Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

The podcast dives into the best gaming hardware of 2025, with handhelds taking the spotlight. The GPD Win 5 and Lenovo Legion Go S are fan favorites for their standout performance and ergonomic design. Discussions also cover the powerhouse Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the exciting potential of Nvidia's Blackwell and RDNA 4. Alongside hardware highlights, the hosts maintain an optimistic outlook for 2026 amid market challenges, anticipating breakthroughs in handheld tech and graphics innovations.

The hosts dive deep into the best game graphics of 2025, showcasing technological marvels like Kirby Air Riders' new engine and the impressive visuals of Silent Hill f. They discuss the unique lighting and detail in Mafia: The Old Country and Metroid Prime 4's stunning enhancements on Switch. Dying Light: The Beast and Earthion's incredible sprite density also get their due. In a thrilling conclusion, the team reveals their top three graphical gems: Death Stranding 2, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Doom: The Dark Ages.

Oliver McKenzie, a Freelance Digital Foundry contributor, drops by to dissect the latest gaming news. He discusses the intriguing possibility of Half-Life 3 as a Steam Machine launch title amidst hardware challenges. He also reviews the recent patch for Batman: Arkham Knight on Switch/Switch 2 that improves handheld performance but highlights ongoing issues. The conversation shifts to Skyrim's patch that reduces input lag at the cost of frame stability. Plus, there's buzz about Bungie's Marathon and the evolving landscape of handheld gaming.

The team dives into their standout moments from The Game Awards, highlighting the trend of cinematic trailers. They discuss a groundbreaking PS3 emulator available on the PS5 and unpack unexpected performance issues with Skyrim on the Switch 2. AMD's FSR Redstone draws scrutiny for its mixed results in frame generation. Plus, there's a lively debate on whether Star Wars Outlaws feels more tailored for the Switch 2 compared to Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Insights, controversies, and fun revelations abound!

The team dives into the rivalry between Metroid Prime 4 on Switch 1 and Switch 2, examining performance and graphics. Micron's exit from the consumer RAM market raises concerns for PC builders. Exciting news for gamers as Nvidia partially revives 32-bit PhysX for select titles. CD Projekt promises an ambitious timeline for the next Witcher games. They also lament the current state of HDR in gaming and celebrate the impressive TimeSplitters Rewind demo, leaving listeners engaged and eager for more tech discussions.

This week features an in-depth look at Ghost of Yōtei's impressive frame-rate upgrades. The team discusses an upcoming PC port for Death Stranding 2, raising expectations for enhancements. Excitement builds over the eXoWin9X, which revives vintage PC games effortlessly. Further, they break down the technical aspects of Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows for Switch 2, while applauding Panic Button for their crucial upgrade work. Plus, there's lively chatter about unexpected product features and the impact of rising RAM prices on future consoles.

This week features a deep dive into the intriguing pricing of the upcoming Steam Machine, sparking debates about its target audience and upgrade potential. The hosts discuss the surprising performance drops caused by a recent Windows update, revealing significant FPS regressions in games. There's excitement over the new Linux FSR 4 support via Proton, especially for older GPUs. Plus, they explore the latest on Red Dead Redemption's re-releases and take a look at the visually stunning Horizon Steel Frontiers, before recommending the addictive twin-stick shooter, Sektori.

Valve's Steam Machine is causing quite a stir, with its pricing and specs still shrouded in mystery. The team debates its potential impact on Microsoft and the gaming landscape. They delve into the details of the Hawk Point 2 CPU and its relevance for gaming. Concerns arise about 8GB of VRAM and the choice of GPU. The conversation also covers challenges like anti-cheat solutions for Linux and the excitement around future Valve IP launches, possibly even Half-Life. Plus, a look at the innovative streaming-first Steam Frame hints at exciting possibilities!

Oliver McKenzie, a technology and VR specialist, dives into Valve's groundbreaking Steam Frame VR headset. He shares hands-on impressions, highlighting its unique ability to stream games as well as run them natively using an x86 to ARM translation. The discussion covers impressive specs like Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 2160x2160 displays, along with features like foveated rendering and modular design. Oliver also explores the headset's standalone capabilities, expandable storage, and its compatibility with the Steam ecosystem, making it a game-changer in VR.

Dive into the excitement of Valve's Steam Machine, a next-gen PC/console hybrid. Discover its impressive specs, including a powerful six-core Zen4 CPU and RDNA3 GPU. Hear firsthand impressions of gaming performance from demos at Valve HQ. The new Steam Controller boasts enhanced ergonomics and connectivity features. Learn about the device's design for living room use, and the implications for the gaming landscape. Plus, insights on potential third-party options and the device's future in the Steam ecosystem!