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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

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!

In the latest DF Direct, Rich and Alex share their hands-on experiences of the Xbox/Asus ROG Ally X and non-X, while the team react to Epic's Tim Sweeney seemingly laying the blame on developers for sub-optimal Unreal Engine 5 games. Alex discusses a couple of his favourite SIGGRAPH graphics presentations. Finally, John's massively enthused by Shader Glass and is here to tell you why.

0:00:00 Introduction 
0:00:55 News 1: Hands-on with the ROG Xbox Ally + Ally X
0:36:26 News 2 Tim Sweeney: devs to blame for poor UE5 performance
0:49:17 News 3: Alex’s SIGGRAPH selections 
1:10:30 News 4: ShaderGlass enables CRT-inspired retro shaders 
1:21:47 Supporter Q1: How much of #StutterStruggle is Microsoft’s fault? 
1:26:37 Supporter Q2: With AMD purportedly targeting high-end GPUs next gen, will enthusiast GPUs become more competitive? 
1:34:02 Supporter Q3: Should Arkham Knight be remastered for current-gen hardware? 
1:39:37 Supporter Q4: Is frame-rate testing on fixed refresh displays still relevant? 
1:45:32 Supporter Q5: What new video ideas should we introduce?

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DF Direct Weekly #229: Xbox Ally X Hands-On, Sweeney Defends UE5, id Software Doom TDA Deep Dive!

With Rich unable to escape infection at #gamescom2025, it's down to John and Alex to share their impressions from the show, with Oliver completing the panel. The team share their thoughts on the Switch 2 ports of Elden Ring and Final Fantasy 7 Remake in the wake of very negative and very positive reactions from the showfloor. Alex is optimistic about Microsoft's proposed fix for StutterStruggle, while intriguing specs emerge of what may well be a Valve home console. Beyond that, there's more Gamescom reaction, plus thoughts on Kirby Air Riders.

0:00:00 Introduction 
0:01:13 News 1: Elden Ring and FF7 Rebirth showcased on Switch 2!
0:11:11 News 2: Microsoft preps shader comp fix for Windows 
0:27:21 News 3: Valve “Fremont” console-like device leaks
0:36:49 News 4: Upcoming Capcom titles tested on PS5 Pro 
0:49:26 News 5: Gamescom Opening Night Live impressions
1:00:02 News 6: Kirby Air Riders Direct reaction!
1:05:02 News 7: Gamescom hands-on impressions
1:20:30 Supporter Q1: What needs to happen to improve UE5 performance? 
1:28:49 Supporter Q2: Should reviewers more heavily critique technical issues in games? 
1:32:21 Supporter Q3: Should Microsoft have created a more console-focused Xbox handheld? 
1:36:28 Supporter Q4: What are some great games to show off surround sound? 
1:42:10 Supporter Q5: Bubsy 4D = GOTY?

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DF Direct Weekly #228: Elden Ring/FF7R Switch 2! #StutterStruggle Fixed? Valve Console Specs!

In the calm before the storm of Gamescom 2025, gaming and technology news is thin on the ground - and there's some degree of disappointment beyond the brilliance of the Battlefield 6 open beta. Drag x Drive on Switch 2 underwhelms, AMD releases an RX 9060 that you can't buy - and isn't really that much different to the 9060 XT. Light relief comes in the form of a monstrous modded RTX 4090 "handheld", while OneXPlayer's 120W Strix Halo tablet does - admittedly - look quite intriguing. Meanwhile, what would it take to get Tekken 8 running on Switch 2?

0:00:00 Introduction 
0:01:50 News 1: Battlefield 6 tested on PC!
0:19:25 News 2: Drag x Drive launches on Switch 2
0:30:35 News 3: Tekken 8 director mulls Switch 2 release 
0:38:56 News 4: RX 9060 non-XT benched 
0:45:20 News 5: AMD discontinues 5700X3D, ending widespread X3D availability on AM4 
0:54:57 News 6: New tablet integrates 120W Strix Halo 
1:03:42 News 7: Modder crams RTX 4090 laptop GPU into PC handheld 
1:11:37 Supporter Q1: How will next-gen Xbox systems pull PC gamers away from Nvidia? 
1:18:45 Supporter Q2: If AI profits grow, could Nvidia stop producing gaming GPUs? 
1:27:15 Supporter Q3: How will the Z1 Extreme be supported in the future? 
1:33:47 Supporter Q4: What will a Steam Deck 2 look like? 
1:38:52 Supporter Q5: What Switch 2 ports do you want to see? 
1:47:58 Supporter Q6: Is a Series X or One X a better choice for Xbox 360 and Xbox One games?
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DF Direct Weekly #227: Battlefield 6 PC is Superb, Drag x Drive Switch 2, RTX 4090 Handheld!

Many, many thanks for an amazingly positive reaction to our news that we've parted ways with IGN in favour of full independence! Rich spends some time talking about the reaction and answering Supporter questions on the changes, with actual gaming and technology news discussing nascent PS6 spec leaks, Apex Legends tested on Switch 2 and misconceptions on Sony's multi-platform plans. Meanwhile, Alex clues us in on AMD's Dense Geometry Format and excitement mounts on the news that Ashes of the Singularity is getting a sequel. 

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DF Direct Weekly #226: Are PS6 Spec Leaks Accurate? Is Sony Going Multi-Plat? Apex Legends Switch 2!

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
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DF Direct Special: Starfield Tech Breakdown - 30FPS, Visuals, Rendering Tech + Game Impressions

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