Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

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.

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