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Digital Foundry

When 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.

Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

A new patch has "dropped" for Metal Gear Solid Delta and there are big performance and feature improvements in some areas, but is the game actually fixed? Meanwhile, Oliver gets to grips with Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 and comes away disappointed, while John is highly impressed with Lumines Arise. The team try to work their way through a puzzling interview from Microsoft's Satya Nadella, while a promising game that first started development in 2012 now actually has a launch trailer - but what is Routine? And 13 years on, why should you be interested?

0:00:00 Introduction 
0:01:49 News 1: Metal Gear Solid Delta patch shows performance bump 
0:23:19 News 2: Bloodlines 2 tested on PS5 
0:33:16 News 3: Assassin’s Creed Shadows trailer drops for Switch 2
0:41:34 News 4: Lumines Arise impresses in preview 
0:47:34 News 5: Microsoft CEO: gaming’s competition is short-form video 
1:04:53 News 6: Routine re-emerges in release date trailer
1:09:23 Supporter Q1: Could you add Linux coverage to your PC game reviews? 
1:16:06 Supporter Q2: Why did Xbox lose this console generation? 
1:26:49 Supporter Q3: Is the new Power Saver mode actually intended for the cloud? 
1:33:57 Supporter Q4: Is Apple finally serious about gaming?

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DF Direct Weekly #238: MGS Delta Fixed? Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2, AC Shadows Switch 2!

A gigantic new episode of DF Direct Weekly sees the team's reaction to the big Halo Campaign Evolved reveal - and some unfortunate Unreal Engine 5 issues already coming into view. Meanwhile, what does Microsoft actually mean by its "very premium, very high-end" next-gen comments and is the Xbox Ally X interface really the best way forward? Meanwhile, John and some familiar faces reveal our next big project - the DF Retro Super Show - our brand new video podcast. Beyond that, Rich talks PlayStation power saver with Death Stranding 1 and 2, while alarming stats are revealed about the decline of games journalism.

0:00:00 Introduction 
0:01:12 News 1: Halo Campaign Evolved revealed! 
0:23:03 News 2: Sarah Bond: next Xbox "very premium, very high-end"
0:55:55 News 3: Announcing the DF Retro Super Show!
1:01:46 News 4: Nvidia drops Bonsai tech demo 
1:13:05 News 5: Death Stranding 1 + 2 tested in Power Saver mode 
1:27:11 News 6: Game journalists rapidly departing industry 
1:42:37 Supporter Q1: Is Microsoft making a mistake by muddling the definition of an Xbox? 
1:50:50 Supporter Q2: Is Microsoft’s new 30% gaming margin target driving its recent woes? 
1:57:17 Supporter Q3: Does pursuing the state of the art make sense in a cost-constrained, multi-platform era? 
2:01:25 Supporter Q4: Is Sony’s new portable PlayStation doomed to the same fate as the Vita? 
2:05:58 Supporter Q5: How can AAA game studios survive in an era of increasing console prices?
2:12:09 Supporter Q6: Did you ever hear the tragedy of Alex Battaglia the Wise?

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DF Direct Weekly #237: Halo Campaign Evolved Reaction, "Premium" Next-Gen Xbox, New DF Retro Show!

ROG Xbox Ally X is "in the house" and Rich describes his first couple of days in the review process. Alex answers the big question as to whether new PC games stutter more than older ones, while Oliver gets to grips with Black Myth Wukong's latest patch on PlayStation, complete with Lumen-free performance mode. Finally, next-gen Xbox and PlayStation spec leaks are gathering pace - so what do we make of them?

0:00:00 Introduction 
0:00:54 News 1: ROG Xbox Ally X first impressions and benchmarks!
0:31:28 News 2: Black Myth: Wukong patch brings Xbox updates to PS5
0:42:23 News 3: Did old PC games stutter less? 
0:57:52 News 4: Latest Xbox Magnus rumours suggest large, expensive die
1:10:38 News 5: New PS5 Pro features subtle revisions
1:16:35 Supporter Q1: What does Alex think of Mark Cerny’s recent Project Amethyst announcements? 
1:26:47 Supporter Q2: What does Microsoft’s collaboration with AMD look like? 
1:33:59 Supporter Q3: Should Nintendo release a docked-only version of Switch 2? 
1:36:43 Supporter Q4: Any thoughts on the recent Gamers Nexus animation error exposé?

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DF Direct Weekly #236: Xbox Ally X Review-In-Progress, Next-Gen Spec Leak Comparisons, New PS5 Pro!

In this week's DF Direct, Microsoft deny rumours that its next-gen console has been cancelled - but to what extent are its statements credible in the wake of the infamous "four games" messaging? The existence of ports of Red Dead Redemption 2 for PS5, Xbox and Switch 2 are confirmed by the most reliable leaker in the business, while John shares his impressions of Yooka-Replaylee. And to what extent did Nintendo underclock the SoC for Switch 2?

0:00:00 Introduction 
0:00:58 News 1: Microsoft: future Xbox console hardware re-confirmed
0:17:10 News 2: Yooka-Replaylee lands on current gen systems
0:27:51 News 3: Red Dead Redemption 2 remaster heavily rumoured 
0:35:18 News 4: Ominous omens surround next Halo 
0:47:16 Supporter Q1: If the next-gen Xbox is cancelled, what will have been lost? 
0:52:47 Supporter Q2: Will competing consoles continue to launch at a similar cadence in the future? 
0:59:27 Supporter Q3: Will developers focus on more advanced physics or mechanics to differentiate their games during cross-gen? 
1:06:38 Supporter Q4: How will PS5 Pro fare in cross-gen software? 
1:10:09 Supporter Q5: Should we consider Microsoft’s commercially unsuccessful consoles to be failures? 
1:22:18 Supporter Q6: Is the Switch 1 or Switch 2 underclocked more heavily?

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DF Direct Weekly #235: Microsoft Re-Confirms Next-Gen Xbox, Red Dead 2 Remaster Heavily Rumoured

Could this be the foundational GPU technology for the PlayStation 6? Mark Cerny's latest Project Amethyst update describes the building blocks of future graphics technology, with a strong focus on ray tracing and machine learning capabilities, along with bandwidth-enhancing features designed to reduce the need on massive memory controllers. John, Rich and Oliver discuss the tech and share more information from Mark Cerny via an email Q&A conducted in the wake of the video's publication.

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DF Direct Special: Sony/AMD Project Amethyst Update - Next-Gen Tech Revealed + Mark Cerny Q&A

The latest DF Direct is dominated by discussion of Microsoft's gigantic price hikes for Game Pass - proof positive that the previous prices were unsustainable, or a greedy cash grab from Xbox? And who exactly wants the new content added to the top-end tier? Meanwhile, the team share their thoughts on the new Austin Evans PS5 teardown video, while Rich reports on a brace of native Steam Deck ports: Baldur's Gate 3 and Cronos. The former shows big improvements, but there's confusion surrounding Cronos. Meanwhile, John's back with plenty of stories from his latest visit to Japan.

0:00:00 Introduction 
0:01:27 News 1: Game Pass hit by massive price hikes 
0:32:39 News 2: New PS5 Slim disassembled, examined 
0:43:54 News 3: Native Steam Deck versions of Cronos, Baldur’s Gate 3 arrive 
0:55:52 News 4: New DualSense reportedly features replaceable battery 
1:02:14 News 5: John reports back from Japan 
1:22:04 Supporter Q1: What do you think of the Panzer Dragoon Zwei remake? 
1:30:12 Supporter Q2: Will the PlayStation handheld produce better visual results than Strix Halo handhelds? 
1:36:32 Supporter Q3: What lessons can PC handhelds take from Switch 2 and its DLSS? 
1:48:04 Supporter Q4: How do you think the PS6 will be initially received? 
1:54:04 Supporter Q5: Do Wii games look good on a flatscreen with a typical remastering treatment? 
1:58:41 Supporter Q6: What did everyone’s retro PC setups look like?

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DF Direct Weekly #234: Huge Game Pass Price Hike Causes Outrage, New PS5 Teardown

Yes, it's another episode of DF Direct Weekly and yes, once again it's two hours of content discussing the latest gaming and technology news. Marvel's Wolverine, Saros, Flight Sim 2024 and Deus Ex Remastered cover off what we want to talk about from the latest Sony State of Play, while there's reaction to what was essentially the non-reveal of Forza Horizon 6. We catch up with the state of Silent Hill f on Xbox following the late arrival of review code and - finally - the last minute indefinite delay to the release of Borderlands 4 on Switch 2 had to be addressed.

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DF Direct Weekly #233: Wolverine Gameplay, Forza Horizon 6, Xbox ROG Ally X Pricing, Saros!

In the latest exciting episode of DF Direct Weekly, Alex and Oliver share impressions on the PC and PS5 versions of Dying Light: The Beast in the wake of review code problems stopping us from delivering a full review. Meanwhile, the shocking news of an Intel/Nvidia partnership demands attention from the team, before Rich shares his experiences of testing the leaked FSR4 INT8 version on RDNA 3 hardware. There's eyebrow-raising disbelief around the Gearbox CEO's reactions to Borderlands 4 performance critiques, while pricing for the Strix Halo-equipped GPD Win 5 confirms that the most powerful handheld ever made will arrive with an elevated price-point to match. 

0:00:00 Introduction 
0:01:02 News 1: Dying Light: The Beast shows great PC, PS5 performance 
0:20:28 News 2: Intel, Nvidia form chip partnership 
0:32:58 News 3: Version of FSR 4 runs across wide range of GPUs
0:51:27 News 4: Combative Gearbox boss addresses Borderlands critics
1:10:17 News 5: GPD Win 5 arrives with hefty price tag
1:22:37 Supporter Q1: Can you explain Virtual Shadow Maps? 
1:28:16 Supporter Q2: Shouldn’t you praise PSSR more for looking sharp in motion? 
1:34:20 Supporter Q3: Do next-gen consoles need 50GB of RAM for AI? 
1:40:15 Supporter Q4: Why do you think AMD Redstone is built to run without discrete AI hardware? 
1:44:08 Supporter Q5: Could Intel and Nvidia produce their own console?

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DF Direct Weekly #232: Dying Light: The Beast, Intel/Nvidia Partnership, Borderlands 4 Controversy

In this week's gigantic DF Direct, Alex shares first impressions of Borderlands 4 PC performance, Oliver pops up for a guest appearance as the team summarise Nintendo's latest Direct, Rich enthuses about GeForce Now's new 5080 tier, while cloud coverage continues with a hands-on look at Microsoft xCloud's new 1440p streaming. Meanwhile, there's a cautious welcome for reports that PS6 will features a detachable, optional Blu-ray drive.

0:00:00 Introduction 
0:01:09 News 1: Borderlands 4 suffers PC performance issues
0:25:11 News 2: Nintendo Direct: Mario Galaxy, Mario Wonder, Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book 
0:33:11 Resident Evil Requiem 
0:41:03 Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Persona 3 Reload 
0:52:20 Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined, NSO Virtual Boy 
1:05:43 News 3: GeForce Now RTX 5080 tested! 
1:19:33 News 4: PS6 reportedly features detachable disc drive 
1:30:18 News 5: 1440p streaming added to XCloud 
1:40:28 Supporter Q1: Which two games would you combine to create gaming perfection? 
1:46:33 Supporter Q2: Does Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2 prove the RT haters wrong? 
1:55:36 Supporter Q3: Is the future looking bright for demanding RT titles on Switch 2? 
2:01:36 Supporter Q4: How should Sony handle game licenses on their portable PlayStation? 
2:07:47 Supporter Q5: Is it too little, too late for Intel’s GPU efforts? 
2:13:31 Supporter Q6: Will Alex review Jedi: Survivor on Switch 2?

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DF Direct Weekly #231: Borderlands 4 Perf Issues, Nintendo Direct, PS6 BD Drive, GeForce Now 5080!

In the latest DF Direct, we finally get some idea of Switch 2's ray tracing capabilities via Star Wars Outlaws - and the team likes what they see. Meanwhile, details emerge of just how much slower Switch 2 carts are compared to internal storage and MicroSD Express - and it's a touch concerning. A reported storage downgrade for PlayStation 5 isn't exactly great news, and neither is the final death of Perfect Dark - but 007 First Night and Hollow Knight: Silksong have much to commend them.

0:00:00 Introduction 
0:01:06 News 1: Star Wars Outlaws impresses on Switch 2!
0:23:58 News 2: Switch 2 carts are too slow for Star Wars Outlaws
0:34:43 News 3: Report: PS5 Digital to get storage downgrade 
0:44:19 News 4: 007 First Light gameplay debuts 
1:00:10 News 5: Take-Two fails to buy Perfect Dark
1:06:58 News 6: Hollow Knight: Silksong packs good PC tech
1:13:02 Supporter Q1: Has YouTube changed its video algorithms? 
1:23:51 Supporter Q2: What’s up with HDR support in recent games? 
1:30:16 Supporter Q3: Is software quality the real bottleneck for good performance? 
1:38:52 Supporter Q4: Could Prey 2 get a Nightdive revival? 
1:45:06 Supporter Q5: Why does Battlefield 6 scale oddly with higher core count CPUs?
1:50:41 Supporter Q6: Could DF hold an anniversary special to commemorate independence?

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DF Direct Weekly #230: Switch 2 Ray Tracing - Finally! Hollow Knight: Silksong, 007 First Light!

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

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

John Montrym, Chief Architect
John Spitzer, VP of Developer and Performance Technologies
Nick Stam, Director of Technical Marketing - and Editor-in-Chief of PC Mag in 1999
Jacob Freeman, GeForce Evangelist

00:00 Overview and introductions
06:44 What does GeForce 256 mean to you? What has its impact been?
12:23 GeForce 256 feature uptake
15:00 Hardware transform and lighting and its importance
17:56 GeForce 256 development milestones
20:40 GeForce 256’s initial impact on games
24:43 Reactions to GeForce 256
30:33 Environment mapping
35:01 Reviewing the GeForce 256
39:33 What the GeForce 256 meant beyond gaming
41:16 The GeForce 256’s lasting legacy
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DF Direct - Inside GeForce 256 - The First GPU - 25th Anniversary Retrospective

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