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?

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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

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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?

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There's post PS5 Pro clarity in this week's Direct, with Rich, John and Alex discussing No Man's Sky at 8K resolution (tested!), God of War Ragnarök's patch on PS5 Pro - and the surprise arrival of Death Stranding on Xbox Series X/S. Rich does some performance testing there, leading to fascinating results. Meanwhile, John has a special moment with a new PC monitor, while Alex and Rich prostrate themselves before AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D. And yes, why DIDN'T the team do a full specs breakdown of the PS5 Pro's actual packaging?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:08 News 1: God of War Ragnarök PS5 Pro patch tested!

0:13:36 News 2: Nintendo confirms Switch 2 backwards compatibility

0:25:27 News 3: Death Stranding lands on Xbox

0:38:11 News 4: No Man’s Sky patched for PS5 Pro

0:47:49 News 5: Sony INZONE M10S impressions

1:05:53 News 6: Sonic Generations can run at 60fps on Switch

1:11:42 Supporter Q1: Will you use the 9800X3D for high-end gaming benchmarks?

1:16:21 Supporter Q2: Will PS6 use 3D V-Cache?

1:17:32 Supporter Q3: Will Alex and John switch to 9800X3D?

1:22:15 Supporter Q4: Why is Game Boost falling short of the promised 45% increase to PS5 Pro raster performance?

1:29:21 Supporter Q5: Would AI frame extrapolation make native frame-rate unimportant?

1:32:30 Supporter Q6: What do you want out of a Steam Deck 2?

1:38:32 Supporter Q7: Why didn’t you spend more time analyzing the PS5 Pro box?

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Rich Leadbetter, John Linneman and Oliver Mackenzie combine their impressions and tests to deliver the Digital Foundry verdict on the PlayStation 5 Pro. How does the console improve PS5 and PS4 games? How good is PSSR based on testing across a range of games? And what of the enhanced RT features? Everything you need to know is right here.

0:00:00 Overview

0:01:00 Hardware impressions

0:05:44 8K support and display options

0:12:34 PS4 image quality enhancement

0:17:36 Game boost - Elden Ring and GPU bound games

0:32:01 Game boost - CPU bound games

0:35:57 Ray tracing upgrades

0:42:29 PSSR testing

0:58:02 Power consumption

1:05:16 Overall impressions - is PS5 Pro worth the money?

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Even though most of the team are concentrating on PS5 Pro content, we still managed to find the time for another episode of DF Direct Weekly. Tom joins Rich and John to discuss the death of Concord and the shuttering of Firewalk Studios, Indiana Jones and Mario & Luigi: Brothership, while Alex joins the fray later to talk Star Citizen, Squadron 42 and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered on PC. Meanwhile, in his spare time, John's been testing out a couple of alleged 'disaster remasters'...

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:13 News 1: Concord developer shuttered, game not coming back

0:18:16 News 2: Indiana Jones previewed!

0:31:56 News 3: Mario & Luigi: Brothership evaluated

0:42:47 News 4: Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered analyzed on PC

0:55:00 News 5: Shadows of the Damned is a ‘disaster remaster’

1:05:32 News 6: Alex’s Star Citizen update

1:21:01 Supporter Q1: Do you still think mid-gen enhanced consoles are unnecessary?

1:28:29 Supporter Q2: Will PS5 Pro owners typically own 120Hz VRR panels?

1:34:43 Supporter Q3: Could the Series X support a form of ML-based upscaling?

1:37:23 Supporter Q4: Why did Call of Duty abandon ray tracing?

1:40:57 Supporter Q5: Why has checkerboard rendering disappeared from most modern games?

1:43:33 Supporter Q6: What has John contributed to the upcoming EGM Compendium?

1:47:02 Supporter Q7: Will Capcom adopt a more PC-centric approach in the future?

1:51:45 Supporter Q8: Will Nintendo pioneer revolutionary uses of RT on Switch 2?

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Another bumper Direct sees John, Rich and Oliver discuss Shawn Layden's call for a reset on game development practises and his comments on the console/teraflop war being over. Remedy's impressive roster of upgrades for Alan Wake 2 on PS5 Pro come into focus, while the team can't help but wonder if Guerrilla Games' most recent comments really do spell the end for the Killzone franchise. John shares first impressions on Sonic x Shadow Generations, while Oliver REALLY wants to tell you all about Wayfinder on the PlayStation 5.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:04 News 1: Former Sony exec says console race has plateaued

0:22:43 News 2: Alan Wake 2 PS5 Pro previewed!

0:32:47 News 3: Guerrilla Games is done with Killzone

0:43:53 News 4: Wayfinder tested on PS5!

0:55:01 News 5: Sonic X Shadow Generations tested

1:06:28 News 6: Ragnarök PC performance improved

1:13:18 News 7: Silent Hill 2 PC patch decreases stutter

1:20:42 Supporter Q1: Could the next Xbox be a hybrid with a GPU in the dock?

1:26:37 Supporter Q2: Is the games industry becoming more risk-averse?

1:33:34 Supporter Q3 Is John still using his Meta Quest 3?

1:40:16 Supporter Q4: Does Guerrilla’s new image treatment solution stem from Death Stranding 2?

1:46:23 Supporter Q5: Has John played any modern game consoles on CRTs with the RetroTINK 4K?

1:50:32 Supporter Q6: How will you cope with covering so many PS5 Pro enhanced games?

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It's all very Xbox-heavy this week, as Austin Evans reveals that the latest Xbox consoles have finally transitioned to 6nm silicon. There's plenty of reaction to Microsoft's Xbox Partner Showcase, including the reveal of FBC: Firebreak, while John gets very excited about the new Analogue 3D - an FPGA-powered N64 clone with cutting-edge video and overclock features. The team 'pour one out' for the cancelled Halo battle royale - and Nightdive has done it again with Killing Time: Resurrected.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:59 News 1: New Series X has 6nm SoC, revised internals

0:18:08 News 2: Xbox Partner Showcase reveals new games

0:38:36 News 3: Analogue 3D announced!

0:49:38 News 4: Halo battle royale game was cancelled

0:59:18 News 5: Tomb Raider 4-6 remasters announced

1:10:58 News 6: 3GB GDDR7 memory modules announced

1:17:16 News 7: Killing Time: Resurrected released

1:27:34 Supporter Q1: Will PS5 Pro have an expanded VRR range? When will we see the Ultra Boost Mode? And can it unlock frame-rates without developer intervention?

1:34:54 Supporter Q2: What type of CRT tube does John prefer?

1:38:40 Supporter Q3: What would need to change for an Nvidia powered Xbox or PlayStation to happen?

1:44:45 Supporter Q4: Could PS6 skip PS4 backwards compatibility?

1:48:53 Supporter Q5: What do you think of the ModRetro Chromatic?

1:52:16 Supporter Q6: How should we view AI-powered visual modifications to games?

2:01:20 Supporter Q7: Does AMD regret the 5800X3D?

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In a rather jovial DF Direct, John returns from Japan having played PS5 Pro and visited a big bunch of developers, there's curiosity around Nintendo Alarmo and mysterious online tests it has in the offing, there's much anticipation for Alien Isolation 2 and some degree of confusion surrounding Intel's Arrow Lake-S CPU line-up.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:56 News 1: Red Dead Redemption announced for PC

0:13:56 News 2: Nintendo announces alarm clock, mysterious online playtest

0:26:17 News 3: Alien Isolation 2 announced

0:35:32 News 4: John’s PS5 Pro impressions

0:47:34 News 5: Diablo 4 is getting PS5 Pro enhancements

0:53:37 News 6: Intel Arrow Lake processors revealed

1:12:43 News 7: John Japan trip recap!

1:26:44 Supporter Q1: How powerful will the rumoured PS6 be?

1:34:03 Supporter Q2: What should we make of the rumoured God of War collection?

1:39:39 Supporter Q3: Will the RTX 5080 be priced at $1200 USD or above?

1:44:58 Supporter Q4: Thoughts on the new version of Lollipop Chainsaw?

1:52:53 Supporter Q5: What wishes would you have for a remaster of Assassin’s Creed Unity?

1:57:46 Supporter Q6: Is John building a CRT museum?

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October 11th 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the GeForce 256, the original Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). With cutting edge technologies like hardware-accelerated transformation and lighting (T&L), combined with what was - for the time - brutal performance, GeForce 256 was a game-changer.

In this DF Direct special hosted by Alex Battaglia, we bring together Nvidia staff to discuss why this product was so important. On the panel, we have:

John Montrym, Chief Architect

John Spitzer, VP of Developer and Performance Technologies

Nick Stam, Director of Technical Marketing - and Editor-in-Chief of PC Mag in 1999

Jacob Freeman, GeForce Evangelist

00:00 Overview and introductions

06:44 What does GeForce 256 mean to you? What has its impact been?

12:23 GeForce 256 feature uptake

15:00 Hardware transform and lighting and its importance

17:56 GeForce 256 development milestones

20:40 GeForce 256’s initial impact on games

24:43 Reactions to GeForce 256

30:33 Environment mapping

35:01 Reviewing the GeForce 256

39:33 What the GeForce 256 meant beyond gaming

41:16 The GeForce 256’s lasting legacy

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Another packed Direct sees Oliver, Rich and Alex tackling Nintendo's various takedowns - on the Ryujinx emulator and YouTube emulation content. Oliver spends some time with Until Dawn on PlayStation 5 offering up impressions that range from the good, the bad and indeed the ugly. Alex talks us through the UE5 MegaLights technology and the new God of War Ragnarök PC patch, while the new STALKER 2 documentary basically demands to be watched.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:53 News 1: Nintendo takes down Ryujinx

0:17:28 News 2: Until Dawn remake tested!

0:33:20 News 3: Unreal MegaLights tech demoed

0:48:26 News 4: Square Enix wants FF16 on Xbox

0:57:39 News 5: Next Guerrilla game reportedly Horizon online

1:06:04 News 6: God of War Ragnarök gets PC patch boosts

1:14:02 News 7: STALKER 2 documentary shows war torn game development

1:22:20 Supporter Q1: Was Strix Halo designed for a new Steam Machine? Could Steam Machines match the performance of a PS5 Pro at the same price?

1:28:56 Supporter Q2: What is Naughty Dog working on?

1:35:04 Supporter Q3: Will Switch 2 support the newest UE5 features?

1:38:43 Supporter Q4: Can the Switch 2 compete performance wise with the Steam Deck? Does it need to?

1:42:34 Supporter Q5: The PS5 Pro hasn’t sold out, so is this a sign of underperforming sales?

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A new State of Play quote-unquote drops, giving Rich, Alex and Oliver much to discuss in this latest edition of DF Direct Weekly. Ghost of Yotei, Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster and the new Dragon Age dominate discussion, before the team move on to talk about the latest PS5 Pro title reveals. RTX 50-series specs come into focus - with leaks revealing a huge gap between 5080 and 5090. And there's much concern and bafflement around Monster Hunter Wilds' recommended PC specs.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:16 News 1: Sony reveals new games in State of Play

0:14:04 News 2: Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered analyzed

0:33:17 News 3: New PS5 Pro Enhanced titles announced

0:44:48 News 4: Assassin’s Creed Shadows delayed

0:55:07 News 5: Dragon’s Dogma 2: how is patch 9 on PS5?

1:00:44 News 6: Monster Hunter PC specs spark concern

1:14:01 News 7: RTX 5080, 5090 specs reportedly leaked

1:35:52 Supporter Q1: Should console generations be extended further?

1:42:44 Supporter Q2: Will the upcoming Microsoft handheld rely on FSR 4?

1:45:57 Supporter Q3: Would the Series S/X divide be fine if the S came with more memory?

1:53:47 Supporter Q4: Is there a difference between analyzing provided footage and footage you captured yourself?

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In the wake of the PlayStation 5 Pro reveal, press had the opportunity to go hands-on with the hardware - and a wide range of games - at an event in Sony's San Mateo HQ. Oliver Mackenzie was our man on-site, and he's come back with a wealth of gameplay impressions, b-roll of the event and the titles tested and on-camera developer interviews. Is the upgrade worthwhile? Oliver is joined by Rich to discuss the event and to talk specifics on the range of modes and games tested.

0:00:00 Overview

0:02:07 F1 24

0:08:42 Gran Turismo 7

0:13:46 Horizon: Forbidden West

0:20:34 Hogwarts Legacy

0:24:45 Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

0:34:50 The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

0:38:46 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

0:43:21 The Crew Motorfest

0:45:38 Demon’s Souls

0:49:13 Dragon’s Dogma

0:53:53 Is the PS5 Pro worth it?

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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.

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Another massive Direct sees Rich, John and Alex convene to discuss the huge Switch 2 prototype leak, the revelation that Intel and AMD battled it out for the PS6 contract, while the team shares notes on the quality of Capcom's Dead Rising remaster. Meanwhile, the actual nature of AMD's FSR 4 AI upscaling is discussed - along with continuing bafflement around the Horizon Zero Dawn remaster... and what's this about a Days Gone remaster too?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:08 News 1: Switch 2 hardware revealed in apparent leak

0:23:07 News 2: Dragon’s Dogma 2 patch boosts PC performance

0:33:04 News 3: Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster tested 

0:44:34 News 4: RDNA 4 skips high-end GPUs, FSR 4 to be AI-based

1:00:40 News 5: Intel, AMD battled over PS6 contract

1:07:32 News 6: Horizon, Days Gone remasters rumoured

1:17:50 News 7: John gets a Virtual Boy! 

1:27:12 Supporter Q1: How does Sony deliver consistently good PC ports?

1:32:51 Supporter Q2: What do you make of Nintendo suing for Palworld’s alleged patent violations?

1:38:25 Supporter Q3: Would you expect to see a big difference between FSR 2 and PSSR on Pro titles? Is ML-based upscaling powerful enough to keep console prices low?

1:43:59 Supporter Q4: What benefits will PS5 Pro bring to the PlayStation Portal?

1:46:24 Supporter Q5: Will PS5 Pro titles bring back-compat boosts for PS6? 

1:49:28 Supporter Q6: How likely is a 40fps PS5 Pro mode for GTA 6?

1:53:57 Supporter Q7: Why have Respawn failed to fix fundamental issues in Jedi: Survivor on PC?

1:59:44 Supporter Q8: Why isn’t there an Ernest-based game?

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In our DF Direct Special in the wake of the PlayStation 5 Pro reveal, we had much to say about the hardware, the pitch and the price - but not much to say about the games, owing to the poor media quality. Now, armed with a 65GB ProRes file of the Mark Cerny presentation, we can go deeper - much deeper - into the software that was shown and how good PSSR AI upscaling actually is. Strap in for another two hour show - and there's much to share in this one.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:02:47 The Last of Us Part 2

0:11:49 Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

0:23:44 Alan Wake 2

0:33:27 Horizon Forbidden West

0:39:09 Hogwarts Legacy

0:45:48 Gran Turismo 7

0:54:35 Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows

0:57:43 Supporter Q1: Could PS5 Pro run Elden Ring at 60fps?

1:03:36 Supporter Q2: Is PS5 Pro a good deal relative to PC?

1:16:48 Supporter Q3: With the Pro reaching $700, what will the PS6 look like?

1:26:42 Supporter Q4: Could PSSR run on the base PS5?

1:33:04 Supporter Q5: Why hasn’t Sony developed machine learning based frame gen tech for PS5 Pro?

1:37:11 Supporter Q6: Will the high price of PS5 Pro drive people to PC?

1:44:13 Supporter Q7: Will low PS5 Pro sales cause development problems?

1:51:46 Supporter Q8: What game reveals would have excited you about PS5 Pro?

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It's finally happened. PS5 Pro is real, announced and detailed by none other than lead system architect, Mark Cerny. John, Rich and Alex sit down to discuss the reveal, how Sony chose to market it, the Big Three tech innovations - larger GPU, ML upscaling and RT enhancements - and of course, the shocking price-point.

0:00:00 Overview

0:01:20 How is Sony marketing the PS5 Pro?

0:09:43 Big three features: larger GPU, machine learning and ray tracing enhancements

0:25:10 The missing disc drive

0:33:12 $700 USD sticker shock: does it make sense?

0:44:23 What do we want to see out of PS5 Pro?

0:49:43 Supporter Q1: Was Microsoft right to skip an enhanced console this generation?

0:54:06 Supporter Q2: Is GT7’s 8K mode as stupid as it sounds?

0:57:26 Supporter Q3: What PC GPU is the best match for PS5 Pro?

1:00:27 Supporter Q4: Will Sony encourage developers to stick to a single PS5 Pro mode, or have multiple?

1:02:58 Supporter Q5: Why doesn’t the PS5 Pro have a larger CPU upgrade?

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The inevitability of Sony's PlayStation 5 Pro increases still further as the firm 'leaks' the new design in a 30th anniversary artwork. Meanwhile, there are highs and lows for PlayStation: Concord crashes and burns, resulting in its withdrawal from sale - and yet spirits are raised by the frankly incredible Astro Bot. Elsewhere, RTX 5080 performance leaks suggest a 10 percent improvement over RTX 4090 - but where does that leave the RTX 5090 then? And then there's Anandtech: the team commiserate over the site's decline and closure.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:41 News 1: Sony leaks PS5 Pro design

0:13:42 News 2: Concord pulled from sale, servers close

0:37:11 News 3: Astro Bot review reaction!

0:53:23 News 4: RTX 5000 series performance and power rumoured

1:05:51 News 5: Bloodborne PC progresses

1:14:53 News 6: John’s Windows handheld impressions!

1:27:04 Supporter Q1: What should we make of the closure of AnandTech?

1:39:09 Supporter Q2: Where will Microsoft be in 15 years?

1:46:14 Supporter Q3: Could an RTX 6090 equipped Xbox explain Microsoft’s largest generational leap claims?

1:52:44 Supporter Q4: Could Ridge Racer make a return in the near future?

1:57:58 Supporter Q5: If Alan Wake 2 isn’t profitable, what hope do other original single player games have?

2:03:28 Supporter Q6: Will we really see ray tracing on Switch 2?

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Another week of exciting news as reputable sources reveal that PlayStation 5 Pro is incoming - and we've even got a sketch of the (possible!) design. Meanwhile, the Black Myth: Wukong Xbox no-show continues to command attention - as does the decision to release Avowed on Xbox consoles at 30fps. John, Rich and Oliver are on the mics this week - but Tom ducks out of his short vacation for a quick chat about the recent Metal Gear Solid: Delta and Silent Hill 2 press event he attended.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:07 News 1: PS5 Pro name, design possibly leaked

0:27:16 News 2: Why isn’t Black Myth: Wukong on Xbox?

0:41:24 News 3: Astro Bot VR ruled out - but PC could be coming

0:49:53 News 4: MGS Delta: Snake Eater preview!

1:06:53 News 5: Silent Hill 2 hands-on!

1:26:24 News 6: Avowed vows to target 30fps on Xbox Series consoles

1:34:48 Supporter Q1: What games do you most want to see updated for PS5 Pro?

1:41:36 Supporter Q2: How will Microsoft deal with the PS5 Pro?

1:52:24 Supporter Q3: Could Intel GPUs be in the next-gen consoles?

1:56:35 Supporter Q4: Given that the 4090 can no longer sustain native 4K at max settings in a lot of games, are we about to hit a performance wall?

2:04:28 Supporter Q5: Did Sony and Microsoft underestimate the needed console specs this generation?

2:12:19 Supporter Q6: Would DF consider adding a quantitative rating system to their reviews?

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Rich returns from Gamescom 2024, bringing with him hands-on impressions of STALKER 2 on Xbox and the incredible Black State on PC. Alex and Oliver share notes on the Final Fantasy 16 PC demo, while the team discuss the highlights - such as they are - of Geoff Keighley's Opening Night Live. But the big story is the news that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming to PlayStation 5 - and the extent of Microsoft's multi-platform strategy is finally revealed.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:58 News 01: Indiana Jones headed to PS5

0:19:53 News 02: Hands-on with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2

0:31:31 News 03: FF16 demo tested on PC!

0:47:13 News 04: Black State impresses

0:57:50 News 05: Gamescom Opening Night Live recap

1:06:45 News 06: Nvidia’s Gamescom announcements

1:19:14 Supporter Q1: Is disabling RT depending on the scene a good idea?

1:27:47 Supporter Q2: Is Series S preventing a Black Myth: Wukong release on Xbox?

1:34:33 Supporter Q3: Why did Wukong on PS5 use FSR and not TSR?

1:38:35 Supporter Q4: Could improved Wukong performance be a good selling point for PS5 Pro?

1:45:06 Supporter Q5: How will Microsoft differentiate the next Xbox?

1:52:21 Supporter Q6: Did Microsoft and Sony focus on the wrong features with PS5 and Xbox Series?

2:01:18 Supporter Q7: Is 12GB enough VRAM for graphics cards this generation?

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On the eve of release, the team ponder the dearth of Black Myth: Wukong PS5 reviews - and then some last-minute footage emerges. Will Judd joins the team to discuss the latest AMD Zen 5 problems, more rumours of Xbox exclusives coming to PlayStation 5, while The Verge bravely talk about the game nobody's supposed to be talking about but everyone's playing. Meanwhile, we don't actually have a Switch 2 release date, but apparently it's been delayed - what's going on?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:48 News 01: Black Myth: Wukong benchmark drops

0:22:35 News 02: Zen 5 launch unravels

0:44:24 News 03: Switch 2 possibly “delayed” further into 2025

0:54:49 News 04: Unannounced game Deadlock hits 18,000 concurrent players

1:06:33 News 05: FF7 Remake trilogy third title to switch to UE5?

1:12:32 News 06: Man connects 444 consoles to one TV

1:20:39 News 07: Tango Gameworks acquired by Krafton

1:24:26 News 08: Forza Horizon 5 potentially headed to PS5

1:34:40 News 09: Valve plans to offer SteamOS to other handhelds

1:44:58 Supporter Q1: As Microsoft increasingly goes multiplatform, what’s the point of Xbox?

1:49:45 Supporter Q2: Should Microsoft be putting older exclusives on Switch?

1:52:10 Supporter Q3: What does the DF audience have to look forward to in 2025?

1:56:12 Supporter Q4: Which graphically intense ports should come to Switch 2?

2:00:10 Supporter Q5: What are some technical annoyances you have with modern gaming?

2:04:34 Supporter Q6: What is the best way to achieve good frame-rates for PS3 titles?

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Another packed edition of DF Direct Weekly sees Rich, Alex and Oliver discussing a range of topics. Why is it so difficult to get PSVR 2 working on PC? Why are the AMD Ryzen 9000/Zen 5 reviews to contentious? As Star Wars Jedi: Survivor breaks cover on last-gen consoles, what exactly is the point - and will the PC version get fixed? Meanwhile, the team rave about Space Marine 2's visuals, Doom/Doom 2 get a brand-new Nightdive release, Final Fantasy 16 may be imminent on PC and Oliver brings together all of the latest Half-Life 3 conspiracy theories... Could it actually be happening?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:54 News 01: PS VR2 tested on PC - without an adapter!

0:12:49 News 02: Zen 5 launches to mixed reviews

0:29:57 News 03: Space Marine 2 previewed

0:40:50 News 04: Half-Life 3 confirmed???!!!!

0:50:24 News 05: Jedi: Survivor last-gen screenshots revealed

1:06:32 News 06: Classic Doom games get revised port

1:11:07 News 07: Final Fantasy 16 PC release may be imminent

1:18:51 News 08: Ready at Dawn shut down

1:25:56 Supporter Q1: Why isn’t every new game using DirectStorage?

1:30:56 Supporter Q2: How could a “Stop Killing Games” directive work for online-only titles?

1:39:13 Supporter Q3: Should we be less judgmental about generative AI use?

1:48:18 Supporter Q4: Is the Ryzen 5800X3D one of the greatest ever CPUs?

1:55:35 Supporter Q5: Why does the PS4 refuse to die?

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With John and Alex either on holiday or otherwise unavailable, Rich is joined by Tom and Oliver for our weekly show discussing the latest gaming and technology news. The team take a look at the recent Star Wars Outlaws previews, Tom gets to grips with Nobody Wants To Die and Visions of Mana, while also taking a look at the RT upgrades to EA Sports titles using the Frostbite engine. Meanwhile, Rich shares the ROG Ally X benchmarks we couldn't share in the preview, and shares his thoughts on AMD's Fluid Motion Frames 2 upgrade.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:02:01 News 01: Star Wars Outlaws gameplay preview!

0:14:31 News 02: Nobody Wants To Die impresses

0:23:05 News 03: EA Sports titles getting RTGI

0:38:55 News 04: PS VR2 dramatically discounted

0:47:47 News 05: Visions of Mana demo released

0:55:47 News 06: ROG Ally X benchmarked!

1:03:40 News 07: AMD Fluid Motion Frames 2 previewed

1:17:45 News 08: Destiny 3 not in development

1:25:51 Supporter Q1: Could you compare in-home streaming services like Steam Link?

1:33:01 Supporter Q2: Where is the console Minecraft ray tracing update?

1:38:56 Supporter Q3: Could upcoming consoles feature more bespoke kinds of hardware?

1:46:42 Supporter Q4: Do developers deserve flack for not optimizing their games, or are more demanding titles just a consequence of graphics advancement?

1:54:37 Supporter Q5: Why wasn’t x86 adopted for earlier consoles?

1:58:27 Supporter Q6: Could Microsoft release their backwards compatible Xbox titles on PC?

2:03:29 Supporter Q7: Is the M4 iPad Pro’s display bright enough for Oliver?

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Once again, the PS5 Pro (which doesn't exist apparently) dominates the news, with RDNA 4 ray tracing features revealed - said to be integrated into the upcoming Sony console... but what do these features actually do? Meanwhile, PS5 Pro (which isn't real) has a settings profile in the new No Man's Sky update, so how is Hello Games utilising the enhanced console's hardware? Beyond that, John's enthused about a CRT 'overclocked' to run at 700Hz, Rich and Alex are wondering just what on Earth is happening in the PC CPU space - and the epic Fallout London mod is finally released.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:05 News 01: Potential PS5 Pro RT enhancements leaked

0:11:52 News 02: PS5 Pro settings leaked for No Man’s Sky

0:20:06 News 03: Modder reaches 700Hz on CRT monitor

0:33:49 News 04: Old Xbox Ones suffer from update issues

0:45:22 News 05: Intel seeking to address CPU failures

0:54:46 News 06: Super Monkey Ball 50Hz physics tickrate fixed

0:58:20 News 07: Fallout London launched!

1:05:50 News 08: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood headed to Mega Drive

1:12:48 Supporter Q1: Should Valve provide community settings templates for games on Steam Deck?

1:20:30 Supporter Q2: Will Nintendo launch multiple discrete Switch 2 variants at launch?

1:25:06 Supporter Q3: How can Microsoft deliver a capable Xbox handheld while keeping price in check?

1:30:58 Supporter Q4: Could Microsoft offer generic Xbox emulators to sidestep licensing issues?

1:36:05 Supporter Q5: How would the PS4 have fared if it only shipped with 4GB of RAM?

1:41:54 Supporter Q6: What do you think of stereoscopic 3D on PS3?

1:49:24 Supporter Q7: Have PC ports improved since Alex’s “13 Ways to End Lousy PC Ports”?

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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?

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Another big DF Direct Weekly sees John, Rich and Alex discussing PS5 Pro release date uncertainties, the unprecedented support from Hello Games on No Man's Sky and the alarming stories surrounding stability issues on Intel's 13th and 14th Generation Core processors. Alex has much to share in terms of Unreal Engine and GPUOpen presentations, while John gets to play some Death Game Hotel with none other than Swery.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:24 News 01: Will PS5 Pro release in 2024?

0:11:59 News 02: No Man’s Sky updated with new visual features

0:20:12 News 03: Intel CPU stability issues may run deep

0:34:54 News 04: GPUOpen tech presentations with Alex!

0:48:58 News 05: John’s next project: PlayStation vs. Saturn

0:57:48 News 06: Can #StutterStruggle be overcome in Unreal Engine?

1:09:56 News 07: Gears of War Ultimate Edition suffers poor performance on PC

1:17:58 News 08: Playing Death Game Hotel with SWERY!

1:25:05 Supporter Q1: What would you like to see in a hypothetical DirectX 13?

1:30:20 Supporter Q2: Could a new Nvidia Shield device enhance game streaming with local processing?

1:36:58 Supporter Q3: Are large decreases in frame-rates still impactful when targeting high FPS?

1:45:54 Supporter Q4: What should we expect from the mooted handheld Xbox?

1:53:15 Supporter Q5: Is releasing a game as an early access title a good idea?

1:58:01 Supporter Q6: Will Switch 2 devs make use of the console’s hardware decompression functionality?

2:01:47 Supporter Q7: Have any pivotal decisions altered your gaming destinies?

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As we begin to approach the tail-end of the Nintendo Switch era, Oliver Mackenzie and John Linneman get together to discuss their personal selection of the most technically impressive games of the generation - absolute marvels bearing in mind that the core hardware is based on a 2015 Nvidia mobile chipset. In this first video, the emphasis is on first party exclusives published by Nintendo - but there's plenty to come from third parties too in a later video. There are some amazing games here, and a surprise contender at the top slot.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:41 Fast RMX

0:05:53 Metroid Prime Remastered

0:11:01 Super Mario Bros. Wonder

0:16:14 The Touryst

0:22:22 Xenoblade Chronicles 3

0:28:02 Super Mario RPG

0:32:40 Paper Mario: The Origami King

0:36:40 Metroid Dread

0:41:08 Super Mario Odyssey

0:45:49 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

0:51:40 Luigi’s Mansion 3

1:02:13 Runners up

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In this week's Direct, Microsoft says you don't need an Xbox to play Xbox - but if they're talking about streaming on a Fire Stick 4K, we'd beg to differ. Meanwhile, Alex talks about a 1.4GHz CPU overclock for the OG Xbox and shares his thoughts on the new Black Myth: Wukong full RT assets and benchmarks. Oliver tests out Ace Combat 7 on Switch, while Rich checks out frame generation on the First Descendant - in 30fps fidelity mode, 40fps balanced mode and 60fps performance mode. How high does frame-rate get - and are the lower fps modes a write-off?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:54 News 01: Microsoft says you don’t need an Xbox to play Xbox

0:24:31 News 02: Game Pass prices increased

0:38:36 News 03: New Black Myth: Wukong PC details revealed

0:53:26 News 04: Original Xbox gets 1.4 GHz CPU upgrade

1:01:34 News 05: The First Descendant frame gen tested!

1:13:21 News 06: Ace Combat 7 tested on Switch

1:19:41 Supporter Q1: Which Windows-based PC handheld would you recommend most?

1:25:36 Supporter Q2: Will you be doing more 3 person game playing videos?

1:29:44 Supporter Q3: What old unused Nintendo IP would you like to see again?

1:34:45 Supporter Q4: If Microsoft got Windows working seamlessly on ARM, what would that mean for their products?

1:43:27 Supporter Q5: Do you think Valve will give Steam Machines another shot?

1:49:21 Supporter Q6: Why is Intel’s XeSS so much better than AMD’s FSR?

1:59:01 Supporter Q7: Will Unreal Engine traversal stutter be fixed for the new Witcher game?

2:02:08 Supporter Q8: Could the PS Portal be updated or hacked to be a substantially more useful device?

2:06:25 Supporter Q9: John asks: how is the recording session going?

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In the new DF Direct, the team discuss the growing importance of VRR in console gaming - but are we reaching the point where it's becoming essential for good performance? Meanwhile, Rich has some positive things to say about Microsoft's Auto SR upscaling technology, John has much to share on the new Crazy Taxi, and there are some interesting discussion points raised in a recent Mark Cerny interview. Meanwhile, what on Earth is going on with the latest Elden Ring patch notes?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:04 News 01: Has VRR become a crutch for good performance?

0:20:00 News 02: Auto SR impressions!

0:37:26 News 03: New Crazy Taxi is open world, massively multiplayer

0:47:43 News 04: Mark Cerny dishes on PS5 architecture, games

1:03:22 News 05: Sony killing off recordable disc production

1:11:19 News 06: Elden Ring patch notes suggest odd performance fix

1:19:43 News 07: OutRun steeply discounted on Nintendo eShop

1:29:16 Supporter Q1: When do you think we’ll hear more about the PS5 Pro?

1:36:55 Supporter Q2: Could DF provide technical context to Eurogamer or IGN game reviews?

1:47:42 Supporter Q3: Why does the PS5 only support VRR over HDMI 2.1?

1:54:15 Supporter Q4: Why do many developers only offer software Lumen in their UE5 games?

1:56:40 Supporter Q5: Whatever happened to SLI and CrossFire?

2:02:23 Supporter Q6: How should console versions of games expose graphical options?

2:06:17 Supporter Q7: Is there a place for cinematic trailers?

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In the latest DF Direct Weekly, we take a very early first look at FSR 3.1's improved spatial upscaling, which 'dropped' just prior to recording. The team discuss Capcom's reveal of a NEW Dead Rising remaster/remake, while we have first impressions on a potentially game-changing patch for Dragon's Dogma 2. And just why is PlayStation 5 so technically competitive with Xbox Series X, despite having less horsepower? It's been a mystery for years, but we may finally have some answers.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:02:00 News 01: FSR 3.1 tested!

0:10:56 News 02: Dead Rising remake in development

0:22:55 News 03: Dragon’s Dogma 2 patched

0:30:12 News 04: Project Keystone details revealed

0:38:16 News 05: Forza Horizon 4 to be delisted

0:49:38 News 06: SGSSAA appears in new game

0:58:46 News 07: Unity 50Hz physics issue returns

1:07:55 Supporter Q1: Why haven’t more reviewers noted the issues with Elden Ring? And is it really fair to pile so much technical criticism on From Software?

1:27:03 Supporter Q2: What should our expectations be for a potential PS3 emulator on PS5?

1:36:05 Supporter Q3: Why is the Series X still sometimes outperformed by the PS5 in cross-platform games?

1:45:54 Supporter Q4: Could something like Auto SR be implemented on consoles for backwards compatible games?

1:50:00 Supporter Q5: Why do low settings in games look a lot better than they used to?

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Some practical tests in this week's episode of DF Direct as Rich examines the modded performance modes cropping up for the Xbox Series S version of Starfield - while his £2,000 investment in a Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X Elite translates into some truly awful gaming. Meanwhile, John's been checking out the new PlayStation 2 and PSP emulators for PS5, while Alex isn't particularly happy about Game Pass versions of PC games missing DLSS and other upscaler support.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:22 Starfield Series S high frame-rate mods tested!

0:09:26 PS2 and PSP emulation on PS5 analyzed

0:24:58 Snapdragon X Elite gaming performance disappoints

0:44:34 Still Wakes The Deep ships without FSR, DLSS, XeSS on Game Pass

0:54:17 LRG3 showcase features re-releases, remasters

1:05:04 How can I age as gracefully as the Switch?

1:13:55 Would you still recommend the Steam Deck over the new ROG Ally X?

1:16:46 Could the PS5 last 8 or 9 years as Sony’s flagship console platform?

1:23:25 Do you think a 1080p screen could be too much for a next-gen Switch?

1:28:46 Do you think any unannounced first party games will be released around launch for Switch 2?

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Just when we thought the summer festival of gaming events was over, Nintendo comes out of nowhere with a brand-new Direct featuring a wide rage of excellent titles - not bad for a system reaching the end of its life cycle. John Linneman and Oliver Mackenzie team up to share notes on the Direct, including a tech-orientated argument about how it's definitely NOT Switch 2 delivering the Metroid Prime 4 footage!

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:42 Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

0:14:08 The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

0:22:43 Lego Horizon Adventures

0:29:44 Mario & Luigi: Brothership

0:35:47 Funko Fusion, Nintendo Switch Online updates, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

0:45:42 Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, Fantasian: Neo Dimension

0:55:37 MIO: Memories In Orbit, The Hundred Line: Last Defence Academy, Super Mario Party Jamboree, ぶっとバード, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection

1:05:24 Evaluating the Direct and looking forward to Switch 2

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John, Alex and a freshly returned Rich deliver a 'come down' Direct that's a little more relaxed after the mania of the summer showcase events. The team bemoan the state of the Ubisoft Forward stream quality, ruining the visual quality of some great games, then move onto the discourse surrounding the Gears of War: E-Day cinematic. John's excited about the UE5 Riven remake, while Alex is even more excited about Sweeney's Prophecy - a brand new store leak promising a range of intriguing PC releases.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:58 News 01: Star Wars Outlaws demo analyzed!

0:28:11 News 02: Assassin’s Creed Shadows unveiled

0:46:24 News 03: Clarifying the Gears of War cinematic trailer

0:54:34 News 04: Epic Games Store leaks upcoming games

1:00:34 News 05: Riven demo released

1:08:28 Supporter Q1: Has any console generation been more boring than this one?

1:13:12 Supporter Q2: Was Microsoft showing Series X or PC footage at their games showcase?

1:19:49 Supporter Q3: Is delaying a physical release the best option for modern games?

1:26:35 Supporter Q4: Will you make an updated PC Gaming on a Budget video?

1:34:01 Supporter Q5: Do you have ambitions for growing your audience?

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Microsoft's Xbox 2024 Showcase turned out to be an excellent presentation, with banger after banger. In this new DF Direct Special, John Linneman, Alex Battaglia and Oliver Mackenzie break down the show with their reactions to each of the key games before moving on to discuss the somewhat underwhelming hardware line-up - plus comments on Phil Spencer's latest remarks on the Xbox multi-platform strategy.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:17 Doom: The Dark Ages

0:11:05 Perfect Dark

0:20:42 Gears of War: E-Day

0:28:53 Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

0:40:39 Fable

0:49:43 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

0:59:18 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

1:07:17 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

1:15:54 Other games - Mixtape, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, Atomfall, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, State of Decay 3, Age of Mythology: Retold

1:24:36 Updated Xbox Series consoles

1:31:35 Phil Spencer: more Xbox games are coming to other platforms

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The summer game showcase events are now in full swing and in this new episode of DF Direct Weekly, it's John, Oliver and Alex at mics, discussing the games of Summer Games 'Fest', along with other big new stories of the week. What's going on with the removal of the 8K label from the PS5 box? What do the team make of the PC adaptor for PSVR2 - and what's the score with Microsoft's AutoSR upscaling?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:20 News 01: Summer Game Fest: Lego Horizon Adventures

0:13:44 Metaphor: Refantazio, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

0:25:17 Sonic X Shadow Generations, Alan Wake 2: Night Springs, Phantom Blade Zero

0:40:53 Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, Slitterhead, Killer Bean

0:50:14 Black Myth: Wukong, Civilization 7

1:03:59 News 02: Sony removes 8K support from PS5 box

1:22:49 News 03: PS VR2 PC adapter detailed

1:32:58 News 04: Microsoft unveils Auto SR upscaling tech

1:46:20 Supporter Q1: How can you optimize Windows text rendering for WOLED displays?

1:50:03 Supporter Q2: Why do people suggest limiting your frame-rate to just below the display refresh rate when using VRR on PC?

1:53:24 Supporter Q3: Would John recommend a PS VR2 or Meta Quest 3 for PC VR use?

1:55:33 Supporter Q4: Can you recall the first game that left you in awe of its graphics, making it hard to envision a better-looking game?

2:04:30 Supporter Q5: Are the consoles holding back RT use on PC?

2:10:25 Supporter Q6: What games do you wish you had first played on better hardware?

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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

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With the DF team meeting up with IGN this week, this Direct comes to you straight from IGN's UK studio. Rich, John and Alex talk Sony State of Play, from the sublime Astro Bot to the distinctly unimpressive Concord. Meanwhile, the team discuss Sony's intention to sell PS5s from its PC ports and the big news that COD Black Ops 6 will be day one on Game(s) Pass rounds off the week's big stories.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:04 News 01: May 2024 State of Play: Astro Bot

0:11:00 Concord

0:19:51 Marvel Rivals, God of War Ragnarök PC, Dynasty Warriors: Origins

0:38:15 Silent Hill 2

0:51:35 Skydance’s Behemoth, Alien: Rogue Incursion

1:00:18 Monster Hunter Wilds, Path of Exile 2

1:10:22 Infinity Nikki, Ballad of Antara, Where Winds Meet, Until Dawn

1:19:23 News 02: Are PlayStation PC ports meant to sell PS5s?

1:36:03 News 03: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will debut on Game Pass

1:47:30 Supporter Q1: What games will Sony advertise alongside the PS5 Pro?

1:55:26 Supporter Q2: Will Nvidia launch another hardware-reliant software feature with 5000 series GPUs?

2:02:35 Supporter Q3: If Hellblade 2 had arrived last year, where would it have ranked on your Graphics of the Year video?

2:07:00 Supporter Q4: What are the best settings for using the Quest 3 wirelessly with a PC?

2:12:20 Supporter Q5: What’s the best way to deal with VRR flicker on OLEDs?

2:15:32 Supporter Q6: How does DLSS affect CPU usage?

2:21:40 Supporter Q7: Could a PS4 handheld enhance the look of older games?

2:24:44 Supporter Q8: What are you ordering for dinner in London?

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FSR3 frame generation comes to consoles and Rich and John have tested it! That's the lead story in a new Direct that covers the controversy surrounding Hellblade 2, the upcoming launch of Snapdragon X Elite laptops and much, much more. Tom Morgan also joins the panel this week to discuss the arrival of TopSpin 2K25, the latest in the Paper Mario Switch story and his astonishing attempts to get Ark: Survival Ascended to run at 60fps on PlayStation 5.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:15 News 01: Immortals of Aveum FSR3 frame-gen tested!

0:18:16 News 02: Hellblade 2 review reaction

0:45:34 News 03: IGN buys Gamer Network... but what about DF?

0:57:44 News 04: TopSpin 2K25 impressions

1:08:14 News 05: Snapdragon X Elite processors launch

1:21:37 News 06: New Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door details

1:30:23 News 07: Ark: Survival Ascended features console menu on consoles

1:41:12 Supporter Q1: Should ‘artistic’ effects always be optional in games?

1:47:21 Supporter Q2: Should a frame-rate cap option be added to Ghost of Tsushima?

1:52:55 Supporter Q3: Future compatibility enhancements are very helpful - so should they be a standard feature in console games?

2:01:32 Supporter Q4: Is VRR becoming a crutch for console games?

2:09:00 Supporter Q5: Are full UE5 titles finally becoming common?

2:12:35 Supporter Q6: Which game should get an RTX Remix treatment?

2:17:15 Supporter Q7: By 2030, will 8K gaming be ‘a thing’?

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Another massive episode kicks off with the team sharing initial hands-on impressions of Ghost of Tsushima's impressive PC ports, while big changes are PlayStation are discussed - along with the revelation that half of Sony's monthly active users are still on PS4. Grand Theft Auto 6 is pushed back to later in 2025, and there's the enticing possibility that the original Red Dead Redemption will FINALLY come to PC. Finally, John and Oliver have bought new TVs - and it's looking like a full-on OLED vs LCD shoot-out.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:56 News 01: Ghost of Tsushima PC impressions!

0:16:05 News 02: Assassin’s Creed Shadows announced

0:25:33 News 03: PlayStation news roundup!

0:49:10 News 04: GTA 6 to arrive in fall 2025

0:55:22 News 05: Red Dead Redemption possibly coming to PC

1:02:30 News 06: PO’ed remaster released

1:12:13 News 07: John and Oliver’s new TVs!

1:28:42 Supporter Q1: Will the changes to Xbox strategy reduce console competition?

1:36:49 Supporter Q2: Does an Xbox-PC hybrid really make sense?

1:43:49 Supporter Q3: Could Nvidia’s rumoured ARM handheld SoC wipe the floor with Nintendo and Valve?

1:48:50 Supporter Q4: Are there gaming applications for OpenAI’s recently revealed AI tech?

1:52:40 Supporter Q5: What are your most highly anticipated games for the rest of the year in terms of tech?

1:56:21 Supporter Q6: How do you prefer to set up your PC displays when gaming?

1:58:54 Supporter Q7: What are your thoughts on producing repeated videos on games that are delivered in a subpar state?

2:04:25 Supporter Q8: What’s the latest gaming and tech news you’ve enjoyed?

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There's anger, bafflement and frustration this week as John, Rich and Alex discuss Microsoft's decision to close one studio that created one of the greatest immersive games ever made and another studio that's just delivered a BAFTA-winning, critically acclaimed rhythm action game... so what is going on at Xbox right now? Beyond that, the team discuss the latest Switch 2 revelations, the new Asus ROG - or R.O.G. - Ally, Hellblade 2 PC specs and Sony's massive Helldivers 2 own-goal.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:38 News 01: Microsoft shutters Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin

0:44:37 News 02: Nintendo confirms Switch sequel, potential components uncovered

1:03:42 News 03: Asus announces new ROG Ally

1:16:13 News 04: Sony backtracks on Helldivers 2 PC PSN requirements

1:25:25 News 05: Ninja Theory reveal Hellblade 2 PC specs

1:36:15 News 06: Sand Land released!

1:44:17 Supporter Q1: Could the Switch 2 connect to a TV wirelessly?

1:46:52 Supporter Q2: How much longevity will video cards with 8-10 GB of VRAM have?

1:53:41 Supporter Q3: Should next gen consoles have much larger RAM allotments?

1:57:40 Supporter Q4: Do you think mouse and keyboard support will become more common on consoles?

2:00:49 Supporter Q5: How feasible is it to update an older UE5 game to UE 5.4?

2:03:50 Supporter Q6: Could Intel beat AMD in discrete GPU sales by 2029?

2:06:40 Supporter Q7: What’s your favourite immersive sim, and why is it Prey (2017)?

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The latest DF Direct Weekly sees Rich, Oliver and Alex at the mics (John returns in the next episode!) discussing Bethesda's unique approach to Starfield's upcoming display mode upgrades, while there's concern about the health of console gaming in the wake of poor AMD gaming revenue. Rich talks PS5 Pro GPU details - including caches, clock speeds and features - while the latest Switch 2 rumours and reports are assessed for their plausibility. There's genuine excitement over AMD's new Strix Point and Strix Halo APUs, while Alex goes into depth about all the path-tracing features now unearthed in Capcom RE Engine games.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:41 News 01: Bethesda announces big Starfield update

0:23:05 News 02: AMD sees massive gaming revenue decline

0:40:14 News 03: New PS5 Pro GPU details!

0:58:27 News 04: Switch 2 rumour roundup

1:07:40 News 05: RTX Remix getting DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction

1:16:02 News 06: Resident Evil titles get path tracing!

1:27:14 News 07: AMD Strix APUs pack great integrated GPU performance

1:35:06 Supporter Q1: Could Nintendo games use DLSS 2 to reach 4K output on Switch 2?

1:40:23 Supporter Q2: What features would you add to Switch 2, if you could pick anything?

1:45:25 Supporter Q3: Could the potential merging of Xbox and PC development hurt Xbox?

1:50:13 Supporter Q4: Could developers run a game’s logic at high rates to improve responsiveness, while keeping frame-rate untouched?

1:54:19 Supporter Q5: Gaming handhelds theoretically seem as fast as a Series S. Why are they slower in practice?

1:57:40 Supporter Q6: Could Valve build a viable console platform to compete with Sony?

2:03:16 Supporter Q7: If you had to pick between #StutterStruggle and FSR 2 artifacts, which would you pick?

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In this 160th edition, it's Tom Morgan joining Rich and Alex to discuss the latest gaming and technology news. There's good news and bad news with Fallout 4's new 'next-gen' upgrade, Rich is impressed with Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora's new 40fps mode for PS5 and Series X, while Alex talks us through the latest path-tracing innovations revealed at GDC and GTC. Tom shares his impressions on Paper Mario for Nintendo Switch, Rich tests frame-gen on ROG Ally - and are Lords of the Fallen's tech issues resolved in the newly released patch 1.5?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:57 News 01: Fallout 4 gets mixed current-gen upgrade

0:22:14 News 02: Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora gets 40fps mode

0:38:07 News 03: Lords of the Fallen receives performance boost

0:49:12 News 04: Alex dives deep into game tech

1:11:56 News 05: ROG Ally updated with AFMF tech

1:22:08 News 06: Paper Mario preview!

1:29:31 Supporter Q1: Could frame gen be used to scale a game from 40fps to 120fps, and then decimate it to 60fps?

1:34:07 Supporter Q2: Why are some Microsoft games exhibiting different settings on PS5 relative to Series X?

1:42:49 Supporter Q3: Do you prefer Doom 1993 or Doom 2016?

1:47:11 Supporter Q4: Is sampler feedback the Series S savior? And is the PS5 API better than Microsoft’s?

1:53:07 Supporter Q5: Is the PS4’s continued developer support a problem for Sony?

2:00:13 Supporter Q6: Could the Switch 2 have an image quality advantage over PC gaming handhelds?

2:05:35 Supporter Q7: Are 13900K and 14900K processors really unstable?

2:10:54 Supporter Q8: What would a Republic of Gamers look like?

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PS5 Pro... ultra boost mode? Rich, Oliver and Alex discuss the possibilities of how Sony's new console can improve existing games, before moving on to discussion of Ghost of Tsushima's PC specs and the 'PlayStation Overlay'. The team mull over the highly attractive Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 trailer, Oliver tests emulation on Apple while Rich gets to grips with GeForce Now's G-Sync support. And as for Alex? How about a 20-minute monologue on Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora's remarkable tech disclosures?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:02:16 News 01: PS5 Pro to receive “ultra boost mode”

0:15:50 News 02: Ghost of Tsushima PC requirements announced

0:31:05 News 03: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 revealed

0:38:38 News 04: Avatar devs disclose game tech

1:00:17 News 05: Hands-on with GeForce Now G-Sync

1:09:56 News 06: Apple opens the emulator floodgates!

1:18:45 Supporter Q1: What does a more PC-like console look like? Would it be worthwhile?

1:28:25 Supporter Q2: How could a 5090 improve on today’s gaming experiences?

1:36:16 Supporter Q3: Why can’t Nvidia obtain an x86 license and create x86 CPUs?

1:40:38 Supporter Q4: Will The Last of Us Remastered get a PS5 Pro remaster?

1:42:32 Supporter Q5: What are your most anticipated PS5 Pro patches to existing games?

1:48:36 Supporter Q6: Will Sony release their exclusives on PC on the same day as PS5?

1:55:07 Supporter Q7: Can FSR 3.1 save this console generation’s image quality?

2:03:36 Supporter Q8: If DF released a console motherboard shirt, would Alex wear it?

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What's going on with Microsoft's new game preservation team and commitment to forward compatibility? Alex, Rich and Oliver rake over the details - such as they are. Meanwhile, there's discussion over Fallout 4's upcoming current-gen upgrade, while the new Star Wars Outlaws story trailer gets the DF breakdown. And with FSR 3 frame-gen coming to consoles with Immortals of Aveum, what sort of expectation level should be set?

0:00:00 Introduction and DF Merch

0:01:39 News 01: Xbox establishes game preservation team

0:20:26 News 02: Fallout 4 getting current gen upgrade

0:30:03 News 03: Star Wars Outlaws story trailer drops

0:46:10 News 04: Dead Space is dead!

0:53:56 News 05: Immortals of Aveum gets FSR 3 boost on consoles

1:08:29 Supporter Q1: Can you get console-like convenience on a PC?

1:16:12 Supporter Q2: Is the PS5 Pro’s CPU boost enough to bring a 30fps game to 40fps?

1:20:23 Supporter Q3: Are modern games too ‘fake’, with their reliance on upsampling and frame gen?

1:26:40 Supporter Q4: Could RT be losing traction with upcoming games?

1:34:38 Supporter Q5: Could Microsoft launch a Series S-matching handheld this holiday season?

1:42:06 Supporter Q6: What does Microsoft mean when they claim the next Xbox will have the biggest tech leap in a generation?

1:52:06 Supporter Q7: Should we be happy that more games are targeting 30fps on the consoles?

1:57:57 Supporter Q8: How powerful will the Switch 2 be relative to the Steam Deck and Series S?

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A wide range of Hellblade 2 previews emerged last week, but what have we learned about the game and is the dynamic resolution 30fps revelation in any way surprising? John, Rich and Alex share their thoughts while also sharing reactions to the latest chapter in the PS Portal hack story and Nightdive's POed remaster non-April fool. Alex shares news of his experiments with Intel's PresentMon 2.0 - and how it will change our PC games and hardware coverage - while there's intrigue and some level of excitement surrounding Intel's latest XeSS news.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:04 News 01: Hellblade 2 previews drop!

0:26:53 News 02: PS Portal hack patched before release

0:34:41 News 03: 90s FPS PO'ed getting Nightdive remaster

0:41:07 News 04: C-Smash VRS hits Meta Quest

0:52:03 News 05: Alex’s PresentMon experiments

1:06:57 News 06: Campaign demands: stop killing games!

1:16:19 News 07: Intel updates XeSS with revised modes

1:22:04 Supporter Q1: Would it be more practical to target 1440p than 4K for performance modes?

1:28:11 Supporter Q2: Dragon’s Dogma 2 has unimpressive NPC density, so why can’t it hit 60fps on consoles?

1:35:17 Supporter Q3: Why do some developers implement incorrect 30fps frame-rate caps?

1:43:36 Supporter Q4: Why isn’t low frame-rate compensation the default with 120Hz and VRR on PS5?

1:50:05 Supporter Q5: Could the PS5 Pro be powerful enough to run advanced path traced games?

1:55:04 Supporter Q6: With Microsoft potentially opening Xbox to third parties, was the 3DO approach right all along?

2:01:21 Supporter Q7: Would it have been better to forgo the PS5 Pro and instead shorten this console generation?

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This week's show is dominated by Xbox news in the wake of a new interview with Phil Spencer strongly indicating a big change in direction for the Xbox platform and by extension, its hardware. There's also talk of what form an Xbox handheld may take, while leaked photography of a white Xbox Series X 'All Digital' console brings about bafflement from the team.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:50 News 01: Phil Spencer wants other game stores on Xbox

0:30:36 News 02: Phil Spencer’s gaming handheld wishlist

0:44:21 News 03: White digital-only Series X leaks

0:55:32 News 04: Testing Outcast performance

1:13:31 News 05: Sunsoft’s Uforia: The Saga 2 released!

1:20:26 Supporter Q1: Are Switch cartridges or Blu-ray discs better for long term preservation?

1:27:25 Supporter Q2: What do you make of claims that developers are considering dropping Xbox support?

1:33:33 Supporter Q3: Why didn’t Sony upgrade the CPU further on PS5 Pro?

1:40:43 Supporter Q4: How would Microsoft’s cloud technology be leveraged in a next-gen console?

1:47:59 Supporter Q5: Could Switch 2 receive games at a slower pace than the original Switch?

1:54:39 Supporter Q6: Is Nvidia’s market dominance a bad thing for competition?

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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

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Rich, John and Alex discuss the stunning Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra debut trailer, potentially big upgrades to FSR via its upcoming 3.1 upgrade, while Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's tweaked performance mode (via a new patch) is analysed. Have image quality concerns finally been addressed? Meanwhile, we attempt to draw a line under the whole PS5 Pro/GTA6 60fps situation, while John shares his experiences with Nvidia's AI-powered Covert Protocol demo. Can AI move beyond upscaling to provide new gameplay experiences?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:44 News 01: Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra stuns in debut trailer

0:18:56 News 02: AMD announces FSR 3.1

0:30:52 News 03: Latest PS VR2 update enables PC access

0:40:37 News 04: Could GTA 6 hit 60 FPS on PS5 Pro?

0:57:46 News 05: Covert Protocol demo shows off AI characters

1:10:17 News 06: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth gets new graphics options

1:16:05 Supporter Q1: What should Microsoft and Sony do to differentiate their next-gen hardware?

1:36:44 Supporter Q2: Why isn’t Microsoft making more out of their consoles’ machine learning capabilities?

1:43:09 Supporter Q3: Should Sony invest in frame generation? Does PSSR suggest a lack of faith in AMD’s upscaling tech?

1:49:24 Supporter Q4: Could backwards compatibility actually hold back Switch 2?

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In a brand new, DF Direct Special we find Alex, Rich and Oliver confirming the leaked technical specifications for Sony's upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro console, we talk you through what the various spec points mean in terms of the gameplay experience, we go deep on ray tracing and machine learning-based upscaling and we reveal some new information about the new console based on recent developer disclosures.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:43 The CPU: What's Changed?

0:16:01 GPU Performance Boosts and Architecture

0:27:45 Ray Tracing: Really 2x to 4x Faster?

0:36:38 PSSR Upscaling and Machine Learning Performance

0:46:53 Additional Memory for Games

0:50:16 Closing Thoughts: What Do We Make of PS5 Pro So Far?

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Rich is still trapped in a white room with two plants, but the Direct discussions continue regardless. Oliver's been checking out Rise of the Ronin on PlayStation 5, Alex has much to say about Nvidia's DLSS-based GDC reveals, while Rich is intrigued by Intel's latest PresentMon 2.0 features. Meanwhile, the surprise release - and withdrawal - of the PS5 Stellar Blade demo raises more questions about our digital library future.

0:00:00 Introduction and DF merchandise

0:02:26 News 01: Rise of the Ronin preview

0:11:40 News 02: Nvidia announces upcoming game enhancements

0:35:55 News 03: Intel unveils PresentMon 2.0

0:51:08 News 04: Stellar Blade demo released, quickly pulled

0:56:48 News 05: Peter Moore questions the future of consoles

1:12:11 Supporter Q1: Should console platforms let you impose frame-rate caps yourself?

1:19:39 Supporter Q2: What rendering tech will we see pushed after path tracing?

1:27:22 Supporter Q3: Should more developers expose debug menus in their games?

1:31:43 Supporter Q4: What storage tech do you work off of?

1:39:38 Supporter Q5: What would Digital Foundry have looked like in the 1990s?

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