Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazing news! Digital Foundry has parted ways with IGN and we've bought their shareholding in the business. What this means is that from now on, all aspects of DF are decided upon by DF. We answer to nobody but you, the audience. We are fully independent, we’re proud of that, we think it’s the future of games media - but how far we push, how ambitious we want to be... well, that's where YOU come in. Rich, John and Alex discuss the news in this brand new episode of DF Direct. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:01 Digital Foundry’s change in ownership and what we want to do differently 00:07:54 Why is independence important and what does it mean? 00:13:21 We want to make a new Digital Foundry website 00:16:28 What's happening now behind the scenes? 00:18:10 Let's talk Retro 00:22:10 How we can make a difference in PC gaming 00:27:14 Concluding thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new, gigantic Direct sees John, Rich and Oliver mull over what might be next generation Xbox silicon, bringing together consumer CPU and GPU parts into custom APUs that could genuinely shake up the PC market. The team react to the excellent-looking Battlefield 6 reveal, while there's a mixed reception to the latest Nintendo Direct. Meanwhile, John raves about a brand new Genesis/Mega Drive game from an industry legend while Oliver and Rich are staggered at the concept of AMD's huge Strix Halo APU slated to appear in not one but two gaming handhelds. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:54 News 1: AMD “Magnus” APU reportedly leaks 0:22:12 News 2: Battlefield 6 multiplayer footage impresses 0:35:54 News 3: Nintendo Direct: Star Wars Outlaws 0:42:29 The Adventures of Elliot, Octopath Traveller 0 0:46:26 Persona 3 Reload 0:51:51 Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment 0:55:30 Final thoughts on the Direct and the Switch 2 rollout 1:06:29 News 4: Upcoming gaming handhelds feature AMD’s Strix Halo 1:20:08 News 5: Earthion blasts away on Sega Genesis 1:30:08 Supporter Q1: Will Switch 2 get clock bumps over time? 1:35:57 Supporter Q2: Is the PS5 power saving mode intended to be used as the default for less-demanding games? 1:40:00 Supporter Q3: Why do people downplay the need for graphical improvements? 1:45:39 Supporter Q4: Could FSR 3 Frame Generation be used on Switch 2 to reach 120fps? 1:48:51 Supporter Q5: Did prior rendering advances provoke gamer backlash like ray tracing has? 2:00:28 Supporter Q6: Does John have any cable draping tips for Switch 2? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The previously leaked PlayStation 5 Power Saving mode enters beta firmware, stoking rumours that it lays the groundwork for Sony's next generation portable. Meanwhile, Cyberpunk 2077's VRR "no show" on Xbox Series X gets official comment from CD Projekt RED and the team are enthused by an amazing "Fallout Bakersfield" teaser trailer. Oblivion Remastered 1.2 on consoles is tested, and as expected, shows virtually no improvement. Moving on, the team are fascinated by 8K ray-traced balls and celebrations begin for Crytek's 25th anniversary. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:51 News 1: Sony introduces power saving mode for PS5 0:18:30 News 2: Cyberpunk Xbox VRR is "working" as intended 0:24:12 News 3: Oblivion Remastered 1.2 update has little effect on console performance 0:41:21 News 4: Pure Pool Pro delivers native 8K balls on PS5 Pro 0:48:07 News 5: Fallout: Bakersfield trailer shows off GZDoom visuals 0:57:54 News 6: Crytek releases 25 year anniversary video 1:14:27 Supporter Q1: Are there any meaningful differences with windowed, windowed borderless, and fullscreen modes in Windows? 1:20:36 Supporter Q2: Will GTA 6 have a 60fps mode only on PS5 Pro? 1:28:08 Supporter Q3: Why is Microsoft getting rid of video purchases on Xbox? 1:33:24 Supporter Q4: What will the Switch 2 die shrink look like? 1:36:19 Supporter Q5: Is Nintendo institutionally opposed to TAA/DLSS? 1:42:27 Supporter Q6: Does the convergence of console design and decline of exclusives spell the end of the console war? 1:51:36 Supporter Q7: Have you been getting any unsolicited dock pics? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest DF Direct Weekly sees Rich get to grips with Cyberpunk 2077's console VRR - putting our work-in-progress VRR capture tools to the test. Meanwhile, Alex checks out the ray traced ambient occlusion that's been added to Space Marine 2 and investigates odd reports of broken UE4 ray tracing on RDNA 4 graphics cards. John shares more on Donkey Kong Bananza and tells us all about Limited Run Games' amazing new Doom SNES cartridge with upgraded SuperFX technology, courtesy of development legend, Randy Linden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Oblivion Remastered's 1.2 patch "dropped" promising performance improvements - but are its systemic stuttering problems fixed? Alex takes a look at the PC version, both moving to an analysis of Nintendo's recently published "ray tracing" patents - which aren't quite what they seem. Meanwhile, Oliver gets to grips with the Wild Hearts demo on Switch 2 - and speaking of the Nintendo hybrid, comments from a Virtuos studio put Switch 2 system performance into context against Series S and PlayStation 4 - but how do those comments match up against our platform comparisons thus far? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:05 News 1: Does the latest Oblivion Remastered patch improve performance? 0:14:44 News 2: Virtuos: Switch 2 GPU is close to Series S 0:35:41 News 3: Nintendo publishes new rendering patents 0:49:38 News 4: Wild Hearts demo tested on Switch 2! 0:58:21 Supporter Q1: Will Red Dead Redemption 2 get a ray tracing update? 1:04:51 Supporter Q2: Where’s all the Mac gaming hype? 1:13:26 Supporter Q3: What is the current state of DirectStorage? 1:20:04 Supporter Q4: Is Linux becoming a viable gaming OS? 1:27:51 Supporter Q5: Will next-gen consoles come with lots of RAM? 1:33:49 Supporter Q6: How does Alex configure his PC games? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the DF team is reeling after news of disastrous Xbox cuts resulting in untold job losses, the diminishment of celebrated studios and the cancellation of promising games - this follows on from controversy surrounding Xbox hardware strategy and speculation on future consoles. Meanwhile, AMD and Sony re-affirm the Project Amethyst initative while Mark Cerny drops hints on the timeframe for PlayStation 6. Beyond that, driver support for Maxwell, Pascal and Volta GPUs comes to an end while leaks start to emerge on the Nvidia Blackwell refresh. Finally, what does the team make of Helldivers 2 heading to Xbox Series consoles? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:00 News 1: Huge Microsoft Gaming cuts 0:30:07 News 2: Is Xbox hardware “dead”? 0:47:56 News 3: AMD, Mark Cerny hint future PlayStation plans 0:54:05 News 4: Donkey Kong Bananza developed by Super Mario Odyssey studio 1:00:52 News 5: Nvidia dropping gaming driver support for Maxwell, Volta, Pascal 1:08:38 News 6: 5070 Super, 5070 Ti Super, 5080 Super reportedly leaked 1:18:18 News 7: Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series 1:24:04 Supporter Q1: Are people unfair to multi frame gen? 1:37:09 Supporter Q2: Could the Switch 2’s authentication chip be an issue for VRR? 1:41:22 Supporter Q3: Why haven’t more Switch 2 games used 40fps modes? 1:44:57 Supporter Q4: Could Nvidia launch a competitive game console? 1:50:39 Supporter Q5: Does John own the 1997 PS1 game Ray Tracers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of criticism of DF's comments on Switch 2's motion blur display issues, independent benchmark data from multiple sources proves out our point, so what can be done? Meanwhile, John and Oliver share their impressions of Fast Fusion's "Pure" aka "DLSS Off" update, while Rich weighs in on the Nvidia RTX 5050 reveal specs. Hellblade 2's 60fps upgrade is discussed, while the team mull over the final HDMI 2.2 specifications. Finally, John and Oliver continue championing OLED and LCD displays respectively - and literally have the receipts to prove it. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:57 News 1: Objective testing: Switch 2 display is very slow 0:23:45 News 2: Fast Fusion adds “Pure” visual mode without DLSS 0:34:24 News 3: Hellblade 2 to receive 60fps option on consoles 0:41:59 News 4: Nvidia announces RTX 5050 0:54:12 News 5 HDMI 2.2 spec revealed 1:05:42 News 6: John reviews his LG 5K2K OLED monitor! 1:23:21 Supporter Q1: Is it smarter to focus on raster lighting techniques on consoles instead of ray tracing? 1:31:05 Supporter Q2: Is low-level optimization dead in an era of multiplatform games? 1:36:12 Supporter Q3: Should developers build their games around achieving 60fps on consoles? 1:42:30 Supporter Q4: Should we be worried about Switch 2’s image quality in demanding games? 1:46:19 Supporter Q5: Will ray tracing remasters be a common sight in the PS6 era? 1:52:24 Supporter Q6: What is behind you when you record DF Direct? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a packed new Direct, the team convene to discuss the detail - and lack of it - in Xbox and AMD's next-gen partnership announcement. What is the future of the Xbox console? Are MS/AMD looking to compete in the PC prebuilt market? Is the Xbox Ally X part of this arrangement? Is Windows truly capable of working as a robust console-style OS? Meanwhile, thoughts are shared on Nintendo's Donkey Kong Bananza Direct, while Rich tracks down working code for the original, truly dreadful Ark: Survival Evolved port - does Switch 2 have enough horsepower to tame one of the worst conversions ever? Spoilers: not entirely... In a packed new Direct, the team convene to discuss the detail - and lack of it - in Xbox and AMD's next-gen partnership announcement. What is the future of the Xbox console? Are MS/AMD looking to compete in the PC prebuilt market? Is the Xbox Ally X part of this arrangement? Is Windows truly capable of working as a robust console-style OS? Meanwhile, thoughts are shared on Nintendo's Donkey Kong Bananza Direct, while Rich tracks down working code for the original, truly dreadful Ark: Survival Evolved port - does Switch 2 have enough horsepower to tame one of the worst conversions ever? Spoilers: not entirely... Join the DF Supporter Program for pristine video downloads, behind the scenes content, early access to new videos, early access to DF Direct Weekly and much, much more: https://bit.ly/3jEGjvx Go here to check out DF merch! https://store.digitalfoundry.net Subscribe for more Digital Foundry: http://bit.ly/DFSubscribe 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:10 News 1: Xbox-AMD partnership announced for next gen 0:31:55 News 2: Donkey Kong Bananza Direct reaction 0:47:29 News 3: Neural Texture Compression improvements detailed 1:00:08 News 4: Original Ark port tested on Switch 2! 1:10:37 Supporter Q1: Does AMD dominate the broader gaming market, in light of Microsoft’s announcement? 1:18:35 Supporter Q2: With Microsoft’s Windows console shift, will Sony change their PC strategy? 1:27:06 Supporter Q3: Will Microsoft allow Windows to run on Series S and X? 1:30:45 Supporter Q4: Will Nintendo or Microsoft ultimately triumph in console strategy? 1:32:58 Supporter Q5: As Apple expands their rendering tech, will DF do more Mac game testing? 1:40:53 Supporter Q6: Is there room to evolve The Witcher 4’s graphics for high-end PCs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's here - the biggest and most comprehensive Digital Foundry hardware test we've ever done. Across two hours of #content, Oliver Mackenzie, John Linneman and Rich Leadbetter share their data, tests, opinions and impressions of the entire Switch 2 package ranging from hardware analysis, display options, power consumption and efficiency, loading time and WiFi tests, back-compat, Game Share, Game Chat and much, much more. We love most of what we see - but key technologies like VRR and HDR disappoint in a blurry handheld experience that must be improved. 0:00:00 Overview 0:01:54 Hardware overview: specs, form factor, and Pro Controller 0:10:33 Portable screen: contrast, response time, handheld HDR and VRR 0:37:21 Display output: HDMI quirks, HDR configuration, 120Hz support 0:48:08 Power efficiency, power consumption, and battery life 1:02:46 Loading times: internal storage, MicroSD, and cartridge differences 1:06:17 WiFi and ethernet download speeds 1:10:54 Backwards compatibility: game speedups and incompatibilities 1:22:09 GameChat and GameShare 1:35:05 Virtual Game Card and UI issues 1:44:59 Overall thoughts and conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The catastrophic launch of MindsEye dominates the Direct this week - but how does the game actually look and run on PS5 Pro and PC? We'll have a more detailed review soon, but there's good and bad with this one. Meanwhile, legit-looking specs emerge for the next-gen PlayStation handheld, Switch 2 sells through 3.5m units in four days and Rich spends some time looking at Stellar Blade's PC ports. Meanwhile, John has a brace of retro-based stories to share with you. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:48 News 1: MindsEye suffers troubled launch 0:20:27 News 2: Switch 2 sells 3.5 million units in first four days 0:28:45 News 3: Next-gen PlayStation handheld specs rumoured 0:41:29 News 4: Stellar Blade PC delivers good performance 0:51:39 News 5: Retro Afterplay enables web browser emulation 0:58:27 News 6: Mortal Kombat 2 ported to 3DO 1:05:20 Supporter Q1: Will next-gen Xbox be third party like the Xbox Ally? 1:12:13 Supporter Q2: What Switch games would you like to see patched for Switch 2? 1:17:43 Supporter Q3: How widespread is DLSS actually on Switch 2? 1:29:25 Supporter Q4: What happens to game rendering when you change the output resolution on your console? 1:33:07 Supporter Q5: Could Microsoft have bluffed their way to success with Xbox One? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The summer gaming events continue with the arrival of the Xbox Showcase. Microsoft has had a stellar 2025 and has delivered some exceptional events over the last few years - but this one doesn't quite make the grade. Rich, John and Oliver talk Ally handhelds, the pick of the games shown, the 2026 teases and we have capture and analysis of the "shadow dropped" port of Final Fantasy 16. The summer gaming events continue with the arrival of the Xbox Showcase. Microsoft has had a stellar 2025 and has delivered some exceptional events over the last few years - but this one doesn't quite make the grade. Rich, John and Oliver talk Ally handhelds, the pick of the games shown, the 2026 teases and we have capture and analysis of the "shadow dropped" port of Final Fantasy 16. Join the DF Supporter Program for pristine video downloads, behind the scenes content, early access to new videos, early access to DF Direct Weekly and much, much more: https://bit.ly/3jEGjvxGo here to check out DF merch! https://store.digitalfoundry.netSubscribe for more Digital Foundry: http://bit.ly/DFSubscribe0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:43 Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X 0:15:51 Xbox full-screen experience on Windows 11 0:30:19 Final Fantasy 16 shadowdropped on Xbox - and we’ve tested it! 0:39:35 Ninja Gaiden 4 0:44:40 Persona 4 Revival 0:52:12 Beast of Reincarnation 0:56:46 Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 1:04:13 2026 teases: Fable, Forza, Gears of War - and Halo? 1:09:02 Thoughts on the showcase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Rich, Alex and John for their thoughts on two of the major summer events: Sony's State of Play and Geoff's Summer Game Fest. The team share their thoughts on the biggest games of the shows, before moving onto other matters: Rich is happy to see that Sony has fixed the VRR stuttering problem with PlayStation consoles, Alex discusses the team's cameo in an Unreal Fest anti-stutter presentation and the trio try to get to grips with Black Myth Wukong's sudden Xbox announcement. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:17 News 1: Summer Game Fest 2025 - Resident Evil Requiem 0:10:00 Mortal Shell 2, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, 0:17:12 Felt That Boxing, Mina The Hollower 0:26:26 Death Stranding 2 and Geoffcon evaluations 0:31:31 News 2: State of Play June 2025 - Lumines Arise 0:36:12 Pragmata, Romeo is a Dead Man 0:43:36 Silent Hill F, Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement 0:49:49 Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, Nioh 3 0:57:40 007: First Light 1:07:25 Ninja Gaiden, Mortal Kombat, Hirogami, Final Fantasy Tactics, Thief VR, Sword of the Sea, Marvel Tōkon 1:16:59 News 3: PS5 VRR stutter fixed! 1:23:26 News 4: Black Myth: Wukong gets Xbox release date 1:32:47 News 5: DF features in “Kill the Hitch” 1:41:10 Supporter Q1: How do The Witcher 4 (in tech demo form) and GTA 6 compare? 1:47:20 Supporter Q2: How close will the final version of The Witcher 4 be to its tech demo? 1:51:02 Supporter Q3: Will the Witcher 4 run on Switch 2? 1:53:01 Supporter Q4: Why is the Switch 2 such a conservative hardware concept? 1:59:23 Supporter Q5: Is there a compelling reason for Switch 2 owners to keep their Switch 1s? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The pre-launch anticipation for Nintendo Switch 2 ratchets up a level as retail units leak ahead of time, revealing the system's boot procedure, a preview of the front end and... not much more. The DF team react to those leaks, reflect on the Switch 2 journey that brought us to this launch and share some initial plans for coverage. Meanwhile, according to reporting from Windows Central, Microsoft has prioritised its bespoke handheld in favour of concentrating on Windows 11 gaming upgrade, Alex takes a look at F1 25's path tracing upgrade and Rich is super-impressed with GeForce Now's native aaaapppp for Steam Deck. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:16 News 1: Switch 2 retail units leak! 0:33:30 News 2: Microsoft reportedly delaying Xbox handheld 0:50:49 News 3: F1 25 packs path tracing punch 1:12:20 News 4: Nvidia releases native GeForce Now Steam Deck app 1:21:02 Supporter Q1: What games has John picked up in Japan? 1:28:58 Supporter Q2: How do the DLSS versions and presets interact? 1:34:34 Supporter Q3: Could Nvidia make DLSS mandatory on PC? 1:40:09 Supporter Q4: With Switch 2 fast approaching, have we underestimated the appeal of DLSS? 1:45:16 Supporter Q5: Is the RetroTINK 4K still useful on Switch 2? 1:47:41 Supporter Q6: Are there technical obstacles to standardizing ML upscaling through DirectX? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another packed Direct sees Tom, Rich and Oliver pore over 37 minutes of Cyberpunk 2077 Switch 2 footage, stacking it up against Series S and PS4 with intriguing results. AMD's announcement for the RX 9060 XT promises to be everything RTX 5060 isn't, while the team mull over Mario Kart World developer disclosures! Oliver gets Doom: The Dark Ages' PC performance meters working on both Xbox consoles while there's some bafflement surrounding Ninja Theory's Hellblade 2 PS5 announcement... 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:39 News 1: 37 minutes of Cyberpunk 2077 Switch 2 footage released! 0:18:51 News 2: AMD introduces 9060 XT 0:31:43 News 3: AMD teases “FSR Redstone” 0:44:15 News 4: Doom has hidden performance metrics on Xbox 0:53:38 News 5: Mario Kart World originally planned for Switch 1 1:02:49 News 6: Hellblade 2 coming to PS5 1:11:29 Supporter Q1: What do you make of the Nvidia/Gamers Nexus controversy? 1:19:41 Supporter Q2: If Microsoft is working on an Xbox emulator for Windows, does that signal the end for traditional Xbox consoles? 1:28:56 Supporter Q3: Should Nintendo release a non-portable, home-only Switch 2? 1:35:32 Supporter Q4: Could Switch 2 become a dumping ground for last-gen games? 1:40:29 Supporter Q5: What are your hopes and concerns for Switch 2? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Direct, Rich, John and Alex discuss the strongly rumoured plans for NO Switch 2 launch reviews, along with apparent news that the next-gen Xbox will use ARM-based Snapdragon processors. Rich tests out our in-development VRR capture/analysis tools with Days Gone Remastered, measures the ongoing PS5 VRR stutter effect while Alex shares his excitement for Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows disclosures. Finally, John's excited about the new Backbone Pro controller - which is much more than just a mobile controller peripheral. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:57 News 1: Nintendo reportedly not sending early Switch 2 review units 0:11:52 News 2: Should we criticize “forced ray tracing”? 0:32:03 News 3: Next-gen Xbox to use Snapdragon ARM chips? 0:43:03 News 4: Assassin’s Creed Shadows devs spill ray tracing revelations 0:59:11 News 5: Days Gone patch brings balanced modes, VRR support 1:13:27 News 6: John tests the Backbone Pro 1:23:23 Supporter Q1: Are we reaching the end of the home console era? 1:29:46 Supporter Q2: Should Halo run on id Tech? 1:38:38 Supporter Q3: Could Doom: The Dark Ages get a PS4 version? A Switch 2 version? 1:41:55 Supporter Q4: What happened to the review of Spider-Man 2 on PC? 1:48:33 Supporter Q5: What are your favourite memories of the Sega Saturn? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Switch 2 mysteries are finally resolved as two independent analyses confirm an 8nm processor... with a twist. Meanwhile, Rich, Alex and Oliver debate the meaning of 'gameplay' with regards to Grand Theft Auto 6, Trailer 2 while the team compares notes on the Asus ROG Ally 2, Xbox Project Kennan leaks. Oliver stacks up Switch 2 Final Fantasy 7 Remake footage against the PS5 performance mode, while Nvidia's plan to launch RTX 5060 without any accompanying reviews does not go down particularly well with the team. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:09 News 1: Switch 2 SoC examined under a microscope! 0:22:00 News 2: Rockstar claims GTA 6 trailer is half gameplay 0:40:06 News 3: ROG Ally 2 and Project Kennan handhelds leak 0:53:15 News 4: New FF7 Remake Switch 2 footage analyzed! 1:05:24 News 5: Nvidia holding back RTX 5060 drivers until launch 1:22:56 Supporter Q1: Should AMD continue to work on FSR 3? Will we get FSR 4 quality upscaling in GTA 6 on PS5 Pro? 1:28:04 Supporter Q2: Could we get a Switch 2 version of GTA 6? 1:35:01 Supporter Q3: How will GTA 6 scale to Series S? 1:42:18 Supporter Q4: What do you think of viewers using DF Direct as a sleeping aid? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microsoft's astonishing price hikes for Xbox Series consoles dominate the discussion this week, before Rich, John and Alex move on to discussing topics as diverse as Doom: The Dark Age's path tracing, Far Cry 4's 60FPS update, along with RTX 5070 Super and 5080 Super rumours. Meanwhile, Alex gets to grips with Oblivion Remastered PC anti-stutter "mods", trying to figure out if any of them work. Meanwhile, John is not particularly happy with Nintendo's virtual game cards stripping out a key game sharing feature. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:54 News 1: Microsoft hiking Xbox prices 0:21:55 News 2: Doom: The Dark Ages screenshot shows off path tracing 0:35:40 News 3: Oblivion anti-stutter mods tested! 0:54:24 News 4: Switch update strips some online game sharing 1:03:49 News 5: 60 FPS update released for Far Cry 4 on PS5 1:16:27 News 6: RTX 5070 Super, 5080 Super reportedly pack VRAM boost 1:30:48 Supporter Q1: Why are prominent games journalism sites being hollowed out? 1:44:02 Supporter Q2: Will we see a lot of fully-featured UE5 games on Switch 2? 1:49:32 Supporter Q3: Why does Switch 2 have RT cores? 1:55:16 Supporter Q4: Is 8K TV tech pointless? 2:00:32 Supporter Q5: Are high end CPUs necessary for 4K60 PC gaming? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Review code delivered on launch day is never a good look, but this week's Direct kicks off with Rich's positive words for Days Gone Remastered with very, very early impressions of the PS5 Pro version of the game. Meanwhile, the team compares notes on Sucker Punch's latest Ghost of Yōtei trailer, while a returning John makes his feelings abundantly clear about Nintendo's Game Key card initiative. Sticking with Switch 2, the varying pricing level for Switch 2 Editions causes some concerns, while the release of Sony's PS5 Pro teardown arrives in lock-step with the arrival of Rich's Pro motherboard. And finally, just who gets to decide who guests on each episode of DF Direct Weekly? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:01 News 1: Days Gone Remastered tested! 0:15:33 News 2: Ghost of Yōtei release date trailer drops 0:28:59 News 3: Switch 2 Edition upgrades vary in price 0:41:21 News 4: Game Key Cards dominate early Switch 2 software 0:52:43 News 5: Clarifying Switch 2 game resolutions 1:07:55 News 6: Sony publishes PS5 Pro teardown 1:17:04 Supporter Q1: How do you manage personnel on DF Direct? 1:21:56 Supporter Q2: Will Elder Scrolls 6 use Unreal Engine for rendering? 1:27:04 Supporter Q3: What’s with the poor FMV quality in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? 1:37:19 Supporter Q4: Is PS5 VRR stutter proof that most gamers don’t care about stutter? 1:44:47 Supporter Q5: Can you raise awareness of the current Game Pass driver issues on PC? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh from visiting the Nintendo Switch 2 showcase event in London on April 11th, Tom and Rich sat down with Oliver to discuss their hands-on experience with the hardware, sharing details on the ergonomics, the screen, the controllers and much more - and then it's on to the games, including the big Nintendo heavy hitters, Street Fighter 6, Hogwarts Legacy, the GameCube emulator and much, much more. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:25 Hardware Impressions 0:14:19 Mario Kart World 0:24:26 Metroid Prime 4 0:35:10 Donkey Kong Bananza 0:45:08 Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour 0:49:58 Street Fighter 6 0:57:26 Hogwarts Legacy 1:05:48 GameCube emulation 1:10:09 Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices