As is DF tradition, we round off the year with a look at the team's personal picks for the best game graphics of 2023. Covering off the very best in both PC and console rendering, Alex Battaglia, John Linneman and Oliver Mackenzie share their thoughts on the most impressive visuals of the year, leading to an open debate on which title did it best: Alan Wake 2, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora or Cyberpunk 2077's RT Overdrive? 0:00:00 Overview 0:01:55 Honourable Mentions 0:16:14 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor 0:21:28 Final Fantasy 16 0:27:10 Robocop: Rogue City 0:32:56 Resident Evil 4 0:40:33 Hi-Fi Rush 0:45:45 Super Mario Bros. Wonder 0:49:45 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 0:55:50 Cyberpunk 2077 RT Overdrive 1:02:57 Alan Wake 2 1:12:29 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora 1:22:43 Top Three Debate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of the release of the Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer, we produced our initial reaction video, but it turns out that the community has a big bunch of questions about the game they'd like us to tackle - so Rich, Oliver and Alex came together to continue the discussion. Enjoy! 00:00 Introduction 01:20 How will GTA 6 run on Series S? 05:57 Can GTA 6 run at 60fps on current-gen consoles? 08:30 Supporter Q1: How far off is the GTA 6 PC port? Is a Switch 2 port possible? 14:43 Supporter Q2: How do studios like Rockstar keep their games current graphically over long development cycles? 18:53 Supporter Q3: Were the RT features on GTA 5 on current-gen a test for RT in GTA 6? 20:29 Supporter Q4: Given that the GTA 6 leaks showed the game running on 10 series Nvidia GPUs, will those GPUs be able to run the final game? 23:16 Supporter Q5: What improvements should we expect in the PC version of GTA 6? 27:11 Supporter Q6: Do you think the GTA 6 trailer was captured on PS5 Pro development hardware? 30:36 Supporter Q7: Could the PS5 Pro run GTA 6 at 60fps? What other enhancements could we expect? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 has 'dropped' and we have reacted by bringing together three contributors to comb over the circa 90 seconds of footage and extract as much technological information about the latest iteration of the RAGE engine as possible. Is what we've seen here viable on current-gen consoles in real-time? Is there any evidence of hardware-accelerated ray tracing effects? How do the characters and hair rendering look so good? And is 60fps on PS5/Series X and an Xbox Series S port actually viable? 00:00 Introduction 01:53 Is the trailer real-time? 07:13 Ray traced global illumination 11:10 Ray traced reflections 17:04 Shadows and hair 23:50 Character rendering 26:30 Could consoles hit 60fps? 30:50 Closing discussion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a packed show, it's Rich, Alex and Oliver at mics, discussing their first reactions to the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty expansion, the sorry state of Mortal Kombat 1 on Nintendo Switch, and what to expect from Switch 2 performance based on Bobby Kotick's comments. Meanwhile, downtime on The Matrix Awakens demo returns us to the topic of online DRM, while we ask our audience to weigh in with their thoughts on the process of reviewing graphics cards in the era of DLSS and reconstruction technologies. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:55 News 01: Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty reaction! 0:11:36 News 02: We need to talk about GPU reviews 0:34:00 News 03: Mortal Kombat 1 on Switch has performance, visual issues 0:46:13 News 04: Switch 2 reportedly close to PS4, Xbox One power 0:51:01 News 05: The Matrix Awakens goes offline… then returns! 0:56:32 Supporter Q1: How do you think Nintendo and Sony will react to the Microsoft next-gen console proposal leak? 1:01:34 Supporter Q2: For hybrid cloud gaming, what features should be on the cloud and which should remain on local hardware? 1:09:54 Supporter Q3: What can be done to convince gamers of the importance of the CPU for game performance? 1:15:10 Supporter Q4: Are frame-rate limiters the responsibility of the game developers, or hardware manufacturers? 1:20:54 Supporter Q5: Couldn’t games self-adjust to hit a target frame-rate on PC? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of the biggest video games leak in recent memory, the Digital Foundry team come together to discuss the now infamous Xbox PDF leak. The refresh Xbox Series console specs are discussed and the team share their thoughts on Microsoft's direction for its next-gen machine. Is another AMD-based machine and 'the power of the cloud' ambitious enough for a new piece of 2028 hardware? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:48 The end of physical media? 0:14:55 Revised Series X, Series S consoles incoming 0:36:02 Updated Xbox controller in the works 0:41:51 Microsoft’s next-gen console proposal 1:04:53 Supporter Q1: Can Sony really pull off a cost-effective, powerful “PS5 Pro” console to put Microsoft under pressure? 1:11:02 Supporter Q2: Could Microsoft scrap some of their console plans because of this leak? 1:14:50 Supporter Q3: Which leak is bigger, the Xbox FTC leak or Jensen’s Prophecy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a DF Direct Starfield special, Rich, John and Oliver share their impressions of the game, answer a ton of supporter questions and offer up some impressions on the PC version. And we also attempt to tackle the biggest question of them all: is a 60fps performance mode possible on Xbox Series X? To answer that, we use the actual Xbox Series X CPU via the AMD 4800S Desktop Kit, paired with a GPU that's a close match for the PS5's. From there, we unlocked frame-rate and examine the characteristics of Starfield and what options are open to the developer. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:00 Why is Starfield 30fps on consoles? 0:05:12 How would Starfield run unlocked? Frankenstein console tested! 0:12:37 Could Starfield hit 60fps on consoles? 0:22:01 Ways to increase contrast and improve HDR 0:28:38 Adding DLSS support through modding 0:38:09 Supporter Q1: What are your thoughts on the upgrades to the Creation Engine? What are some areas for improvement? 0:46:51 Supporter Q2: Is this Bethesda’s most bug-free game? What’s the weirdest bug you’ve seen so far? 0:54:21 Supporter Q3: Does the procedurally generated content fit in with the rest of the game? 1:01:50 Supporter Q4: What’s the difference between Bethesda’s real-time global illumination and ray-traced global illumination? 1:04:01 Supporter Q5: Does Starfield benefit from console exclusivity? 1:06:58 Final thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the latest DF Direct Weekly, John, Rich and Alex discuss the controversy surrounding the Red Dead Redemption conversions, Mark Cerny gets in touch to reveal more about PlayStation 5's Dolby Atmos support, a brace of leaks look set to confirm a new PlayStation 5 model with detachable optical drive - but it's not looking particularly slim. Meanwhile, RDNA4 rumours are discussed, while John shares impressions on the Quake 2 Remaster and new 4K retro scaler, RetroTink 4K. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:36 News 01: Red Dead Redemption ports announced 00:20:04 News 02: Mark Cerny on PS5 Dolby Atmos 00:34:00 News 03: Revised PS5 model appears in apparent leaks 00:48:53 News 04: RDNA 4 to skip high-end GPUs? 01:11:35 News 05: Sony starts testing PS5 cloud streaming 01:20:16 News 06: Quake 2 remaster released! 01:30:56 News 07: RetroTink 4K: John’s impressions 01:42:41 Supporter Q1: Has John recovered from Sonic 2006 yet? 01:47:27 Supporter Q2: With limited competition and a lucrative server market, will Nvidia GPUs become a worse gaming value in the future? 01:54:48 Supporter Q3: Why are PC game frame-rate limiters often so poor? 02:04:38 Supporter Q4: Could older 3D games prove unsuitable for ray tracing upgrades? 02:11:40 Supporter Q5: Given that DLSS 3 works best at high frame-rates, might it prove unsuitable for a hypothetical Switch 2? 02:15:47 Supporter Q6: Rich is in the credits for Panzer Dragoon Saga! Is anyone else at DF in a game’s credits? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the recent legal challenges to the deal failing or crumbling as we speak, it's time to discuss the realities of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision, Blizzard and King. Where does the deal stand right now? What are/were Microsoft's business objectives? Can Call of Duty actually run on Nintendo Switch? Does the recent Sony deal mean Microsoft gets early access to PS6? And to conclude, what final words does the panel have for Xbox boss Phil Spencer? 00:00 Introductions 01:50 Acquisition overview and legal proceedings 10:02 Microsoft’s business objectives 25:44 Can Call of Duty work on Switch? 31:47 Would Call of Duty be compromised on PS6? 34:43 Current CMA proceedings 40:58 Discussion and final thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the impressions/reactions video you've been waiting for - and it took time because we wanted to investigate what was shown more deeply. John Linneman and Alex Battaglia share their notes on the Starfield Direct, discuss why the game is 30fps on consoles, what 4K on Series X actually means (and the implications for Series S) before moving onto the rendering tech on display and what they think about the actual game. 00:00 Overview 00:53 Why is Starfield 30fps on consoles? 12:31 Visual impressions and real-time global illumination 17:15 Reflections and motion blur 23:31 Screen-space shadows and terrain rendering 28:06 Volumetric lighting, fog, and bokeh depth of field 32:40 Character rendering 36:01 Gameplay impressions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A company revitalised based on the latest Ubisoft Forward, we saw a big bunch of excellent games and a couple in particular that look set to deliver proper 'next-gen' rendering - Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Beyond those 'bangers', the likes of AC Mirage and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown also caught the eye of John Linneman and Alex Battaglia. Plus: a quick look at the Capcom showcase, including new footage of Pragmata... 00:00 Overview 01:05 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora 15:23 Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown 20:22 Skull and Bones 23:00 The Crew Motorfest 28:08 Assassin’s Creed Mirage 33:50 Star Wars Outlaws 48:02 Pragmata Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special episode of DF Direct, John Linneman, Oliver Mackenzie and Alex Battaglia share their reactions and impressions to the excellent Xbox Showcase 2023, going through the event game by game with analysis and insights. Has Microsoft delivered the best event of the summer season so far? 00:00:00 Overview 00:02:32 Fable, South of Midnight 00:11:32 Star Wars Outlaws, 33 Immortals 00:17:30 Payday 3, Persona 3 Reload 00:25:35 Avowed, Sea of Thieves 00:31:31 Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 00:42:12 Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess 00:47:27 Forza Motorsport, The Elder Scrolls Online, Overwatch 2 00:56:35 Jusant, Still Wakes the Deep 01:01:09 Dungeons of Hinterberg, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty 01:08:13 Cities: Skylines 2, Metaphor ReFantazio 01:12:24 Towerborne, Clockwork Revolution 01:18:04 Series S 1TB 01:20:58 Starfield first impressions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Geoffcon aka Keigh3 aka Summer Games Fest is back, kicking off with a mammoth show crammed with new games of varying quality, Nicolas Cage and a big bunch of obvious ads. In this DF Direct special, John, Rich and Alex mull over the various reveals and wurld prm'ears, debate the inclusion of the letter 'i' in 'mobile', dive deeply into Spider-Man's symbiote lore, get excited about the new Sonic game and ponder the big question - how many of the games in the show were running on Unreal Engine? 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:08 News 01: Summer Games Fest 2023 reaction! Prince of Persia, Mortal Kombat 1 00:10:48 Path of Exile 2, Exoprimal, Dead by Daylight, Witchfire, Crossfire: Sierra Squad, Remnant 2 00:18:22 Sonic Superstars, Lies of P, Sand Land 00:27:27 Throne and Liberty, Party Animals, Crash Team Rumble, 00:31:51 Alan Wake 2, Space Marine 2, Yes Your Grace, Toxic Commando 00:42:42 Baldur’s Gate 3, Palworld, Black Desert Online, LOTR: Return to Moria 00:51:44 Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden 00:55:51 Like a Dragon Gaiden, Under the Water, Fae Farm 01:04:18 King Arthur, Stellaris Nexus, Star Trek Infinite, Lysfanga 01:09:47 Immortals of Aveum, Fortnite, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 01:24:19 Supporter Q1: Will DLSS 3 evolve in the same way DLSS 2 did? 01:28:14 Supporter Q2: What’s up with DF getting Diablo 4 code late? 01:29:22 Supporter Q3: Is there an ideal frame-rate target for games? 01:32:41 Supporter Q4: Do recent PC gaming woes stem from the relative strength of console hardware this generation? 01:41:09 Supporter Q5: What old console or graphics technology would you like to see get a few years of active development? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the biggest - if not the biggest - games of 2023 launched this week. Nintendo's Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has recently a massively positive reaction. John discusses his review and shares more thoughts on the game, while digging more deeply into the eternal question - is it too big for Switch? Meanwhile, Rich drops in from time off to share his impressions with the Asus ROG Ally and A Plague Tale: Requiem gets a 60fps patch... but what does it actually do? 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:04 News 01: Tears of the Kingdom launches! 00:26:05 News 02: Sharp producing next-gen Switch LCD? 00:34:49 News 03: ASUS ROG Ally reviews drop + our impressions 00:50:20 News 04: A Plague Tale: Requiem gets 60fps patch 00:56:36 News 05: John gets a new CRT! 01:02:53 Supporter Q1: With low sales and poor software support, where does the PS VR2 go from here? 01:07:36 Supporter Q2: Could DF revisit some of the recent troubled PC ports and see how they run now after patches? 01:11:23 Supporter Q3: Why does DLSS 3 produce a smoother experience in games with high CPU load? 01:15:47 Supporter Q4: Developers like to blame specific PC configurations for user issues. Could DF emphasize that PC performance issues are often common to all configurations? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the team discuss the arrival of Star Wars Jedi Survivor, share first impressions after EA delayed sending review code, then move onto 'The Power of the Cloud' seemingly blocking Microsoft's Activision acquisition. Rich shares a conversation he had with the Xbox Sustainability Team on improving in-game efficiency, while benchmarks finally emerge on the impressive looking Asus ROG Ally handheld. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:45 News 01: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor impressions! 00:23:57 News 02: Microsoft Activision purchase hits roadblock 00:34:30 News 03: Microsoft pushes for Xbox energy sustainability 00:48:21 News 04: ASUS ROG Ally chips benchmarked 00:55:50 Supporter Q1: If RT becomes a big rendering focus, could future GPUs regress in rasterization performance? 01:00:36 Supporter Q2: Are 8GB GPUs DOOMED to muddy textures on PC? 01:07:33 Supporter Q3: How did Don feel about his first video? 01:11:15 Supporter Q4: Will you make a GTA V retro time capsule video when the title hits its 10th anniversary later this year? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We join John, Rich and Alex in the immediate wake of the PSVR2 review period, further discussing the hardware, talking games and answering supporter questions. Rich and Alex investigate a tip-off that DLSS is accessible on select Nvidia non-RTX GPUs in Cyberpunk 2077, while John and Rich discuss issues with games they looked at outside of work hours - Wild Hearts on PC and the new Tales of Symphonia remaster. Spoilers: there's disappointment. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:11 News 01: PSVR2 Post Mortem 00:28:38 News 02: Cyberpunk exposes DLSS support on Nvidia Turing GTX cards - but is it the real deal? 00:36:01 News 03: Wild Hearts suffers PC performance woes 00:46:32 News 04: Tales of Symphonia remastered disappoints 00:51:10 News 05: Nuon DVD player console gets new lease on life with controller adapters 00:55:52 DF Supporter Q1: Can DF still capture direct-feed footage off an undocked Switch? 00:59:51 DF Supporter Q2: Why do PC games do a poor job of optimizing settings for your specific hardware? 01:06:53 DF Supporter Q3: Could frame generation technology be used to offload game animation onto the GPU? 01:08:36 DF Supporter Q4: Could DLSS 3 double the frame-rates of emulated retro games? 01:10:54 DF Supporter Q5: Would FSR 1 style upscaling work for backwards compatible titles on consoles? 01:12:51 DF Supporter Q6: The RTX 2000 series had a bit of a slow start with few RT titles, so should the RTX 3000 series have been the first to support RT instead? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A big week for news as the first phase of Sony's PlayStation VR2 embargo decloaks, meaning we can take the hardware out of its box and offer first impressions on the headset and controllers! Meanwhile. the latest Nintendo Direct turns out to be a bit of a banger - Pikmin 4 takes centrestage, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gets a new trailer and the brilliant Metroid Prime Remastered gets a surprise 'shadow drop'. Also: why are PC VRAM requirements becoming so bloated? 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:07 News 01: PS VR2 hands-on impressions! 00:14:25 News 02: Nintendo Direct reactions: Pikmin, Zelda, Metroid Prime 00:41:46 News 03: Hogwarts Legacy coverage plans 00:45:57 DF Supporter Q1: Avatar 2 mixes 24fps and 48fps footage - is this a good idea? 00:50:37 DF Supporter Q2: What can we expect in terms of timing for a Switch successor? 00:55:08 DF Supporter Q3/4: CPU performance is bottlenecking modern games - can developers work around this? Plus, ninth-gen games haven’t shown the expected bump in simulation complexity, so are the additional CPU resources just going towards draw calls and RT? 01:02:58 DF Supporter Q5: Will PC VRAM requirements continue to steeply increase throughout this generation, or is this a short-term phenomenon? 01:09:25 DF Supporter Q6: Why don’t console games support 50Hz output, given that nearly all TVs support it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time for another round of Digital Foundry Direct Weekly, on this occasion featuring the technical stylings of Sam Machkovech, John Linneman and Alex Battaglia. On the docket this week: layoffs at Halo developer 343 Industries amid a rumoured switch to Unreal Engine 5, a new PS5 beta firmware and is it 'safe' to move to Windows 11 on a gaming rig? 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:53 News 01: Halo developer suffers layoffs, switching to UE5 00:17:37 News 02: Major live service games canceled 00:27:11 News 03: DLSS 3 added to Cyberpunk 2077, Dying Light 2 00:36:21 News 04: The Witcher 3 gets RT performance boosts 00:43:11 News 05: Goldeneye launches on Xbox, Switch 00:53:56 News 06: PS5 beta firmware adds 1440p VRR support 01:05:04 DF Supporter Q1: Sam, you called the RTX 4090 a bargain. What other bargains do you recommend? 01:09:04 DF Supporter Q2: Have you tested copying the shader cache from one PC to another to eliminate shader stutter? 01:10:08 DF Supporter Q3: Could Square Enix be in financial trouble after Forspoken’s poor reception? 01:13:51 DF Supporter Q4: With PS VR2 pre-orders reportedly lower than expected, could the VR2 go the way of the Vita? 01:18:58 DF Supporter Q5: Do you think that it is safe to move to Windows 11 on a gaming rig? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At Digital Foundry, we've been complaining about gaming events - and the way games are shown - for years... but you know what? Microsoft's Developer_Direct cracks it, with only one more aspect required to make the format almost perfect. But what's not perfect? The release of Forspoken, especially on PC. John, Rich and Alex are at the mics to discuss all of this - and more. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:44 News 01: Microsoft "Developer_Direct" reactions! 00:41:50 News 02: Forspoken released- and there are issues 00:58:12 News 03: Dead Space: our early impressions 01:06:03 DF Supporter Q1: Will you be covering the RTX 4050 at launch? What are your pricing expectations? 01:08:55 DF Supporter Q2: Could generative AI power an “auto-remaster” feature to upgrade game graphics in real time? 01:14:08 DF Supporter Q3: What kind of performance leap should we expect from a Switch sequel? 01:20:10 DF Supporter Q4: When will DirectStorage support become the norm for PC developers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A packed week of news as John, Rich and Alex discuss the elevated min specs for the PC versions of Forspoken and Returnal, which beg the question: ARE MIN SPECS OUT OF CONTROL?!11 Meanwhile, Stadia finally dies, while GeForce Now 4080 arrives to demonstrate that high-end cloud gaming can actually work.   00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:58 News 01: Forspoken and Returnal PC requirements detailed 00:21:55 News 02: Layoffs at Microsoft: 343 and Bethesda affected 00:29:20 News 03: PSVR2 launch titles announced 00:38:16 News 04: Stadia dead, RTX 4080 Geforce Now launches 00:49:11 News 05: Suicide Squad leak reveals games as a service components 00:56:24 News 06: The Callisto Protocol falls short of sales expectations 01:01:08 DF Supporter Q1: Why did Unreal Engine 3 games have that ‘wet’ look? 01:05:57 DF Supporter Q2: What are your CPU recommendations for demanding games? 01:09:05 DF Supporter Q3: How do your computers and consoles affect your home heating and cooling? 01:12:23 DF Supporter Q4: If you have a 120Hz screen running 60fps content, what is the best way to get a good experience? 01:15:29 DF Supporter Q5: What is the most memorable show you’ve attended? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The big topic of the moment - has Nintendo Switch hit its limits? Is performance not good enough anymore and do we need a next-gen successor? John, Rich and Alex share their thoughts on the current Switch and a prospective replacement model. The team also discuss Microsoft's new Developer_Direct initiative, Xbox's 'carbon aware' credentials and finally... what on earth is happening at Ubisoft? 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:37 News 01: Does the Switch need to be replaced? 00:30:33 News 02: Xbox “Developer_Direct” to showcase first-party games 00:39:30 News 03: Xbox becomes “first carbon aware console” 00:49:43 News 04: Ubisoft has financial difficulties, cancels several upcoming games 00:57:01 DF Supporter Q1: Should Microsoft switch to rechargeable batteries for their controllers? 01:03:31 DF Supporter Q2/3/4: Any thoughts on the PS5 liquid metal console damage story? 01:09:42 DF Supporter Q5: Could shader compilation be handled with a separate app while the PC idles? 01:14:52 DF Supporter Q6: In 10 years, will high-end PCs be able to brute force their way past compilation stutters? 01:18:19 DF Supporter Q7: What do you think about gaming laptops? Is their negative perception just because of price for performance, or is there more to it? 01:23:03 DF Supporter Q8: What does DF think of producing the weekly DF Direct show at 4K? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DF Direct Weekly is back for 2023, kicking off with the reactions of John, Rich and Alex to the big CES keynotes, discussing Nvidia's latest innovations and the RTX 4070 Ti backlash - plus the latest enhancements to OLED TV technology. And as always, DF supporters provide a wealth of excellent questions for the team.   00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:25 News 01: Sony at CES 2023: PS VR2 and Gran Turismo 00:15:37 News 02: Nvidia debuts RTX 4000 laptop GPUs, RTX video upscaling at CES 00:50:27 News 03: AMD announces new CPUs, discrete RDNA 3 laptop GPUs during CES showcase 01:01:02 News 04: Upcoming OLED TVs get brightness boost 01:06:42 DF Supporter Q1: Could modders add shader precompilation to a game? 01:09:09 DF Supporter Q2: Are path traced remakes of classic games feasible on consoles? 01:11:22 DF Supporter Q3: Would DF produce a video covering ray tracing games on Series S? 01:12:39 DF Supporter Q4: What do you think DF has done right over the years to survive - and to keep growing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The end of the year draws closer and as the Digital Foundry crew prepare to take a well-earned vacation, John, Rich and Oliver have just enough time to cram in one more DF Direct Weekly, looking back over a challenging 2022, looking forward to the New Year - and cramming in more supporter Q+A than we've ever done before! 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:35 DF Supporter Q1: What does Epic’s delisting of classic Unreal games say about the preservation of older titles? 00:08:24 DF Supporter Q2: What was the most successful cross-gen release of the year? 00:12:40 DF Supporter Q3: Could an Xbox One X set to 120Hz output 24fps game content without judder? 00:14:28 DF Supporter Q4: Why do PCs have to compile shaders while consoles don’t? 00:19:23 DF Supporter Q5: Can you name some positive developments in gaming this year? 00:26:37 DF Supporter Q6: What was your surprise game of 2022 - and your most disappointing game of 2022? 00:32:33 DF Supporter Q7: What was the most technically complete game of the year? 00:37:22 DF Supporter Q8: With TAAU a common sight on consoles, why exactly were we waiting for FSR 2? 00:41:04 DF Supporter Q9: Does Oliver have any thoughts on his time with DF so far? And does the team have any ideas to improve or shake up future content? 00:47:25 DF Supporter Q10: With so many big 2023 games and hardware releases, what are you looking forward to most in 2023? 00:50:26 DF Supporter Q11: If the Switch 2 launches in 2023, what kind of hardware is it likely to have? 00:58:06 DF Supporter Q12: Do you think Nintendo would add an option to Switch to allow it to run at docked settings in portable mode? 01:00:05 DF Supporter Q13: Could FSR 3 run on current-gen consoles? If it could, would it be worthwhile? 01:03:45 DF Supporter Q14: Would DF members ever make videos about their all-time favourite games? 01:06:05 DF Supporter Q15: Will Tears of the Kingdom have a significant graphical upgrade over Breath of the Wild? 01:09:21 DF Supporter Q16: Will DF do more frequent live streams next year? 01:11:40 DF Supporter Q17: With the year of the PS Triple almost over, any chance of a “Best PS3 Game” in your game of the year lists? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is slated for release in 'Fall' 2023, Kojima's helping to make a movie, Steam Deck is set to get a successor - and Returnal's recommendations include a mammoth 32GB of memory. All this, plus discussion of the RDNA 3 review aftermath in this week's show. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:00 News 01: Spider-Man 2 to launch in fall 2023 00:08:51 News 02: Death Stranding film in the works 00:14:45 News 03: Valve discusses Steam Deck successor 00:26:45 News 04: RX 7900 XT/XTX review follow-up! 00:51:34 News 05: Returnal PC requirements announced 00:57:39 News 06: High on Life launches with major issues, quickly patched 01:06:54 DF Supporter Q1: Which games would you like to get RTX Remix enhancements? 01:10:51 DF Supporter Q2: Why doesn’t DLSS significantly lower VRAM use? 01:12:22 DF Supporter Q3: Would you ever release the DF performance analysis tools to the public? 01:17:05 DF Supporter Q4: Alex, would you prefer to play a game with great ray tracing with PSO stutters, or a game without ray tracing with no stutters? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Game Awards - aka 'The Geoffs' - are back once again, bringing a deluge of new trailers and announcements for Rich, John and Alex to pore over in the latest DF Direct Weekly. Meanwhile, Stadia devkits are starting to emerge and Microsoft is raising game prices - but before all of that, the team takes a look at a dramatically improved build of The Callisto Protocol on PC. The Game Awards - aka 'The Geoffs' - are back once again, bringing a deluge of new trailers and announcements for Rich, John and Alex to pore over in the latest DF Direct Weekly. Meanwhile, Stadia devkits are starting to emerge and Microsoft is raising game prices - but before all of that, the team takes a look at a dramatically improved build of The Callisto Protocol on PC. Join the DF Patreon for EARLY ACCESS to every DF Direct Weekly, pristine video downloads, behind the scenes content and much, much more: https://bit.ly/3jEGjvx Podcast RSS Feed: https://digitalfoundry.podbean.com/ Subscribe for more Digital Foundry: http://bit.ly/DFSubscribe 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:59 News 01: Callisto Protocol PC updates 00:09:12 News 02: The Game Awards game reveal rundown! 00:50:33 News 03: Stadia devkits dissected, analyzed 00:54:03 News 04: Microsoft increases game prices to $70 01:01:21 DF Supporter Q1: Is Alex doing better this week? Has DF considered doing numbered ratings to send a message about certain issues? 01:04:37 DF Supporter Q2: Would you consider giving a “seal of quality” to games that meet technical standards? 01:05:44 DF Supporter Q3: Would you prefer to play on a huge projector screen, or a top-of-the-line OLED TV? 01:08:46 DF Supporter Q4: Portal RTX demands DLSS, so is Quality, Balanced, or Performance the best DLSS preset? 01:13:04 DF Supporter Q5: Rich, do you still think that Xbox OS and PlayStation OS will become interchangeable on consoles? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a challenging week reviewing The Callisto Protocol and awaiting various performance patches, Alex, John and Rich unload about the triumphs and tragedies of the launch period, while reflecting on how good the game actually is. Meanwhile, Nintendo's promising improvements to Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, modders tackle Sonic Frontier's shortcomings - and Jesus Christ himself appears, rendered at 4K60 on RTX 4090. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:37 News 01: Callisto Protocol review aftermath 00:33:04 News 02: Poké-patch arrives for Scarlet/Violet, Nintendo apologizes 00:36:06 News 03: Fixes arrive for Sonic Frontiers 00:41:23 News 04: I am Jesus Christ Prologue: biblically-accurate graphics! 00:46:53 DF Supporter Q1: Which Switch games look better than you would expect? 00:50:54 DF Supporter Q2: Given the success of the Steam Deck, should Valve do Steam Machines again? 00:54:03 DF Supporter Q3: Who will implement a Nanite-style virtualized geometry system next? 00:58:28 DF Supporter Q4: Why do some games have broken physics when you increase the frame-rate? 01:03:14 DF Supporter Q5: Could Nvidia offer new tech as a paid subscription in the future? 01:06:54 DF Supporter Q6: If you could bring back a dormant Activision/Blizzard IP, which would it be? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will we have to wait until 2028 for new consoles from Microsoft and Sony? And how are the two companies at war over Call of Duty? Audi, John and Rich discuss, also covering news on The Witcher 3's upgrade plus the latest news about The Callisto Protocol. Meawhile, what on Earth is the Boner in Berlin?   00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:31 News 01: Next-gen consoles to launch in 2027/2028? 00:13:41 News 02: Microsoft and Sony engaged in Call of Duty value dispute 00:27:01 News 03: Witcher 3 current-gen + PC upgrades revealed! 00:37:34 News 04: Callisto Protocol leaks and reveals 00:46:45 News 05: The Game Awards nominees announced 00:55:39 News 06: Warzone 2.0 tested! 01:07:17 DF Content Discussion: What has Audi been up to? 01:10:43 DF Supporter Q1: Given the performance woes of the new Pokémon games, does the industry need to re-evaluate yearly franchises? 01:18:10 DF Supporter Q2: How does being multilingual help the DF team? 01:24:05 DF Supporter Q3: With GPU/CPU stock still on store shelves, have AMD and Nvidia misjudged the market? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the latest episode, John, Rich and Alex share observations, thoughts and hopes for The Witcher 3's forthcoming re-release and there's discussion on Epic's improvements to Unreal Engine 5, plus thoughts on RTX 4080/4070 Ti pricing. Meanwhile, what on earth is happening with Pokémon Violet and Scarlet polish and performance? 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:48 News 01: Witcher 3 next-gen patch incoming 00:12:48 News 02: Unreal Engine 5.1 delivers big improvements 00:27:29 News 03: RTX 4080 released! 00:44:35 News 04: Gamers Nexus solves 4090 power connector mystery 00:50:35 News 05: DLSS 3 gets frame-limiter to overcome vsync issue 01:00:42 News 06: Pokémon Violet and Scarlet suffer serious tech issues 01:07:33 DF Supporter Q1: Why don’t we ever get anisotropic filtering above 16x? 01:10:03 DF Supporter Q2: Why does the PS5 reserve 1.5 cores for the OS, leaving only 6.5 for games? 01:16:51 DF Supporter Q3: Is Elden Ring a good candidate for game of the year, given its performance problems? 01:18:34 DF Supporter Q4: Are game developers relying too much on DLSS? 01:24:21 DF Supporter Q5: When will Audi be released from Rich’s basement and appear in videos again? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's been a lot of debate recently about whether Xbox Series S's limited performance is 'holding back' the other consoles from being everything that they can be - so Rich, John and Alex weigh in with their opinions based on developer discussions and two years' worth of gaming data accrued by the channel. Meanwhile, it's all about the patches as Forza Horizon, Sackboy PC and Halo Infinite receive important updates. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:18 News 01: Is Series S limiting next-gen gaming? 00:23:32 News 02: Forza Horizon 5 patch brings DLSS, FSR 2, improved RT 00:34:13 News 03: Sackboy PC updated to eliminate #StutterStruggle! 00:43:26 News 04: Halo Infinite gets animation fix… but many issues remain 00:52:44 News 05: “Unlaunched” 4080 12GB to become 4070 Ti? 01:01:40 News 06: Mega Drive Mini 2 released! 01:08:42 DF Supporter Q1: With AMD focused on raster performance, is this an indication most gamers don’t care about ray tracing? 01:17:08 DF Supporter Q2: What’s the most impressive game to play on a new high-end PC system? 01:22:09 DF Supporter Q3: Should developers include advanced modes in console games to enhance future backwards compatibility? 01:25:07 DF Supporter Q4: How do you think the current economic environment will impact next-gen consoles? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A big, big week for PC and console gamers as AMD emerges to showcase its new RDNA 3-powered RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT graphics cards with Rich, Will and Alex delivering their verdict on the reveal. Also, what to make of the PSVR2 launch line-up and pricing? Meanwhile, the realisation that new gaming tech is going up in price hits home as it's discovered that Microsoft is losing $100-$200 per console sold. 00:00:35 News 01: RDNA 3 unveiled! 00:24:15 News 02: FSR 3 frame-rate boost tech teased 00:31:26 News 03: How does RDNA 3 measure up against RTX 4000? 00:45:18 News 04: RT upgrades in Halo Infinite, Forspoken, and Snowdrop 00:51:31 News 05: PS VR2 release details announced 00:59:33 News 06: Microsoft takes $100-200 loss on Xbox Series consoles 01:03:51 News 07: Sackboy PC Stutter Struggles + shader compilation questions 01:11:47 DF Supporter Q1: What’s the best value CPU + motherboard + RAM combination for a PC? 01:15:41 DF Supporter Q2: Was FSR 2 really worth it for the Series X version of Scorn? 01:18:09 DF Supporter Q3: IS ALEX GERMAN OR AMERICAN? I MUST KNOW. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John, Rich and Alex re-convene to share first impressions on the new God of War and the extent to which it leverages PlayStation 5. Meanwhile, rumours start to gather pace on AMD's RDNA 3 offerings, Microsoft hints at price increases - and what should we make of the Modern Warfare 2 PS4 Blu-ray with just 70MB of actual data on it? 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:37 News 01: God of War Ragnarök impressions! 00:16:54 News 02: AMD RDNA 3 GPU reveal incoming 00:26:05 News 03: Xbox price increases hinted by Phil Spencer 00:35:33 News 04: Original The Witcher game gets UE5 remake 00:40:18 News 05: Age of Empires makes console return on Xbox 00:44:23 News 06: MW2 uses just 70MB of data on PS5 disc 00:49:33 DF Supporter Q1: Is it feasible to launch a current-gen game at 30fps and later patch in 60fps support? 00:52:42 DF Supporter Q2: With most games supporting high frame-rate options, was cross-gen a good thing? 00:58:16 DF Supporter Q3: Why do 30fps games look so much better now than they used to? 01:02:37 DF Supporter Q4: What retro genres should be brought back? 01:06:10 DF Supporter Q5: Will DLSS 3 be on the next Switch? Could it be enough for 4K60? 01:10:35 DF Supporter Q6: I loved Rich’s shirt last week - any other shirt ideas? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will the end of the cross-gen console era also see the end of 60fps as the standard for gaming on Xbox Series and PlayStation 5? It's the big topic for this week in the wake of the arrival of Gotham Knights and A Plague Tale: Requiem. Also, the team shares its enthusiasm for the return of Silent Hill, Resident Evil 4 and the latest Final Fantasy 16 trailer. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:05 News 01: Gotham Knights and Plague Tale run at just 30fps on consoles 00:26:39 News 02: Silent Hill returns! 00:40:33 News 03: Resident Evil 4 remake gameplay trailer released 00:48:16 News 04: Final Fantasy 16 gets impressive new story trailer 00:55:33 DF Content Discussion: Uncharted PC: Review Code vs Day One Patch 01:05:39 DF Supporter Q1: What performance should we expect from consoles once FSR and SSDs are maximized? 01:10:00 DF Supporter Q2: How much performance loss will I see by using a 4090 in an older system? 01:12:47 DF Supporter Q3: If an emulated game has an improved frame-rate, should gameplay be adjusted to compensate? 01:14:04 DF Supporter Q4: Why don’t developers offer higher bitrate versions of game video files as an optional download? 01:18:53 DF Supporter Q5: With many PC gamers on 144Hz displays, why not do benchmarking at 72Hz instead of 60Hz? 01:20:58 DF Supporter Q6: Was Gotham Knights sabotaged just to spite Rich? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nvidia delivers a massive u-turn, 'unlauching' the RTX 4080 12GB. Rich, John and Alex discuss the reasons why and mull over the bizarre benchmarks revealed by the firm last week. In the meantime, with the RTX 4090 launched with coverage aplenty out there, the team discuss the reaction to the new GPU flagship and answer a bunch of supporter questions. Meanwhile, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is set to receive even more RT upgrades over the PS5 version - just how far could it be pushed? 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:24 News 01: Nvidia “unlaunches” RTX 4080 12GB 00:21:21 News 02: RTX 4090 launched: our coverage + supporter questions 01:10:30 News 03: Spider-Man: Miles Morales gets big PC boosts 01:06:58 News 04: Two unique unreleased NES games listed for sale 01:10:32 DF Supporter Q1: Was it a good idea for CD Projekt Red to announce so many new games at once? 01:13:59 DF Supporter Q2: Why can’t I disable TAA and upscaling on console games? 01:17:16 DF Supporter Q3: Is an Nvidia/AMD/Intel GPU market sustainable? 01:23:57 DF Supporter Q4: Modern GPUs are 200x as powerful as the best GPU in 2007, so do modern games look 200x better than Crysis? 01:26:04 DF Supporter Q5: Could future LG OLED TVs offer 4K/240Hz to suit high-end GPUs? 01:29:05 DF Supporter Q6: John: give us a eulogy for Google Stadia! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The leak of a Sony document suggesting the existence of a remake for Horizon Zero Dawn kicks off our discussion, which encompasses PSVR2 mass production, rumours of Half-Life Alyx for the new headset, path-traced Quake, the new Need for Speed - and much, much more.   00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:58 News 01: Horizon Zero Dawn PS5 remake leaked! 00:12:00 News 02: PSVR 2 enters mass production 00:18:53 News 03: Ray-traced Quake 1 released 00:25:10 News 04: New gameplay trailer for Dead Space remake 00:31:31 News 05: Need for Speed: Unbound revealed, dated 00:38:59 News 06: Nintendo shows first trailer for Mario film 00:45:45 DF Content Discussion: Intel ARC review follow-up and questions 01:01:30 DF Supporter Q1: Is there a project that was just too big for DF Retro? 01:03:39 DF Supporter Q2: Will Unreal Engine 5.1 fix the #StutterStruggle? 01:04:55 DF Supporter Q3: What’s a game you love that is largely unknown? 01:10:35 DF Supporter Q4: What potential RDNA 3 feature could get people to switch to AMD? 01:16:27 DF Supporter Q5: Is there any reason to use last-gen hardware instead of current gen backwards compatibility for PS4/Xbox One games? 01:18:43 DF Supporter Q6: Why don’t developers use DLSS 2/XESS/FSR 2.0 to upscale RT effects? 01:21:43 DF Supporter Q7: What game would you like to see remade that will never happen? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The upcoming demise of Google Stadia dominates discussion, but we find plenty of time to discuss a range of topics: PS5's new 6nm processor, the arrival of XeSS and the imminent deployment of Intel Arc, the quality of Ryzen 7000 CPUs and the challenges of CPU reviewing in general, DLSS 3 reaction and EVEN MORE. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:48 News 01: Google Stadia is shutting down 00:20:00 News 02: PS5 gets a die-shrink! 00:23:31 News 03: XeSS debuts, Arc A750/A770 priced 00:37:13 News 04: New Ryzen 7000 CPUs reviewed 00:57:49 News 05: Sony PC game announcements, leaks 01:02:18 DF Content Discussion: DLSS 3 reactions and follow-up 01:07:48 DF Supporter Q1: Is latency a big issue with DLSS 3? Could a future version have unnoticeable lag? 01:10:22 DF Supporter Q2: Could tech similar to DLSS 3 come to consoles? 01:11:40 DF Supporter Q3: Would a slower version of DLSS 3 be able to run on Ampere cards? 01:13:48 DF Supporter Q4: Is vendor-agnostic frame generation tech similar to DLSS 3 possible? 01:16:40 DF Supporter Q5: How does DLSS 3 cope with RT effects? 01:19:14 DF Supporter Q6: Would DLSS 2 Quality mode work better as a base for DLSS 3 than Performance mode? 01:22:15 DF Supporter Q7: What do you expect from AMD’s new graphics cards? 01:28:47 DF Supporter Q8: Thoughts on EVGA leaving the GPU market? 01:32:45 DF Supporter Q9: Is 8K excessive? Shouldn’t we focus on visual features and not pixel count? 01:35:13 DF Supporter Q10: Could PCs move to unified memory instead of two discrete memory pools? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's show, the team discuss the Nvidia RTX 4000 reveal, the new tech on offer and the backlash over RTX 4080 pricing. The new RT Overdrive rendition of Cyberpunk is discussed along with the rich potential of RTX Remix. Elsewhere, PS1 Classics' first European 60Hz release proves to be fundamentally flawed, John has issues with the new Star Ocean demo - but it looks like there's good news about improvements to Xbox's restrictive DRM. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:43 News 01: Nvidia announces 4090, 4080 graphics cards 00:21:59 News 02: DLSS 3.0 revealed! 00:42:19 News 03: RTX Remix modding tools impress 00:47:33 News 04: RT “Overdrive” patch teased for Cyberpunk 2077 00:52:38 News 05: Xbox DRM scaled back for disc games 00:58:48 News 06: NTSC/PAL switching for PS+ classic games introduced 01:02:05 News 07: New Star Ocean demo suffers performance woes 01:06:21 DF Supporter Q1: Given the leak of the Tegra T239, a likely Switch SOC, when is the new Switch going to be released? 01:12:32 DF Supporter Q2: How much difference does memory speed make in games? 01:14:07 DF Supporter Q3: Do you think Konami will go back to developing new big games? 01:16:51 DF Supporter Q4: What are your thoughts on the GTA 6 leak? 01:22:49 DF Supporter Q5: Rich, did you imagine yourself doing this sort of work 20 years ago? And what’s one game you need to have a physical version of? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Digital Foundry is joined by Eurogamer's Ian Higton to discuss PlayStation VR 2 in extreme detail, followed up by John, Alex and Rich discussing the week's gaming and technology news - with a strong focus on the Tokyo Games Show and its surrounding Sony State of Play and Nintendo Direct mini-events.   00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:41 News 01: PSVR 2 hands-on impressions! 00:48:22 News 02: Sony’s latest State of Play 01:10:05 News 03: New Nintendo Direct showcases 2023 games 01:25:46 News 04: Suikoden I and II remasters announced 01:28:41 News 05: Uncharted PC collection finally dated! 01:32:51 DF Content Discussion: John’s upcoming DF Retro project 01:34:51 DF Supporter Q1: Could AI techniques be used for more exotic real-time image enhancements? 01:39:44 DF Supporter Q2: Why does John still like split-screen when he could just play on two consoles in the same room? 01:42:53 DF Supporter Q3: What is one of the biggest changes you’ve made to a video before release? 01:48:28 DF Supporter Q4: What’s the best cheap alternative to OLEDs with similar picture characteristics? 01:51:17 DF Supporter Q5: Is it really worth it to target 4K at 30 FPS? 01:55:40 DF Supporter Q6: When playing a PC game at 30 FPS, why not play at 30Hz instead of 60Hz with a frame-rate cap? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The team discuss the arrival of a brand new PlayStation 5 revision, the arrival of 1440p support for the console - and the ongoing war over COD between Sony and Microsoft. Meanwhile, Halo Infinite's campaign co-op split-screen cancellation provokes frustration... and who is 'Jim Mattrick'...? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a rocky road to market for Intel with its Arc range of graphics cards... and just over a year since Intel talked to us about it. In this extended interview, Alex and Rich talk to Intel Fellow Tom Petersen about the state of play with Intel Arc, what's going on with DX11, DX12, Vulcan and Resizeable BAR, plus there's new information on XeSS upscaling (which we're currently testing) and what Intel says is best-in-class ray tracing performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've looked at how the Last of Us Part 1 compares with prior TLOU versions, we've detailed all of the various performance modes, what they do and how they work. Now, we get down to brass tacks. Is this a game that actually required a remake? Is it worth the money? John Linneman and Oliver Mackenzie share notes and come to the conclusion that yes, it is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What should have been a celebration of gaming with the arrival of Gamescom 2022 is marred by a bunch of bad news - including price rises for PlayStation 5 in multiple territories that are not the United States of America and the mooted arrival of Denuvo DRM for... Nintendo Switch? As John and Rich seem to continually remind us the episode... it's not great. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:37 News 01: Sony bumps PS5 prices! 00:16:17 News 02: Denuvo DRM launches on Switch 00:27:26 News 03: “Super Mario RTX” UE5 demo footage released 00:32:32 News 04: Impressions from Gamescom! 00:52:14 News 05: Intel showcases XeSS in new video 00:59:33 News 06: Pac-Man World Re-Pac packs 50Hz physics 01:01:56 DF Supporter Q1: Should I get an RTX 3070 now, or wait for RTX 4060/4070? 01:09:01 DF Supporter Q2: Which older proprietary engines do you wish were still being developed on? 01:12:59 DF Supporter Q3: Could 360/PS3 have gotten mid-gen enhanced consoles? 01:15:59 DF Supporter Q4: If Japan had gone with the PAL television standard, would 25fps/50fps have been the gold standard for games? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DF Weekly reaches its three-quarter-century this week, with John, Rich and Will discussing evidence of Sony creating its own PSN launcher for its PC titles, a fascinating inteview with Astro's Playroom developer Team Asobi, more GPU price madness and Intel video card discussion - plus, a remarkable new voxelised version of Doom! 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:41 News 01: PlayStation PC game launcher to come? 00:11:10 News 02: Team Asobi interview hints at new game 00:19:03 News 03: Sonic Mania decompiled… and ported to Vita! 00:25:19 News 04: Intel ARC GPUs finally for sale outside of Asia + A380 performance discussion 00:37:53 News 05: GPU prices collapse! 00:46:14 News 06: New DOOM mod replaces sprites with 3D voxels 00:49:44 DF Content Discussion: New DF website launch 00:54:26 DF Content Discussion: DF Retro on the Klonoa series 00:59:21 DF Supporter Q1: Do 240Hz OLEDs have good enough motion clarity to match CRTs? 01:04:41 DF Supporter Q2: Could the Steam Deck be sold in mass-market retail stores? 01:09:08 DF Supporter Q3: Why do Insomniac’s VRR modes get high praise, given their inconsistent performance? 01:13:26 DF Supporter Q4: What are some examples of high-end PC game options that never run well, even with new hardware? 01:16:46 DF Supporter Q5: Will Rich ever go back to doing unboxing videos? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a challenging week for Digital Foundry as the review process for Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered was set back twice owing to patch updates. So what actually went on, why was some of the embargoed review content out of date on embargo day, how was the game improved and where do we stand right now on day one - the day this Direct was filmed?   00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:57 News 01: Spider-Man Remastered released on PC! 00:27:05 News 02: Boneworks gets Metal Gear Solid mod 00:35:30 News 03: RTX 4070/4080 power consumption less than expected? 00:42:48 DF Update: DF site upgrade + Half-Life charity stream 00:46:01 DF Supporter Q1: Is Rich surprised DF Direct has run this long? 00:47:52 DF Supporter Q2: Was the Xbox BC program cancelled for licensing reasons or technical issues? 00:52:54 DF Supporter Q3: Could Microsoft introduce lower-feature OS modes to free up more performance on Series S? 00:55:37 DF Supporter Q4: How much will RT improve with efficiency improvements alone this generation? 00:59:23 DF Supporter Q5: What are your favourite methods of implementing complex graphical effects in retro games? 01:06:54 DF Supporter Q6: Would Sony ever release a new portable PlayStation system? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PlayStation icon Kratos arrives on ALL Xbox consoles in one of the most unlikeliest stories we've ever seen, while Xbox Series S gets more memory delivered to game-makers via a development kit update. Meanwhile, John, Rich and Alex discuss the seemingly incredible perf boosts we should expect from the next-gen Nvidia GPUs, while Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins gets a PC AA/DLSS upgrade. All this - AND MORE - in this episode of DF Direct Weekly! 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:57 News 01: War Gods Zeus of Child hits Xbox consoles! 00:13:59 News 02: Xbox Series S to receive memory boost in new GDK 00:25:28 News 03: Lovelace GPUs reportedly very, very fast 00:35:59 News 04: Stranger of Paradise gets DLSS upgrade 00:38:58 News 05: Return to Castle Wolfenstein gets new PC release 00:51:59 News 06: Analogue Pocket gets beta 1.1 firmware 00:55:39 DF Content Discussion: Upcoming DF Retro projects! 00:57:44 DF Supporter Q1: What does John think of the new RetroTINK 5X updates? 01:02:59 DF Supporter Q2: Does HDR impact game performance? 01:04:22 DF Supporter Q3: How do low-power systems like the Steam Deck slot into DF coverage? 01:11:25 DF Supporter Q4: How did you enjoy your vacations? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the DF Direct Weekly "Hot Beast" Edition as John and Rich return from holiday to join Alex Battaglia for an extended discussion on the week's news, covering the surprise reveal of 1440p display support for PlayStation 5, an official look at more of The Last of Us Part 1, the highs and lows of VR - and Alex's Core i9-12900K PC upgrade! 00:00:43 News 01: 1440p output support in new PS5 beta firmware 00:13:49 News 02: TLOU Part 1 gameplay showcase video released 00:20:31 News 03: PSVR 2 features detailed, Quest 2 price increased 00:34:10 News 04: Xbox boot times shortened with faster boot video 00:39:07 News 05: Returnal port updated with Steam Deck support 00:43:38 DF Content Discussion: Alex’s i9-12900K upgrade 00:59:28 DF Supporter Q1: Given the stutter issues on Unreal Engine, is it better to just play UE games on consoles? 01:07:45 DF Supporter Q2: Is there a way to get pre-cached shaders for EGS games on Steam Deck? 01:09:39 DF Supporter Q3: Why do so many Switch games lack anti-aliasing? 01:13:55 DF Supporter Q4: DLSS has a fixed cost, so have you ever seen a scenario where DLSS was slower than regular rendering? 01:15:43 DF Supporter Q5: If the next Switch can achieve performance similar to Series S, will major third party games come back to Nintendo? 01:19:46 DF Supporter Q6: When playing on PC, what is your personal target frame rate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's something of a DF Direct special this week, as regular co-host Alex Battaglia is joined by two insightful guests: Sam 'samred' Machkovech of Ars Technica and Addie 'EposVox' of... YouTube. The trio tackle the week's news - including the first details on the Spider-Man Remastered PC port, leaked footage from the upcoming The Last Of Us Part 1 remake and early reviews of Intel's Arc GPUs - and answer an unparalleled 12 DF Supporter questions.  00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:09 News 01: Spider-Man Remastered PC port details revealed  00:09:57 News 02: The Last of Us Part 1 leaked footage and impressions  00:16:30 News 03: Intel Arc GPUs get benchmarked and reviewed  00:34:50 News 04: Activision gets official Steam publisher page  00:40:28 News 05: Classic PC titles available for free via Xbox Insider  00:48:22 News 06: John Romero to make new UE5-based FPS game  00:52:07 News 07: Bloodlines 2 development resumed at new studio  00:55:01 DF Content Discussion: Sam’s new release roundup  01:02:33 DF Supporter Q1: Could Series S run some One X-enhanced games?  01:07:57 DF Supporter Q2: Why don’t PC games compile shaders in advance?  01:15:59 DF Supporter Q3: Using a One X as “extra storage” for a Series X library - is it a good idea?  01:19:21 DF Supporter Q4: Will other manufacturers produce Xbox Series SSD expansion cards?  01:22:57 DF Supporter Q5: How good is Windows HDR for games?  01:26:53 DF Supporter Q6: What games or tech releases is Sam looking forward to?  01:30:50 DF Supporter Q7: If streaming had been around in the 90s, what games would have been popular to stream?  01:35:37 DF Supporter Q8: What is the best way to get high quality game capture for editing using OBS?  01:36:48 DF Supporter Q9: Would a stream deck or other specialty input peripheral be helpful for general office use? 01:39:19 DF Supporter Q10: Is desktop Linux bound to be a UX headache for new users forever, or is there a way to fix it?  01:44:31 DF Supporter Q11: Sam, do you still use your Playdate?  01:46:11 DF Supporter Q12: What’s a game you liked when you were younger but don’t look back on as fondly? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hitting the 69th episode milestone, Rich gets to grips with Horizon Forbidden West's excellent VRR/40Hz date, while Alex and Tom join him to discuss topics as diverse as the apparent cancellation of GTA4 and Red Dead Redemption patches, more heavy-handed Take Two legal threats, and yet more issues with Capcom PC ports - this time with a furless DLSS patch. Meanwhile, is it really wise for Rich's gaming hardware to be situated next to a big radiator? And do Alex and Tom assess the rendering features of reality itself?   00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:55 News 01: Horizon: Forbidden West patch brings VRR, 40Hz support 00:11:25 News 02: GTA IV and RDR remasters cancelled? 00:20:15 News 03: Take-Two issues VR mod takedowns 00:32:36 News 04: DLSS patch removes fur in MH: Rise 00:44:48 News 05: Biomutant PS5, Series S/X update incoming! 00:47:49 DF Content Discussion: FSR 2.0 deep dive 00:54:23 DF Supporter Q1: Why are we still seeing reduced-rate animations on distant characters? 01:01:07 DF Supporter Q2: Do you ever ponder the rendering features of reality itself? 01:04:59 DF Supporter Q3: Can developers use unrealistic RT implementations to create surreal environments in games? 01:08:45 DF Supporter Q4: Can bad frame-pacing occur with 60fps games set to 120Hz output? 01:12:26 DF Supporter Q5: Console showdown: Sega Genesis or Super Nintendo? 01:16:45 DF Supporter Q6: What does Rich aim to achieve by overclocking a PS3? 01:17:45 DF Supporter Q7: Does Rich have a custom radiator cooling setup for his Switch? 01:19:11 DF Supporter Q8: If Rich is taking a vacation, that must mean Microsoft will be announcing new studio acquisitions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not exactly a week for 'gigaton' news but plenty to discuss nonetheless. Portal and Portal 2 arrive on Switch, with Half-Life 2 mods appearing less than 24 hours later. There's joy at the news of a Switch Nier Automata port but confusion about how to actually pronounce it. Meanwhile, Sony unveils a new range of hardware - but is it aimed at PC or PS5 players? Also: FSR 2.0's open source nature brings about a new Cyberpunk 2077 mod - and we've spoken to the person who did it. Join John, Rich and Will for this one - but Alex Battaglia's Force Ghost is never too far away... 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:47 News 01: Half-Life 2 modded onto Portal for Switch 00:09:10 News 02: Nier: Automata Switch port revealed 00:13:55 News 03: Cyberpunk 2077 modded with FSR 2.0 00:21:20 News 04: Sony launches PC headsets, monitors 00:36:39 News 05: Valve doubling Steam Deck production 00:43:42 News 06: New Star Ocean: The Divine Force trailer 00:46:55 DF Supporter Q1: If Alex came from a time warp and said the Switch 2 had better RT hardware than PS5/XSX, would you believe him? 00:52:30 DF Supporter Q2: Nintendo has been stockpiling materials - possibly a sign of a new Switch? 00:56:05 DF Supporter Q3: Which gaming industry figure would you most like to interview? 01:01:30 DF Supporter Q4: Which retro CRTs are a good pick - that aren’t crazily expensive? 01:05:12 DF Supporter Q5: Could spatial upsampling like FSR 1.0 be integrated into displays? 01:08:47 DF Supporter Q6: Now that Alex is away, can we agree that Crysis isn’t a particularly good game? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A packed week for news! YouTuber DIY Perks reveals a fascinating PS5 'Slim' model while Sony finally unleashes PlayStation Plus in the EU and UK - and yup, the classic games are 50Hz - but the platform holder promises to address the situation. Nintendo delivers a beautiful reveal for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 on Switch, Forza Horizon 5 gets TAA - but only on PC, while John has much to say about a scrappy demo of the Klonoa remaster on Switch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not one - but TWO - Microsoft/Xbox/Bethesda shows aired this week, so we decided to watch both of them before passing comment. John, Rich, Oliver and Alex share their thoughts on the games on offer from the technical brilliance of Forza Motorsport to the next-gen BGS title, Starfield. Plus: what to make of the Kojima announcement? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the dearth of news continues, the silly season breaks out with DF caught in a 'too big for Switch' crossfire. Even so, there's still some cool stuff to discuss - Playdate is in our hands, Steam Deck's getting 40Hz display support and Sonic Origins looks cool. But we've got bigger fish to fry: fundamentally, has next-gen actually happened yet - or are we still mired in a seemingly never-ending cross-gen transition period? 00:00:00 Introductions 00:01:04 News 01: Has "Next-Gen" happened yet? 00:27:52 News 02: DF says BOTW 2 is too big for Switch 00:32:54 News 03: Playdate has arrived 00:40:52 News 04: Steam Deck at 40hz 00:49:31 News 05: Sonic Origins details emerge 00:56:16 News 06: Jet Set Radio and Crazy Taxi to return in big budget form? 01:01:24 DF Supporter Q1: What are your thoughts on Sonic Jam on Saturn? 01:03:07 DF Supporter Q2: What are your favorite RTS? 01:08:16 DF Supporter Q3: What's John take on CRT shaders such as CRT-Royale 01:10:22 DF Supporter Q4: Any chance we can get a video on Cyberpunk's next gen comparisons to PC? 01:12:41 DF Supporter Q5: Am I the only one who looks at Ghostwire and thinks LICHDOM BATTLEMAGE? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the news! John, Rich and Alex take to the mics to discuss the end of CDPR's REDengine, image reconstruction via FSR 2.0 and XeSS, plus the long awaited confirmation of VRR (variable refresh rate) support coming to PlayStation 5. In short, there's a lot of 'hullaballoo' to sift through this week. 00:00:00 Introductions 00:00:36 News 01: CD Project RED announces UE5 powered Witcher game 00:18:26 News 02: VRR is coming to PS5 00:28:19 News 03: AMD's FSR 2.0 presentation at GDC 00:33:34 DF Supporter Q: Do you think FSR 2.0 could be used on console as they are AMD powered? 00:45:36 News 04: Unity releases new "Enemies" real time cinematic showcase 00:52:54 News 05: Zelda Ocarina of Time has been decompiled and released publicly 00:56:56 News 06: Nintendo Switch gets "Groups" folder support 00:59:03 DF Supporter Q: Would you still play new PC releases if you didn't review them for a living? 01:03:21 DF Supporter Q: What type of video or content do you dream of making? 01:12:27 DF Supporter Q: Does it make sense for Nintendo to target 4k on the next Switch even with reconstruction? 01:18:03 DF Supporter Q: Can AMD and Nvidia do something to fix the shader compilation issues on PC? 01:22:46 DF Supporter Q: Will you review GTA 5 when it releases on Playstation 6 and Xbox Series XL? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A packed show this week! Alex shares his impressions on Grand Theft Auto 5's arrival on the new wave of consoles, the Elden Ring performance saga continues with the arrival of patch 1.03, AMD reveals the impressive-looking FSR 2.0, while AMD also aims to take on Intel at the more budget-orientated end of the market. 00:00:00 Introductions 00:01:09 GTA Fünf releases on PS5 00:09:48 Elden Ring 1.03 console performance boost? 00:21:36 FSR 2.0 00:31:39 AMD New CPUs taking on Alder Lake 00:37:48 GT7 servers down for 24 hours 00:44:05 Microsoft "releases" DirectStorage 00:46:28 UK sales physical vs digital 00:50:01 DF Content Discussion: Steam Deck 00:52:46 DF Content Discussion: DF Retro Gran Turismo 00:56:47 DF Supporter Q1: With the reality of console supply shortages isn't crossgen the more responsible course? 01:02:39 DF Supporter Q2: If you didn't have to use them for coverage purposes, would any of you ever touch a PS4/Xbox One system ever again? 01:06:07 DF Supporter Q3: How close are the two horizons (Forbidden West/Forza) to Nanite/UE5 in terms of geometric density/complexity? 01:07:52 DF Supporter Q4: Steam Deck has this very useful 30 FPS option built in. Do you think, the console manufacturers could implement such "half refresh rate" feature into their own SDK? 01:10:28 DF Supporter Q5: How do you keep CRT TV's maintained and going? 01:13:52 DF Supporter Q6: What went wrong with Microsoft's Windows Experience Index score as a replacement for system requirements? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huge news shaking the core of the games industry today as Microsoft seemingly out of nowhere announced their acquisition of Activision/Blizzard/King, hot on the heels of them already adding Bethesda to their Xbox family. Audi Sorlie, Alex Battaglia and John Linneman enter the war room to discuss what this could potentially mean for Microsoft and the video game industry itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rich Leadbetter, John Linneman and Alex Battaglia sit down at the end of 2021 to discuss the first full year of the new console generation. Have PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S lived up to expectations? What to make of the platform comparisons one year in? Does Series S deliver? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Alex Battaglia and John Linneman for an extended discussion on the best game graphics of 2021. There've been some amazing visuals this year - remarkable achievements from the first year of the 'next-gen' consoles, and all delivered in the Covid era, no less. Please note: Flight Simulator would definitely have made the list, but remember that it was first released in 2020 - and we talked about it in depth in the Best Game Graphics of 2020! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Halo Infinite's campaign re-reveal, Far Cry 6's email shaming program and the Sony PC and State of Play reveals are discussed along with in-depth chat on the new 12th Gen Intel Core architecture. And what's up with N64 emulation on Switch? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think of it as an E3 conference pushed out a couple of months down the road: we got to see God of Ragnarok and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 for the first time, we saw an extended edit of Gran Turismo 7 and Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy are getting remastered - and yes, there's a big, big bunch of cross-gen wares coming our way. 00:00 Introduction + Grand Theft Auto 5 03:39 Gran Turismo 7 09:33 Uncharted 4 + Lost Legacy PS5 and PC Remasters 17:45 Marvel's Spider-Man 2 + Marvel's Wolverine 23:13 God of War Ragnarok 28:06 Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic Remaster 33:19 Project Eve 29:54 Forspoken 42:24 Tchia - A Game Inspired by New Caledonia 49:13 Trailer after Trailer after Trailer after Trailer + Conclusions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The specs have been updated, a few hundreds frames have been tested - and we've taken a look at the state of integrated graphics performance on AMD APUs in the PC space. Rich Leadbetter, John Linneman and Alex Battaglia sit down to share all of their thoughts on the Steam Deck in a 75 minute DF Direct Special. 00:00:00 Introductions + Steam Deck First Impressions 00:07:34 Form Factor + Control Discussion 00:12:14 Why Steam Deck Needs Game-Specific Performance Profiles 00:14:22 Specs Update - 88GB/s Memory Bandwidth Confirmed 00:18:32 Off-Screen Performance Testing 00:22:49 Ryzen 9 4900HS 35W Integrated GPU Testing - Doom Eternal, Control, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 00:31:00 "Talk About The Screen!!" + Other Steam Deck Iterations From Other Companies 00:37:09 Will Docked Performance Be Better than Mobile? 00:38:47 The Proton Compatibility Layer 00:43:43 M.2 2230 SSD Confirmed - Is It Upgradeable? 00:45:27 SteamOS Suspend/Resume Technology Confirmed 00:47:12 Can GamePass And Other Launchers And Streaming Services Run From Linux On Steam Deck? Will We Get Windows Drivers? 00:52:45 Is Valve Really Trying To Compete With Nintendo? 01:01:19 Supporter Question: Can 8 RDNA 2 CUs run ray tracing games at 720p/800p? 01:03:25 Will Steam Deck Get Bespoke Support From Developers? 01:05:08 Supporter Question: What Games Will Be Especially Heavy On Battery Life? 01:07:32 Supporter Question: Can Steam Deck Run Crysis 3 at 720p60 Without All Settings At Low? Will You Be Testing Crysis With Steam Deck? 01:09:34 Final Thoughts + Do We Really Need A Switch Pro Right Now? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices