Stay ConnectedWhen it comes to video games and the hardware and tech we play them on, the team at Digital Foundry are unparalleled experts. Each week, DF Direct breaks down the latest breakthroughs in video game visuals, sound, and performance happening on PlayStation, Xbox, the most powerful PC setups, and more. If you’re a geek for graphics, GPUs, or just video games in general, DF Direct will help you get the most out of your gaming setup.
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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?
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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?
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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?
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It's the DF Skeleton Crew! With Rich, John and Alex away, it's time for Will, Tom and Oliver to escape Rich's basement and step into the limelight for a Direct. In this episode we cover the new Skate and Bayonetta 3 announcements, react to the delisting of the Matrix Awakens and explain why Nvidia is discounting its higher tier graphics cards. Also: what secret projects would we like to work on, and what Prime Day pickups did we each make?
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:49 News 01: Is FF7: Rebirth too much for Xbox?
00:08:21 News 02: RDR 2 current-gen ports reportedly cancelled
00:13:08 News 03: New Skate game announced, old build leaked
00:16:53 News 04: Bayonetta 3 trailer and release date announcement
00:24:37 News 05: First footage of redone Ark: Survival Evolved Switch port
00:30:13 News 06: The Matrix Awakens demo delisted!
00:34:27 News 07: High-end RTX 30 series GPUs get price drops
00:39:42 DF Supporter Q1: Console showdown: PS1, N64, or Saturn?
00:47:28 DF Supporter Q2: Any projects to look out for, or special interests you’d like to explore on the channel?
00:50:23 DF Supporter Q3: How do you split your work between DF and Eurogamer?
00:53:13 DF Supporter Q4: With Prime Day concluded, what pickups did you make from the sales?
00:56:24 DF Supporter Q5: What gaming-related things are banned in your household?
00:59:44 DF Supporter Q6: If Alex came from 2026 and told you a future Steam Deck had more powerful RT hardware than a PS5 or XSX, would you believe him?
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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
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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?
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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.
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It's the final push for the E3 that wasn't quite an E3, with John, Rich and Alex talking through Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and their favourite big game reveals from the last couple of weeks' festivities. Meanwhile, some happy-ish news for PS+ classic game subscribers in the US, plus the awesome reveal of Jak and Daxter as the latest decompilation project. Meanwhile... could it be? Could Alex's #StutterStruggle soon be over?
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:58 News 01: Square reveals FF7 Rebirth and Crisis Core remake
00:13:56 News 02: "E3" Aftermath and thoughts
00:32:16 News 03: PS1 Classics are proper NTSC in the US
00:34:55 News 04: Jak and Daxter reverse engineered
00:41:28 News 05: Unreal Engine Forum Q&A
00:55:45 DF Supporter Q1: How long do you think Forza Motorsport has been in development?
01:04:43 DF Supporter Q2: What could be the unique selling point of Switch 2?
01:08:13 DF Supporter Q3: Do you think 4k gaming is relevant? Is it worth the effort?
01:12:37 DF Supporter Q4: Are you guys aware of the RGB-Pi?
01:13:36 DF Supporter Q5: Would you rather play a single-player game at 60 fps with DLSS quality or 90-120 with DLSS performance.
01:15:19 DF Supporter Q6: What type of milk do you all like in your tea?
01:16:48 DF Supporter Q7: What country would you guys like to visit soon, that you may not have had the chance to visit in the last 4 years?
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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?
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Geoff Keighley rolls into town, meaning only one thing - Summer Game Fest, aka Geoffcon aka Keigh3 is finally upon us. The Last of Us Part 1, Modern Warfare 2 and The Callisto Protocol headline the proceedings alongside a whole host of other great-looking games. Meanwhile, 343 Studios announces Halo co-op preview flighting in July and Apple reveals the M2 chip, smart upscaling and a new focus on gaming. Finally, what is T-LOO and will it forever dominate our destinies?
00:00:00 Introductions
00:01:04 News 01: Summer Game Fest
00:42:33 News 02: Plucky Squire looks fabulous
00:47:08 News 03: Halo Infinite Co-Op in public beta
00:50:05 DF Supporter Q1: What are your thoughts on Apple's MetalFX Upscaling?
00:50:25 DF Supporter Q2: What are your thoughts on Apple's MetalFX and the new M2 SoC?
00:54:31 DF Supporter Q3: Can you see Sony making their own PC client for Playstation games?
00:56:04 DF Supporter Q4: How much in contact are the MS and Sony console divisions?
00:57:33 DF Supporter Q5: How do you maintain your launch day PS3?
01:00:36 DF Supporter Q6: Is there any chance we can get more DF Retro E3 presentation watch-alongs?
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