Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

Once again, the PS5 Pro (which doesn't exist apparently) dominates the news, with RDNA 4 ray tracing features revealed - said to be integrated into the upcoming Sony console... but what do these features actually do? Meanwhile, PS5 Pro (which isn't real) has a settings profile in the new No Man's Sky update, so how is Hello Games utilising the enhanced console's hardware? Beyond that, John's enthused about a CRT 'overclocked' to run at 700Hz, Rich and Alex are wondering just what on Earth is happening in the PC CPU space - and the epic Fallout London mod is finally released.0:00:00 Introduction0:01:05 News 01: Potential PS5 Pro RT enhancements leaked0:11:52 News 02: PS5 Pro settings leaked for No Man’s Sky0:20:06 News 03: Modder reaches 700Hz on CRT monitor0:33:49 News 04: Old Xbox Ones suffer from update issues0:45:22 News 05: Intel seeking to address CPU failures0:54:46 News 06: Super Monkey Ball 50Hz physics tickrate fixed0:58:20 News 07: Fallout London launched!1:05:50 News 08: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood headed to Mega Drive1:12:48 Supporter Q1: Should Valve provide community settings templates for games on Steam Deck?1:20:30 Supporter Q2: Will Nintendo launch multiple discrete Switch 2 variants at launch? 1:25:06 Supporter Q3: How can Microsoft deliver a capable Xbox handheld while keeping price in check?1:30:58 Supporter Q4: Could Microsoft offer generic Xbox emulators to sidestep licensing issues?1:36:05 Supporter Q5: How would the PS4 have fared if it only shipped with 4GB of RAM?1:41:54 Supporter Q6: What do you think of stereoscopic 3D on PS3? 1:49:24 Supporter Q7: Have PC ports improved since Alex’s “13 Ways to End Lousy PC Ports”? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another big DF Direct Weekly sees John, Rich and Alex discussing PS5 Pro release date uncertainties, the unprecedented support from Hello Games on No Man's Sky and the alarming stories surrounding stability issues on Intel's 13th and 14th Generation Core processors. Alex has much to share in terms of Unreal Engine and GPUOpen presentations, while John gets to play some Death Game Hotel with none other than Swery.0:00:00 Introduction0:01:24 News 01: Will PS5 Pro release in 2024?0:11:59 News 02: No Man’s Sky updated with new visual features0:20:12 News 03: Intel CPU stability issues may run deep0:34:54 News 04: GPUOpen tech presentations with Alex!0:48:58 News 05: John’s next project: PlayStation vs. Saturn0:57:48 News 06: Can #StutterStruggle be overcome in Unreal Engine?1:09:56 News 07: Gears of War Ultimate Edition suffers poor performance on PC1:17:58 News 08: Playing Death Game Hotel with SWERY!1:25:05 Supporter Q1: What would you like to see in a hypothetical DirectX 13?1:30:20 Supporter Q2: Could a new Nvidia Shield device enhance game streaming with local processing?1:36:58 Supporter Q3: Are large decreases in frame-rates still impactful when targeting high FPS?1:45:54 Supporter Q4: What should we expect from the mooted handheld Xbox?1:53:15 Supporter Q5: Is releasing a game as an early access title a good idea?1:58:01 Supporter Q6: Will Switch 2 devs make use of the console’s hardware decompression functionality?2:01:47 Supporter Q7: Have any pivotal decisions altered your gaming destinies? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we begin to approach the tail-end of the Nintendo Switch era, Oliver Mackenzie and John Linneman get together to discuss their personal selection of the most technically impressive games of the generation - absolute marvels bearing in mind that the core hardware is based on a 2015 Nvidia mobile chipset. In this first video, the emphasis is on first party exclusives published by Nintendo - but there's plenty to come from third parties too in a later video. There are some amazing games here, and a surprise contender at the top slot.0:00:00 Introduction0:01:41 Fast RMX0:05:53 Metroid Prime Remastered0:11:01 Super Mario Bros. Wonder0:16:14 The Touryst0:22:22 Xenoblade Chronicles 30:28:02 Super Mario RPG0:32:40 Paper Mario: The Origami King0:36:40 Metroid Dread0:41:08 Super Mario Odyssey0:45:49 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom0:51:40 Luigi’s Mansion 31:02:13 Runners up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass streaming on Fire Stick 4K sparks debate. OG Xbox gets a 1.4GHz CPU upgrade. Ace Combat 7 and frame generation tested. Analysis of Black Myth: Wukong RT assets. Future video ideas and speculation on new handheld gaming devices.

In the new DF Direct, the team discuss the growing importance of VRR in console gaming - but are we reaching the point where it's becoming essential for good performance? Meanwhile, Rich has some positive things to say about Microsoft's Auto SR upscaling technology, John has much to share on the new Crazy Taxi, and there are some interesting discussion points raised in a recent Mark Cerny interview. Meanwhile, what on Earth is going on with the latest Elden Ring patch notes?0:00:00 Introduction0:01:04 News 01: Has VRR become a crutch for good performance?0:20:00 News 02: Auto SR impressions!0:37:26 News 03: New Crazy Taxi is open world, massively multiplayer0:47:43 News 04: Mark Cerny dishes on PS5 architecture, games1:03:22 News 05: Sony killing off recordable disc production1:11:19 News 06: Elden Ring patch notes suggest odd performance fix1:19:43 News 07: OutRun steeply discounted on Nintendo eShop1:29:16 Supporter Q1: When do you think we’ll hear more about the PS5 Pro?1:36:55 Supporter Q2: Could DF provide technical context to Eurogamer or IGN game reviews?1:47:42 Supporter Q3: Why does the PS5 only support VRR over HDMI 2.1?1:54:15 Supporter Q4: Why do many developers only offer software Lumen in their UE5 games?1:56:40 Supporter Q5: Whatever happened to SLI and CrossFire?2:02:23 Supporter Q6: How should console versions of games expose graphical options?2:06:17 Supporter Q7: Is there a place for cinematic trailers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the latest DF Direct Weekly, we take a very early first look at FSR 3.1's improved spatial upscaling, which 'dropped' just prior to recording. The team discuss Capcom's reveal of a NEW Dead Rising remaster/remake, while we have first impressions on a potentially game-changing patch for Dragon's Dogma 2. And just why is PlayStation 5 so technically competitive with Xbox Series X, despite having less horsepower? It's been a mystery for years, but we may finally have some answers.0:00:00 Introduction0:02:00 News 01: FSR 3.1 tested!0:10:56 News 02: Dead Rising remake in development0:22:55 News 03: Dragon’s Dogma 2 patched0:30:12 News 04: Project Keystone details revealed0:38:16 News 05: Forza Horizon 4 to be delisted0:49:38 News 06: SGSSAA appears in new game0:58:46 News 07: Unity 50Hz physics issue returns1:07:55 Supporter Q1: Why haven’t more reviewers noted the issues with Elden Ring? And is it really fair to pile so much technical criticism on From Software?1:27:03 Supporter Q2: What should our expectations be for a potential PS3 emulator on PS5?1:36:05 Supporter Q3: Why is the Series X still sometimes outperformed by the PS5 in cross-platform games?1:45:54 Supporter Q4: Could something like Auto SR be implemented on consoles for backwards compatible games?1:50:00 Supporter Q5: Why do low settings in games look a lot better than they used to? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some practical tests in this week's episode of DF Direct as Rich examines the modded performance modes cropping up for the Xbox Series S version of Starfield - while his £2,000 investment in a Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X Elite translates into some truly awful gaming. Meanwhile, John's been checking out the new PlayStation 2 and PSP emulators for PS5, while Alex isn't particularly happy about Game Pass versions of PC games missing DLSS and other upscaler support.0:00:00 Introduction0:01:22 Starfield Series S high frame-rate mods tested!0:09:26 PS2 and PSP emulation on PS5 analyzed0:24:58 Snapdragon X Elite gaming performance disappoints0:44:34 Still Wakes The Deep ships without FSR, DLSS, XeSS on Game Pass0:54:17 LRG3 showcase features re-releases, remasters1:05:04 How can I age as gracefully as the Switch?1:13:55 Would you still recommend the Steam Deck over the new ROG Ally X?1:16:46 Could the PS5 last 8 or 9 years as Sony’s flagship console platform?1:23:25 Do you think a 1080p screen could be too much for a next-gen Switch?1:28:46 Do you think any unannounced first party games will be released around launch for Switch 2? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just when we thought the summer festival of gaming events was over, Nintendo comes out of nowhere with a brand-new Direct featuring a wide rage of excellent titles - not bad for a system reaching the end of its life cycle. John Linneman and Oliver Mackenzie team up to share notes on the Direct, including a tech-orientated argument about how it's definitely NOT Switch 2 delivering the Metroid Prime 4 footage!0:00:00 Introduction0:01:42 Metroid Prime 4: Beyond0:14:08 The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom0:22:43 Lego Horizon Adventures0:29:44 Mario & Luigi: Brothership0:35:47 Funko Fusion, Nintendo Switch Online updates, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics0:45:42 Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, Fantasian: Neo Dimension0:55:37 MIO: Memories In Orbit, The Hundred Line: Last Defence Academy, Super Mario Party Jamboree, ぶっとバード, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection1:05:24 Evaluating the Direct and looking forward to Switch 2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John, Alex and a freshly returned Rich deliver a 'come down' Direct that's a little more relaxed after the mania of the summer showcase events. The team bemoan the state of the Ubisoft Forward stream quality, ruining the visual quality of some great games, then move onto the discourse surrounding the Gears of War: E-Day cinematic. John's excited about the UE5 Riven remake, while Alex is even more excited about Sweeney's Prophecy - a brand new store leak promising a range of intriguing PC releases.0:00:00 Introduction0:01:58 News 01: Star Wars Outlaws demo analyzed!0:28:11 News 02: Assassin’s Creed Shadows unveiled0:46:24 News 03: Clarifying the Gears of War cinematic trailer0:54:34 News 04: Epic Games Store leaks upcoming games 1:00:34 News 05: Riven demo released1:08:28 Supporter Q1: Has any console generation been more boring than this one?1:13:12 Supporter Q2: Was Microsoft showing Series X or PC footage at their games showcase?1:19:49 Supporter Q3: Is delaying a physical release the best option for modern games? 1:26:35 Supporter Q4: Will you make an updated PC Gaming on a Budget video? 1:34:01 Supporter Q5: Do you have ambitions for growing your audience? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hosts break down Xbox 2024 Showcase, discussing games like Fable, Perfect Dark, and Metal Gear Solid remake. They analyze the hardware lineup, Phil Spencer's multi-platform strategy, and games like Call of Duty, STALKER 2, and State of Decay 3.