Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

Rumors swirl around the absence of early reviews for the Switch 2, raising questions about its launch strategy. The discussion shifts to next-gen Xbox possibly transitioning to ARM processors, sparking debates about backward compatibility and performance. Ray tracing misconceptions are tackled, highlighting advancements in graphics technology. Excitement builds around Assassin's Creed's revelations on ray tracing, while John's take on the new Backbone Pro controller showcases innovations in mobile gaming.

The podcast reveals insights into the Nintendo Switch 2's innovative 8nm processor alongside intriguing design surprises. A debate flares up over Rockstar's claim of 'half gameplay' in the GTA 6 trailer, prompting discussions on transparency in gaming. The team compares the graphics performance of Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Switch 2 against the PS5. Meanwhile, Nvidia faces criticism for launching the RTX 5060 without reviews, raising questions about consumer trust in new tech. Expect humor and reflections on listener engagement throughout!

Microsoft's drastic price hikes for Xbox consoles steal the spotlight this week. Exciting details emerge about the path tracing capabilities in Doom: The Dark Ages. Meanwhile, the 60FPS update for Far Cry 4 is making waves on the PS5. Alex tests various mods for Oblivion to combat stutter issues, with mixed results. Plus, Nintendo faces backlash over stripped game sharing features. Speculation swirls around upcoming RTX 5070 and 5080 Super graphics cards as well, raising questions about VRAM enhancements and their impact on gaming.

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 Impressions0:14:19 Mario Kart World0:24:26 Metroid Prime 40:35:10 Donkey Kong Bananza0:45:08 Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour0:49:58 Street Fighter 60:57:26 Hogwarts Legacy 1:05:48 GameCube emulation 1:10:09 Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Rich, Oliver and Alex for discussion on the latest leaks surrounding the all-but-confirmed PlayStation handheld and the mystery of docked VRR support suddenly going missing from Switch 2 PR. There's exciting news from CD Projekt RED, confirming DLSS support for Cyberpunk 2077 on the new Nintendo hybrid, while Alex shares his thoughts on some of the GDC 2025 presentations that have started to emerge. Oh yes, and that ad/trailer video post explained - put simply, we tried something new and we got it very wrong.0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:39 News 1: Next-gen portable PlayStation allegedly detailed 0:20:16 News 2: Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 uses DLSS!0:31:30 News 3: Switch 2 docked VRR support in question 0:39:18 News 4: Alex explains Nvidia’s GDC 2025 presentations0:56:50 News 5: Star Wars Outlaws looks questionable on Switch 21:04:49 News 6: Mario Kart World Direct impressions!1:11:11 Supporter Q1: What would a potential Switch Pro have looked like? 1:15:57 Supporter Q2: What is the Switch 2’s true GPU performance, absent “flopflation”?1:23:23 Supporter Q3: Should Indiana Jones use more ray tracing features on PS5 Pro? 1:27:51 Supporter Q4: What could the NPU in the Z2 Extreme do for gaming? 1:31:54 Supporter Q5: Could the PlayStation Portal connect to the upcoming PlayStation handheld? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rich shares his hands-on experience with Cyberpunk 2077 on the Nintendo Switch 2, discussing its performance and visual fidelity. The team reacts to Nvidia's alleged pricing leak for the RTX 5060 Ti. They also explore AI's attempts to recreate classic Quake 2 gameplay, noting the limitations and frustrations involved. Discussions about the upcoming Asus Xbox handheld add excitement to the mix, while gaming hardware innovations prompt speculation on the future of handheld gaming devices. Overall, a tech-savvy dive into the future of gaming!

Following on from our DF Direct Special on Switch 2, it's Rich, Oliver and Alex at the mics this week for the latest Direct, talking more about the new Nintendo hybrid, breaking down specs, how much more capable the new machine is vs Switch 1 and Steam Deck, and lots, lots more on how the games are running based on the available media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Excitement buzzes as the Nintendo Switch 2 reveals impressive specs, including a 120Hz VRR HDR display and enhanced battery life. Key discussions revolve around innovative controller features like GameChat and mouse control. They dive into game compatibility, addressing potential challenges for popular titles and including backward compatibility with GameCube. The team enthusiastically highlights new first-party games like Mario Kart and Donkey Kong, while pondering pricing strategies and the impact on gamers.

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.