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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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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After months - no, years - of speculation, we finally have proper information from Microsoft on the nature of its next generation Project Helix console - but how much is actually new? Meanwhile, Pearl Abyss share lavish detail on Crimson Desert specifications, while Nvidia talks The Witcher 4 with RTX Mega Geometry and Path Tracing. Rich is taken aback by Intel's Core 200 Ultra Plus announcement, Oliver has a new monitor and John pops up to talk more about our Crimson Desert PS5 Pro coverage.
0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:53 News 1: Microsoft reveals Project Helix at GDC 0:35:41 News 2: Crimson Desert console and PC specs drop 0:45:06 News 3: Witcher 4 gets RTX Mega Geometry, path tracing 0:53:36 News 4: Intel launches Core Ultra 200S Plus series 1:01:20 News 5: Oliver’s new Apple Studio Display XDR 1:10:01 Content discussion: Crimson Desert exclusive PS5 Pro review
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In the fourth Q+A show, the team dive deeper into Xbox Project Helix and share their thoughts on potential performance vs PS6 along with hopes for what Microsoft will reveal this week at GDC. In the wake of Sony's reported change in PC strategy, where does that leave Nixxes? And what about the alleged "dynamic pricing" on the PlayStation Store? Oliver's getting a new display for the workplace, and Will Judd returns to Digital Foundry. And... can Sony justify releasing a PlayStation 6 Professional?
00:48 Supporter Q1: Will Project Helix dual boot Windows and Xbox OS, or will it rely more on virtualization? 12:14 Supporter Q2: Does Project Helix seem meaningfully more powerful than PS6, based off rumoured specs?20:56 Supporter Q3: What will Nixxes do, given their reduced porting portfolio? 27:34 Supporter Q4: What do you think of dynamic pricing for digital game stores? 32:00 Supporter Q5: Are you impressed by the Pokémon Winds/Waves trailer? 35:16 Supporter Q6: Is the Apple Studio Display XDR any good for gaming? 41:32 Supporter Q7: Can Sony justify releasing a PS6 Pro? 46:43 Supporter Q8: How is Will doing, and when will you let him back on DF Direct?
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In the run-up to GDC, Microsoft has given the new Xbox a codename - Project Helix - and there's confirmation that it'll run PC games too, but what else will be revealed and how much will it cost? Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that Sony's stepping back from bringing its triple-A singleplayer games to PC, John tries Marathon and bemoans RT changes made to RE Requiem, and Rich wonders what's going on with the reported RTX 5050 9GB. Finally, Pearl Abyss stands by the quality of Crimson Desert on consoles - and says that Digital Foundry will have full access to review code. Nice.
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In the third Q+A show, the DF team have lots to discuss - there's a bunch of big questions on the "PSSR2" reveal and we can share what we think about what's to come next month. Meanwhile, in the wake of Phil Spencer's departure from Xbox, there are many more queries about the nature of the next-gen machine and Microsoft's strategy. But there's more! Are we already seeing the limits of Switch 2 RT and what if Microsoft had partnered with Nvidia for Xbox Series machinery - could that have changed the outcome of the console "war"...?
00:55 Supporter Q1: What games are you excited to test with the new PSSR? 06:14 Supporter Q2: Is the new PSSR override a game-changer for PS5 Pro? 10:39 Supporter Q3: With new PSSR imminent, why won’t AMD release their INT 8 version of FSR 4? 14:41 Supporter Q4: Can DF remain fair and impartial on new PSSR? 20:38 Supporter Q5: Will Windows on next-gen Xbox be ‘full-fledged’? 24:20 Supporter Q6: Should Microsoft change tack on next gen Xbox and release a Series S replacement? 27:25 Supporter Q7: Is ray tracing on Switch 2 too much for AAA games like Resident Evil: Requiem? 36:36 Supporter Q8: What would Xbox Series look like if Microsoft had opted for Nvidia tech over AMD?
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In this week's Direct, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma tells us that "the plan's the plan until it's not the plan" - so is there actually a new strategy at all? Meanwhile, with Bluepoint cut loose from Sony, could the firm deliver the remasters/remakes that Xbox needs? The team discuss Death Stranding 2 specs and the "quietening" of PlayStation PC releases more generally before moving on to reaction to the Mario Wonder Switch 2 Edition reveal? There's a new PSSR patent worth talking about and... finally... what did we know about RE Requiem's new PSSR tech pre-review?0:00:00 Introduction0:00:34 News 1: Where Next For Xbox? Asha Sharma First Interview0:30:47 News 2: Should Microsoft hire Bluepoint? 0:42:21 News 3: Death Stranding 2 PC specs drop 0:50:55 News 4: Super Mario Wonder Switch 2 Edition previewed0:57:21 News 5: Could new Sony upscaler tech replace DRS? 1:06:39 Content discussion: reflecting on Requiem
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In our second spin-off Q+A show, we tackle the gaping hole in DF Direct Weekly #252 - the gigaton news that Phil Spencer is retiring from Xbox, Sarah Bond is leading and Asha Sharma is in as EVP and CEO. The team share their initial reactions to the next and wonder what happens next. Beyond that, Sony's strategies are under the microscope, there's a focus on PS5 Pro's fortunes when PS6 appears and finally, will the RAM crisis go as far as impacting game design?
00:00 Supporter Q1: What do you make of the sudden departure of Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond from Microsoft?20:09 Supporter Q2: Should Sony change their PC strategy and offer a game launcher? 27:12 Supporter Q3: Will the PS5 Pro prove its worth in the PS6 era? 33:23 Supporter Q4: How will Sony more aggressively monetize their install base? 37:20 Supporter Q5: How will RAMageddon impact game design?
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This Direct was recorded pre-Phil Spencer retirement news, but we'll be on that imminently. In the meantime, Rich, John and Alex talk Bluepoint Games, a prospective PS6 delay, Steam Deck stock issues, Square-Enix's plans for FF7R Part 3 multiplatform deployment, DLSS winning blind tests against native rendering and FSR 4 and some bizarre IQ issues with Xenoblade Chronicles X on Switch 2. And finally, Alex tells all about his back issues and his journey towards a healthy, pain-free recovery.
0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:25 News 1: Sony closing Bluepoint Games 0:25:25 News 2: Report: Sony considering 1-2 year PS6 delay 0:36:10 News 3: Steam Deck goes out of stock in multiple regions 0:45:03 News 4: Director: FF7R part 3 won’t be compromised by multi-plat strategy 0:52:53 News 5: ComputerBase blind tests peg DLSS 4.5 as upscaling champ 0:58:50 News 6: Xenoblade Chronicles X has bizarre Switch 2 image quality 1:06:08 Content Discussion: Alex’s spine struggles and new standing desk
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In our first spin-off Q+A show, it's pretty clear what the community is discussing: what's going on with Unreal Engine 5 games in terms of image quality and performance? Are compromised experiences now "part of the furniture" or can/will something be done? Beyond that, we discuss how YouTube quality issues impact our work, whether gaming laptops serve any purpose in the era of the handheld, whether you should play Death Stranding 1 before Death Stranding 2 and if Nvidia really has left the gamer behind. And finally, if we could bring back/remaster/remake any old game, what would it be?00:00 Introduction01:05 Supporter Q1: Should we challenge Unreal Engine performance issues more often? 23:14 Supporter Q2: Why do people mistake YouTube issues for game issues? 31:03 Supporter Q3: Do gaming laptops make sense in an era of Switch 2 and PC handhelds? 39:04 Supporter Q4: Is Death Stranding 2 a good point to jump in if you haven’t played the original? 41:50 Supporter Q5: Why is Nvidia skipping new consumer GPU releases this year? 52:02 Supporter Q6: Which game would you rescue from obsolete hardware?
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It's a big State of Play reaction video as Sony spills the beans on a colossal range of games across a 72 minute magnum opus. John, Oliver and Rich share their thoughts on all the key games that were revealed or showcased in more depth before moving on to other matters. Rich gets a look at DLSS dynamic multi frame-gen and starts to get more of an idea of where graphics technology is heading, while Oliver and John discuss the Unreal Engine 5 image quality/performance comments raised by the audience in the wake of the High on Life 2 review.
0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:17 News 1: Sony’s jam-packed State of Play: God of War Trilogy Remake, God of War: Sons of Sparta 0:09:46 Saros0:15:59 Death Stranding 2 PC0:22:31 Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse 0:36:38 Silent Hill: Townfall 0:42:01 Star Wars: Galactic Racer 0:48:40 Kena: Scars of Kosmora, Control Resonant, 0:58:08 Crimson Moon, Yakoh Shinobi Ops, Project Windless, Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, Rev. NOiR, Untitled John Wick Game, 007 First Light 1:07:56 News 2: Rich tries DLSS Dynamic Multi Frame Gen! 1:20:13 DF Content Discussion: Did we go too easy on High on Life 2?
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