The latest discussion dives deep into Nintendo's recent Direct, sparking debates about the anticipated features of the Switch 2. Exciting insights emerge about Metroid Prime 4 and Nintendo's digital game-sharing strategy. The hosts also highlight issues with NVIDIA's drivers affecting game performance and share experiences from a recent GDC. Topics like the future of The Witcher 4 and innovative AI tools in game development add to the buzz, alongside nostalgic reflections on classic GPUs and thoughts on the Steam Deck's next-gen possibilities.

Another week, another DF Direct Weekly, with Rich, Alex and Oliver tackling a range of topics including the unfortunate (for Microsoft) Xbox/Steam leak and the reveal of Microsoft's DXR 1.2 - which essentially standardises key features from Nvidia's RTX 40-series to all GPU vendors. Meanwhile, Alex isn't particulary impressed by the recommended specs for The Last of Us Part 2, while Rich is probably even less taken by the PC port of Rise of the Ronin. However, the levels of disappointment here can't compare with Oliver's reaction to the Mac port of Assassin's Creed Shadows...0:00:00 Introduction0:00:58 News 1: Xbox App Steam mock-up leaks0:14:03 News 2: Assassin’s Creed Shadows disappoints on Mac + Supporter Shadows questions!0:37:56 News 3: DXR 1.2 announced0:49:02 News 4: The Last of Us Part 2 PC specs drop 0:58:56 News 5: Rise of the Ronin PC tested!1:08:56 Supporter Q1: Should developers include a console settings preset in their PC versions? 1:19:38 Supporter Q2: Will Switch 2 have a 120Hz, VRR, HDR capable screen? 1:23:30 Supporter Q3: How long will it take for handhelds to have PS5-level power? 1:28:56 Supporter Q4: Should reviewers test PC gaming in multitasking-heavy scenarios? 1:35:24 Supporter Q5: If consoles were to disappear, would developers be able to more closely optimize their games for PC? 1:40:27 Supporter Q6: What’s Alex’s recovery regimen after reviewing a bad PC port? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Exciting discussions include Microsoft's ambitious Project Kennan, a potential Xbox handheld that could reshape portable gaming. The hosts dive into the stunning visuals of Death Stranding 2 and the impressive performance of AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D. They also speculate on the rumored Oblivion remake using Unreal Engine 5, exploring new gameplay dynamics and AI advancements. Engaging debates on PS5 Pro's capabilities, evolving graphics technologies, and the future of cross-gen gaming add to the vibrant conversation.

A new DF Direct sees the team discuss comments from Mark Cerny on Project Amethyst, and how a version of FSR 4 is in development for PS5 Pro. Beyond that, we rake over the coals following the RDNA 4 release - has AMD made major strides in competing against Nvidia? What about FSR 4 upscaling? What about RT and path tracing? Meanwhile, Rich tests out Lossless Scaling's dynamic frame generation technology, while John joins us to discuss the potential of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 along with his experiences with the remarkable Scalable Video Switch!0:00:00 Introduction0:00:48 News 1: Version of FSR 4 planned for PS5 Pro 0:13:46 News 2: RDNA 4 review reaction!0:39:28 News 3: RDNA 4 exhibits mixed path tracing performance0:49:23 News 4: Lossless Scaling introduces adaptive frame gen1:01:01 News 5: Apple releases new Mac Studio… with last gen chip1:09:36 News 6: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 remakes announced1:18:20 News 7: Scalable Video Switch offers hassle-free analog gaming1:30:04 Supporter Q1: What CPU should you pair with a 5090?1:36:53 Supporter Q2: Should AMD or Nvidia release driver-level ML upscaling tech?1:42:53 Supporter Q3: Why don’t PCs move towards unified RAM setups like Macs?1:48:56 Supporter Q4: Is Nvidia going to neglect their gaming audience?1:55:07 Supporter Q5: This gen, are we going to be able to build a console-like PC for a console-like price?Eat smart with Factor. Get started at factormeals.com/FACTORPODCAST and use code FACTORPODCAST to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AMD's long awaited RDNA 4 reveal is assessed by the team and the verdict? AMD's latest looks seriously impressive. Meanwhile, the team reacts to the news that Microsoft's Fable has slipped to 2026, La Quimera from 4A off-shoot Reburn intrigues, while John gets seriously excited about Terminator 2D: No Fate. Beyond that, enhancements for Forza Horizon PS5 Pro are discussed and no, Pokémon Legends: Z-A wasn't shown running on Switch 2. And if it was, we'd be worried.0:00:00 Introduction0:00:46 News 1: AMD RDNA 4 graphics cards unveiled0:24:17 News 2: Fable delayed to 20260:33:38 News 3: La Quimera impresses in debut trailer0:41:28 News 4: Sonic Racing CrossWorlds beta tested!0:49:39 News 5: Terminator 2D: No Fate revealed 0:56:15 Supporter Q1: What do you make of Forza Horizon 5’s modes on PS5 and PS5 Pro? 1:00:51 Supporter Q2: Was Pokémon Legends: Z-A actually exhibited running on Switch 2? 1:07:28 Supporter Q3: Will we see FSR 4 in handhelds soon? 1:11:35 Supporter Q4: Could you do a video comparing top-end PC experiences versus consoles? 1:23:31 Supporter Q5: Why have PS5 Pro sales dropped behind PS4 Pro? 1:34:07 Supporter Q6: Could a Steam Deck 2 release in 2025? 1:42:15 Supporter Q7: Should prospective PC gamers just buy a PS5 Pro, given the high price of new GPUs?Eat smart with Factor. Get started at factormeals.com/FACTORPODCAST and use code FACTORPODCAST to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rich, John and Alex are back in the Direct hotseats for our 202nd edition, discussing the range of enhancements coming (for free) to the PC version of Grand Theft Auto 5. Meanwhile, clues start to emerge about the make-up of CD Projekt RED's Cyberpunk sequel, while Alex talks about Microsoft's MUSE AI game generation research. Finally, there's disappointment with Nvidia as the 5070 Ti launch is accompanied by entirely predictable chaos, while Alex demonstrates starkly how the deprecation of 32-bit CUDA support impacts legacy PC PhysX games for even the most powerful RTX 50-series cards.0:00:00 Introduction0:01:04 News 1: GTA 5 slated for PC upgrade0:15:32 News 2: Microsoft announces game generating AI 0:32:49 News 3: Cyberpunk 2 job listing suggests ultra realistic crowds0:44:53 News 4: 5070 Ti launches to price hikes and scalping1:06:35 News 5: Nvidia deprecates 32-bit PhysX on 50 series GPUs1:19:16 Supporter Q1: Couldn’t frame extrapolation solve input lag for PC games?1:24:20 Supporter Q2: Why are so many people underwhelmed with current-gen graphics? 1:36:32 Supporter Q3: If Microsoft is giving up on console market share, where does Sony’s primary competition come from in the future? 1:42:45 Supporter Q4: With FSR 4 delivering good results, why should Sony continue to develop PSSR?1:47:53 Supporter Q5: How can we prevent digital licensing issues when PSN is offline? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a gigantor-scale DF Direct Weekly as Oliver, Alex and Tom deliver a 155-minute show kicking off with the verdict to Sony's latest State of Play, followed up by the sad news of layoffs at Crytek and a highly uncertain future for Crysis 4. Beyond that, Alex shares his thoughts on Assassin's Creed Shadows PC specs, while Oliver tests out the PS5 Pro patch for Astro Bot. And in the background, a flu-stricken Rich does nothing much except to write this description.0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:11 News 1: State of Play: Tides of Annihilation 0:09:37 MindsEye0:16:38 Days Gone Remastered0:22:28 Saros0:29:12 Dreams of Another0:36:59 Lost Soul Aside0:41:39 Other games: Borderlands 4, Sonic Racing Crossworlds, Onimusha, Midnight Walk 0:59:34 Overall impressions of the State of Play 1:06:43 News 2: Crysis 4 put “on hold” as Crytek lays off employees1:16:24 News 3: Assassin’s Creed Shadows PC specs revealed1:36:32 News 4: Astro Bot gets PS5 Pro upgrade 1:42:59 Supporter Q1: After 3 months, what do you think of the PS5 Pro and PSSR? 1:52:53 Supporter Q2: Why don’t more developers use CryEngine?1:59:40 Supporter Q3: Will Nvidia “gate” new AI features to their most recent hardware? 2:09:17 Supporter Q4: Does RTX Mega Geometry eliminate the need for proxy geometry for RT? 2:15:17 Supporter Q5: Could Oliver address some of the recent state of the art AI tech?2:26:52 Supporter Q6: How much do you need to spend on a GPU to have a good experience? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Through a combination of the passing of time and regularly turning up every week to do the same thing, DF Direct Weekly 'celebrates' its 200th edition! We reminisce over the creation of the show before moving onto the news at hand - Switch 2 pricing and some intriguing new Nintendo patents, along with our first look at the new Battlefield. Meanwhile, we're not particularly enthused with Monster Hunter Wilds performance, Star Wars Outlaws on PS5 Pro gets a PSSR upgrade and the RTX 5080's overclocking prowess plays havoc with RTX 4090/4080 Super performance differentials.0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:07 News 1: DF Direct celebrates episode 200!0:32:01 News 2: Nintendo sets Switch 2 price expectations0:46:17 News 3: Next Battlefield shown in brief teaser0:55:45 News 4: Monster Hunter Wilds beta, benchmark tested1:09:05 News 5: RTX 5080 overclocking tested1:26:52 News 6: Epic admits Unreal Engine has a #StutterStruggle problem1:34:17 News 7: Star Wars Outlaws updated with new PSSR version 1:41:07 Supporter Q1: Could you test the 5090 with no AI features vs. the 5080 with all AI features? 1:47:23 Supporter Q2: Could DF establish a latency rating system? 1:54:41 Supporter Q3: Would increasing resolution and AA quality be enough for Nintendo Switch 2 games? 1:57:53 Supporter Q4: Is a Bloodborne remaster imminent? 2:03:32 Supporter Q5: Could 1080p actually be preferable to 4K for Switch 2 games? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Rich, Alex and Oliver for another huge Direct, covering off the 'no red lines' Xbox news and the Forza Horizon 5 PS5 announcement, hints from Phil Spencer about next-gen Xbox, along with early impressions on Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on PC. Meanwhile, the team field questions about the controversial RTX 5080 release, while Alex tests out the surprise new feature - Nvidia Smooth Motion. Finally, Oliver is very, very excited about DeepSeek - but does it spell the end of Nvidia's AI dominance?0:00:00 Introduction0:01:00 News 1: Forza Horizon 5 headed to PS50:12:04 News 2: Phil Spencer: Xbox hardware will be the differentiator0:30:37 News 3: Spider-Man 2 PC disappoints0:44:44 News 4: RTX 5080 review reaction 1:11:48 News 5: Nvidia Smooth Motion adds frame gen on all games1:18:46 News 6: DeepSeek R1 LLM impresses!1:32:51 Supporter Q1: Does AMD have a big opportunity with the RX 9070 series? 1:40:31 Supporter Q2: Is there a risk in shipping console hardware ML acceleration too early? 1:45:00 Supporter Q3: What kind of techniques do you think will be accelerated by ML in the future? 1:51:02 Supporter Q4: Should GPU reviewers test different upscalers at “equivalent image quality” settings? 1:55:28 Supporter Q5: What would Apple need to do to compete in AAA gaming? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we close in on the 200th edition of DF Direct Weekly - where we currently have no special plans whatsoever - Alex, Oliver and Rich discuss Microsoft's brilliant Xbox Developer_underscore_Direct, and get highly excited about Doom: The Dark Ages, before moving on to discuss the reaction to the RTX 5090 reviews, the problems of GPU reviewing, Sony's baffling live services strategy - and the mysterious delay of AMD's RDNA 4 cards.0:00:00 Introduction0:00:56 News 1: Developer Direct 2025 - Doom: The Dark Ages0:17:36 Ninja Gaiden 40:22:54 Clair Obscur: Expedition 330:27:55 South of Midnight0:32:38 News 2: RTX 5090 review reaction1:14:39 News 3: Radeon 9070 cards arriving in March1:27:53 News 4: Sony cancels Bluepoint and Bend Studios live service games 1:36:27 Supporter Q1: Could the Switch 2 pack unanticipated custom hardware?1:42:18 Supporter Q2: Will GTA 6 cost $100 US?1:48:11 Supporter Q3: Should the PS5 Pro be supported with new games for longer than the PS5? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices