q6: Should PC settings options be less granular? 45:58 Supporter Q7: Should console game devs introduce settings that don’t do anything to placate users? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the latest edition of the DF Direct Q+A show, we tackle the question of whether Switch 2 and the upcoming Sony handheld should spawn cheaper "micro-console" variants. We ponder the reasons behind the delay of the Switch 2 port of 007 First Light. Why do Xbox games have screen-tearing where Sony versions do not? And a big one - is console gaming and gaming in general stagnating?00:00 Introduction 00:44 Supporter Q1: Should Nintendo release a home console-only version of Switch 2? And should Sony package their PS6 handheld as a home console? 10:16 Supporter Q2: Given recent handheld price spikes, what’s a realistic price for a PS6 handheld? 16:36 Supporter Q3: Is the 007 First Light delay for Switch 2 a good thing? 22:06 Supporter Q4: Why do Xbox games often tear when their PS5 counterparts are perfectly v-synced? 28:50 Supporter Q5: Have console stagnation and game engine homogeneity made gaming boring? 38:51 Supporter Q6: Should PC settings options be less granular? 45:58 Supporter Q7: Should console game devs introduce settings that don’t do anything to placate users? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's another BIG Direct! The embargo for Pragmata lifts today and John and Rich share their thoughts on the PC version ahead of a look at all of the console versions later in the week. The team discuss the recent round of Forza Horizon 6 previews, before moving on to the highs and the lows of playing Samson from Liquid Swords. Alex has much to share about Nvidia's latest path tracing innovations, Rich is intrigued by Nvidia's upcoming Nvidia N1/N1X based laptops, while the reveal of an amazing Super Mario Bros demo on Sega Master System leads to some disturbing anecdotes from Rich. 0:00:00 Introduction0:00:56 News 1: Pragmata tested on PC!0:15:09 News 2: Forza Horizon 6 impresses in new previews0:26:06 News 3 Samson proves deeply disappointing0:48:12 News 4: Nvidia talks path tracing advances at GDC1:02:21 News 5: Nvidia N1 motherboard leaks1:12:14 News 6: Super Mario Brothers demoed on Sega Master System Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's another BIG Direct! The embargo for Pragmata lifts today and John and Rich share their thoughts on the PC version ahead of a look at all of the console versions later in the week. The team discuss the recent round of Forza Horizon 6 previews, before moving on to the highs and the lows of playing Samson from Liquid Swords. Alex has much to share about Nvidia's latest path tracing innovations, Rich is intrigued by Nvidia's upcoming Nvidia N1/N1X based laptops, while the reveal of an amazing Super Mario Bros demo on Sega Master System leads to some disturbing anecdotes from Rich. 0:00:00 Introduction0:00:56 News 1: Pragmata tested on PC!0:15:09 News 2: Forza Horizon 6 impresses in new previews0:26:06 News 3 Samson proves deeply disappointing0:48:12 News 4: Nvidia talks path tracing advances at GDC1:02:21 News 5: Nvidia N1 motherboard leaks1:12:14 News 6: Super Mario Brothers demoed on Sega Master System Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of pricing discussion at the end of DF Direct Weekly #258, Rich opens up the question to the audience: how much would you pay for PlayStation 6? And will it support physical media? If a Sony handheld arrives, how will it play your older PlayStation titles? And moving away from next-gen Sony, will Project Helix have configurable memory options? And if you're not so interested in consoles, is there actually a good time to upgrade your PC? Finally, with Crimson Desert offering so many different options at this point, should console users just get the full PC graphics menu? 01:14 Supporter Q1: How much would you be willing to pay for a PS6? 23:31 Supporter Q2: Will the PS6 have a detachable disc drive? 27:39 Supporter Q3: Can Sony square a PS6 handheld with existing physical game libraries? 33:46 Supporter Q4: Is this actually a good time to upgrade my PC? 39:41 Supporter Q5: Could Project Helix have configurable RAM? 44:48 Supporter Q6: Should Crimson Desert offer PC-like settings configurability on consoles? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of pricing discussion at the end of DF Direct Weekly #258, Rich opens up the question to the audience: how much would you pay for PlayStation 6? And will it support physical media? If a Sony handheld arrives, how will it play your older PlayStation titles? And moving away from next-gen Sony, will Project Helix have configurable memory options? And if you're not so interested in consoles, is there actually a good time to upgrade your PC? Finally, with Crimson Desert offering so many different options at this point, should console users just get the full PC graphics menu?01:14 Supporter Q1: How much would you be willing to pay for a PS6? 23:31 Supporter Q2: Will the PS6 have a detachable disc drive?27:39 Supporter Q3: Can Sony square a PS6 handheld with existing physical game libraries?33:46 Supporter Q4: Is this actually a good time to upgrade my PC?39:41 Supporter Q5: Could Project Helix have configurable RAM? 44:48 Supporter Q6: Should Crimson Desert offer PC-like settings configurability on consoles? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pearl Abyss has started research into a Switch 2 port of Crimson Desert, but warns that there may be cutbacks and changes - so what would they be? Rich, John and Alex discuss before moving onto a brace of new Nvidia technologies. DLSS Dynamic Multi Frame-Gen feels like it isn't quite finished, while Auto Shader Compilation also feels early - failing to address the main #StutterStruggle problem. John shares his impressions of Daytona USA on MAME, the team assess the latest PS6 leaks, while unearthing original Assassin's Creed Unity E3 2014 trailers raises a lot of questions... 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:50 News 1: Crimson Desert Switch 2 has begun R&D 0:12:08 News 2: DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Gen tested! 0:32:55 News 3: Nvidia Auto Shader Compilation aims to smooth driver updates 0:45:25 News 4: Daytona USA finally in great shape on MAME 0:56:28 News 5: PS6 leaks: Handheld CPU spec, BoM cost, online infrastructure 1:12:49 Content discussion: E3 2014 Assassin’s Creed Unity demos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pearl Abyss has started research into a Switch 2 port of Crimson Desert, but warns that there may be cutbacks and changes - so what would they be? Rich, John and Alex discuss before moving onto a brace of new Nvidia technologies. DLSS Dynamic Multi Frame-Gen feels like it isn't quite finished, while Auto Shader Compilation also feels early - failing to address the main #StutterStruggle problem. John shares his impressions of Daytona USA on MAME, the team assess the latest PS6 leaks, while unearthing original Assassin's Creed Unity E3 2014 trailers raises a lot of questions...0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:50 News 1: Crimson Desert Switch 2 has begun R&D0:12:08 News 2: DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Gen tested! 0:32:55 News 3: Nvidia Auto Shader Compilation aims to smooth driver updates 0:45:25 News 4: Daytona USA finally in great shape on MAME 0:56:28 News 5: PS6 leaks: Handheld CPU spec, BoM cost, online infrastructure 1:12:49 Content discussion: E3 2014 Assassin’s Creed Unity demos Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest Q+A show kicks off with the news we just missed from the last Direct - Sony raising prices for PlayStation 5. The machine you could buy for $400 in 2020 is now $600, while the disc model hits $650. The team discuss the implications and discuss price comparisons with PC - but are those comparisons relevant? Meanwhile, what could Nintendo do with a potential Ocarina of Time remake? Will Project Helix solve shader compilation stutter and will next-gen consoles use 3D v-cache? All this and more in the show. 00:00 Introduction 01:33 Supporter Q1: How should we plan for a long cross generation period, in light of PS5 price increases? 15:25 Supporter Q2: Is the PS5 Pro still good value compared to a gaming PC? 22:56 Supporter Q3: What would you like to see for a remake of Ocarina of Time? 28:47 Supporter Q4: Could Project Helix lead to an end for shader compilation stutter? 32:49 Supporter Q5: Should next-gen consoles include 3D V-Cache? And what should we make of the 9950X3D2? 39:36 Supporter Q6: Could you split PC coverage up amongst the team? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest Q+A show kicks off with the news we just missed from the last Direct - Sony raising prices for PlayStation 5. The machine you could buy for $400 in 2020 is now $600, while the disc model hits $650. The team discuss the implications and discuss price comparisons with PC - but are those comparisons relevant? Meanwhile, what could Nintendo do with a potential Ocarina of Time remake? Will Project Helix solve shader compilation stutter and will next-gen consoles use 3D v-cache? All this and more in the show.00:00 Introduction01:33 Supporter Q1: How should we plan for a long cross generation period, in light of PS5 price increases?15:25 Supporter Q2: Is the PS5 Pro still good value compared to a gaming PC?22:56 Supporter Q3: What would you like to see for a remake of Ocarina of Time? 28:47 Supporter Q4: Could Project Helix lead to an end for shader compilation stutter?32:49 Supporter Q5: Should next-gen consoles include 3D V-Cache? And what should we make of the 9950X3D2?39:36 Supporter Q6: Could you split PC coverage up amongst the team? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A brace of goodies for Switch 2 owners this week, as Tom returns triumphantly with a detailed look at Fallout 4's DLSS upgrade, while Oliver takes a look at the Kena: Bridge of Spirits port. Meanwhile, there's a degree of enthusiasm about Forza Horizon 6's PC specs and the reveal of RTGI and RT reflections support, general bafflement about why Sony's cancelled electric car ever happened in the first place, and the team weigh in on the Switch 2 digital/physical pricing debate. And of course, the panel discuss the Xbox Partner Preview presentation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A brace of goodies for Switch 2 owners this week, as Tom returns triumphantly with a detailed look at Fallout 4's DLSS upgrade, while Oliver takes a look at the Kena: Bridge of Spirits port. Meanwhile, there's a degree of enthusiasm about Forza Horizon 6's PC specs and the reveal of RTGI and RT reflections support, general bafflement about why Sony's cancelled electric car ever happened in the first place, and the team weigh in on the Switch 2 digital/physical pricing debate. And of course, the panel discuss the Xbox Partner Preview presentation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The arrival of a dramatically improved PSSR prompts many questions about the future of Sony ML features and the relationship with AMD. Meanwhile, the team tackle the baffling issue of no Crimson Desert Intel graphics support at launch, whether John can ever be tempted away from his CRTs and how future tech will balance dynamic resolution and dynamic frame-gen. Meanwhile, what's going on with diminished Xbox coverage? 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Supporter Q1: Which games actually have dedicated PSSR 2 patches? 06:23 Supporter Q2: Could AMD’s Ray Regeneration be implemented in Crimson Desert for PS5 Pro? 11:01 Supporter Q3: Will we have another PSSR upgrade this generation? 12:32 Supporter Q4 What is the long-term future of PSSR for PS6? 14:43 Supporter Q5: Is it acceptable for Crimson Desert to ship without Intel Arc support? 19:50 Supporter Q6: Is DF shunning Xbox coverage? 28:42 Supporter Q7: If OLEDs get an Nvidia Pulsar equivalent, will John ditch CRTs? 32:23 Supporter Q8: How do you balance between DRS and dynamic frame gen? 38:44 Supporter Q9: What acronym should Sony use for their PlayStation frame gen tech? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The arrival of a dramatically improved PSSR prompts many questions about the future of Sony ML features and the relationship with AMD. Meanwhile, the team tackle the baffling issue of no Crimson Desert Intel graphics support at launch, whether John can ever be tempted away from his CRTs and how future tech will balance dynamic resolution and dynamic frame-gen. Meanwhile, what's going on with diminished Xbox coverage?00:00 Introduction00:48 Supporter Q1: Which games actually have dedicated PSSR 2 patches? 06:23 Supporter Q2: Could AMD’s Ray Regeneration be implemented in Crimson Desert for PS5 Pro? 11:01 Supporter Q3: Will we have another PSSR upgrade this generation? 12:32 Supporter Q4 What is the long-term future of PSSR for PS6? 14:43 Supporter Q5: Is it acceptable for Crimson Desert to ship without Intel Arc support? 19:50 Supporter Q6: Is DF shunning Xbox coverage? 28:42 Supporter Q7: If OLEDs get an Nvidia Pulsar equivalent, will John ditch CRTs? 32:23 Supporter Q8: How do you balance between DRS and dynamic frame gen?38:44 Supporter Q9: What acronym should Sony use for their PlayStation frame gen tech? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another big Direct! John talks base PlayStation 5 Crimson Desert mere hours after its launch, the team talk PSSR based on a new interview with Mark Cerny, while Oliver checks out the new handheld boost option for Switch 2 - and it's good! Cyberpunk 2077 is getting a PS5 Pro upgrade - but what is it? And finally, John enthuses even more about G-Sync Pulsar with its new 60Hz support feature! 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:38 News 1: Crimson Desert base PS5 impressions 0:25:59 News 2: Our interview with Mark Cerny on the upgraded PSSR! 0:54:05 News 3: Nintendo adds Switch 2 “Handheld Boost” 1:08:44 News 4: Cyberpunk 2077 poised for PS5 Pro patch 1:18:25 News 5: G-Sync Pulsar monitors patched to support 60Hz games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another big Direct! John talks base PlayStation 5 Crimson Desert mere hours after its launch, the team talk PSSR based on a new interview with Mark Cerny, while Oliver checks out the new handheld boost option for Switch 2 - and it's good! Cyberpunk 2077 is getting a PS5 Pro upgrade - but what is it? And finally, John enthuses even more about G-Sync Pulsar with its new 60Hz support feature!0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:38 News 1: Crimson Desert base PS5 impressions 0:25:59 News 2: Our interview with Mark Cerny on the upgraded PSSR! 0:54:05 News 3: Nintendo adds Switch 2 “Handheld Boost” 1:08:44 News 4: Cyberpunk 2077 poised for PS5 Pro patch 1:18:25 News 5: G-Sync Pulsar monitors patched to support 60Hz games Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been a wild few days. When we posted about DLSS 5, we were impressed with the technology and what it was doing - but we posted too soon. When generative AI is so divisive and with the future of games development possibly at stake, we should have taken the time to get the story straight and to analyse what we saw more thoroughly drawing on the thoughts of the whole team. In this video, we try to do just that while tackling the big questions raised by our supporters. 00:00 Explaining our initial DLSS 5 video 02:26 How can developers maintain artistic control with DLSS 5, especially for faces? 15:40 When the game industry is hurting, what are the ethics of using DLSS 5? 23:23 Why show off DLSS 5 now? Why call it DLSS 5? 30:38 Our technical reactions to DLSS 5 47:15 Dealing with harassment and concluding thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a wild few days. When we posted about DLSS 5, we were impressed with the technology and what it was doing - but we posted too soon. When generative AI is so divisive and with the future of games development possibly at stake, we should have taken the time to get the story straight and to analyse what we saw more thoroughly drawing on the thoughts of the whole team. In this video, we try to do just that while tackling the big questions raised by our supporters.00:00 Explaining our initial DLSS 5 video 02:26 How can developers maintain artistic control with DLSS 5, especially for faces?15:40 When the game industry is hurting, what are the ethics of using DLSS 5?23:23 Why show off DLSS 5 now? Why call it DLSS 5?30:38 Our technical reactions to DLSS 547:15 Dealing with harassment and concluding thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.