Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

A lively rundown of the big Developer Direct reveals, including deep tech talk on Forza Horizon 6 and how its visuals are achieved. Conversation about Fable’s demo and its 30 FPS approach. Coverage of Switch 2 boosts, Donkey Kong fixes and curious Animal Crossing changes. Final Fantasy VII Remake’s Xbox and Switch 2 ports get tested. Plus a surprised reaction to Saturn ray tracing and a wild modder-built three-console hybrid.

A puzzling bug is causing performance dips in Monster Hunter Wilds, sparking community mod fixes. There’s excitement over a native Dreamcast port of Super Mario 64, showcasing impressive visuals and technical challenges. The latest Resident Evil Requiem offers thrilling dual protagonist gameplay and stunning graphics. Plus, confusion reigns over the RTX 5070 Ti's discontinuation, and 007 First Light's ambiguous PC specs leave fans scratching their heads. John also shares a sneak peek of Code Vein 2, hinting at potential gameplay innovations.

Join the lively conversation from Las Vegas as the hosts dive into major hardware reveals from CES 2026, including Nvidia, AMD, and Intel's cutting-edge announcements. They highlight remarkable advancements in TV technology, discussing the pros and cons of MicroRGB, OLED, and MicroLED displays. Excitement builds around the impressive Crimson Desert demo, showcasing innovative gaming tech. Plus, they explore the quirky side of CES with AI avatars, robot sparring, and even nostalgic mentions of RCA and RadioShack. Buckle up for a tech-filled adventure!

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.