Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

Epizody

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  DF Direct Q+A: Creation Engine 3 in Elder Scrolls 6/Fallout 5, Is Doom THE Great American Videogame? 24.07.2026 51min

  The Q+A show returns, with Rich, Oliver and Will getting to grips with the potential of the Creation Engine 3 in The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5, while assessing the merits of Doom as THE great American videogame. Sony's new vapour chamber patent is considered for PS6 viability, while questions linger over what Sega's support for Nvidia's RTX Spark actually amounts to. And there's more: what would the generation have looked like if it stuck to 30fps? Is Sony killing discs really about its post-handheld ecosystem? And what's the deal with Oliver's cat?00:00 Introduction00:42 Supporter Q1: What can we expect from Bethesda’s Creation Engine 3?13:58 Supporter Q2: Is Doom (1993) the great American video game?20:37 Supporter Q3: Does Sony’s new vapour chamber patent mean they are ditching liquid metal?26:58 Supporter Q4: Will developers deliver native ARM versions of their games for RTX Spark?33:16 Supporter Q5: Would console graphics look better if developers skipped 60 FPS modes entirely?41:40 Supporter Q6: Has the next-gen portable PlayStation driven Sony’s decision to kill discs?46:58 Supporter Q7: When will we see the non-tail parts of Oliver’s cat? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Weekly #273: The Future of Fallout + Elder Scrolls, Xbox Account Deletion, Switch 2 OLED? 20.07.2026 1h 37min

  Bethesda tweets out its current Fallout/Elders Scrolls plans... but why? Meanwhile, digital accounts and draconian anti-consumer limitations come into focus, the Ryzen 7 7700X3D is released and Capcom reveals good news about its upcoming Dragon's Dogma 2 Switch 2 port. Dying Light The Beast is cancelled on last-gen, rumours emerge of a Switch 2 OLED and the team reflect on the tenth anniversary of our reveal of the original Nintendo Switch specs.0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:40 News 1: Bethesda announces new Fallout games in massive post 0:25:44 News 2: Streamer’s Microsoft account pulled, reinstated after outcry 0:47:51 News 3: Capcom claims Dragon’s Dogma 2 on Switch 2 “exceeding expectations”0:58:04 News 4: Dying Light: The Beast cancelled on last-gen consoles 1:06:34 News 5: Ryzen 7700X3D tested! 1:18:13 News 6: Nintendo reportedly considering Switch 2 OLED 1:28:22 Retrospective: Nintendo Switch 1 specs reveal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Q+A: How Does The Xbox Reset Impact Project Helix? 16.07.2026 47min

  The fallout from the Xbox Reset continues as more questions are raised: does Xbox's recent pivots change the plan for Project Helix? Will it still allow other PC stores to run on it? Will it have a disc drive? Meanwhile, other questions are asked: will cancelling PlayStation Plus make Sony rethink its physical media cancellation? What about the "code in the box" GTA 6? And is Nintendo the last platform holder that not to lay-off its developers and antagonise its audience?00:00 Introduction01:06 Supporter Q1: If Microsoft makes so much money as a platform holder, why will Project Helix let you play Steam games?14:41 Supporter Q2: Could Project Helix have an optional disc drive?19:46 Supporter Q3: Could players sway Sony’s mind on PS5 discs by cancelling PlayStation Plus?26:09 Supporter Q4: What’s the worst thing Nintendo has ever done?34:20 Supporter Q5: Should we buy GTA 6 in physical form to prove a point to Sony and Take-Two?37:17 Supporter Q6: What PS3 game should get the Black Flag Resynced treatment? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Weekly #272: id Software Lay-Offs Damage Control, COD Black Ops PS5, 5 Years Of Steam Deck 13.07.2026 1h 25min

  In the wake of the outcry against the decimation of id Software, Microsoft and seemingly id itself try to downplay the damage and reassure the audience - but what do we think of this - and indeed John Carmack's statements on the issue? Meanwhile Oliver has some bad news about Call of Duty Black Ops on PS5 or rather, the "Just There" edition as Rich dubs it. Beyond that, the petition against the end of PS5 physical media crosses the 250,000 threshold and there's further evidence that RTX 50 Series Super is happening. Finally, after wading through a bunch of bad news, the team find something to celebrate as we hit the five year anniversary of the Steam Deck reveal.0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:32 News 1: Doom: The Dark Ages DLC arrives, while id layoffs linger 0:35:23 News 2: “Don’t kill the disc” petition crosses 250,000 signatures 0:55:07 News 3: Black Ops 1 & 2 launch on PS4, PS5 1:02:53 News 4: PSU maker drops RTX 50 Super series info 1:13:18 Retrospective: 5 years of Steam Deck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Q+A: Xbox 'Reset' Worse Than Expected - Huge Job Losses + The End of idTech? 07.07.2026 1h 3min

  One part necessary re-organisation, one part liberation for key developers, one part vandalism of Xbox studios, it's a mixture of disbelief and anger from the DF panel as the full extent of Xbox's so-called "reset" becomes clear. If Asha Sharma's report on the business is on the level, clearly something had to be done - but as the scale of the lay-offs and the astonishing cuts to id Software become clear, are spreadsheets now more important to Microsoft than its audience?0:00:00 Introduction0:00:51 Supporter Q1: Why is Microsoft laying off 3200 people?0:28:39 Supporter Q2: Will Sony be forced to be more flexible with their digital storefront, now that physical discs are on the way out?0:45:04 Supporter Q3: Should Microsoft and Sony just call their next-gen consoles off?0:54:48 Supporter Q4: Could the PS6 SoC be revised?1:00:19 Supporter Q5: Could you use PCIe expansion to attach graphics expansion tech to current consoles? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Weekly #271: The End Of PlayStation Physical Media & True Game Ownership 06.07.2026 1h 11min

  Sony announces the end of PlayStation game discs via a three paragraph blog post - bringing to an end the era of physical media and actually owning the games you buy, along with the right to resell them, share them and preserve them. A sombre panel assesses the full implications of Sony's decision, why it's doing it, the damage it'll cause and how the PlayStation Store needs a major revamp to take the place of physical media. Also: Sony shuts down the PS3 and Vita stores, Xbox may have alternative plans for potentially phasing out discs and a new Switch 2 LCD panel will hopefully address the problems of the current one.0:00:00 Introduction0:00:52 News 1: Sony planning to cease manufacturing new PlayStation games0:43:32 News 2: Sony pulling PS3, Vita digital stores0:54:47 News 3: Xbox disc to digital program reportedly planned1:01:55 News 4: New Switch 2 display reportedly enters the fray Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Q+A: The Big "$1000 Next-Gen Console" Debate + Is GTA 6 Over-Hyped? 01.07.2026 1h

  In the wake of Steam Machine pricing and sharp Xbox MSRP increases, are we looking at the prospect of a $1000 next-gen console? John, Rich and Oliver discuss. Meanwhile, in the current climate, how can you save money on gaming hardware? Is GTA 6 in danger of being the most over-hyped game ever? And if time travel were available, how could the current Xbox crisis have been averted?00:00 Introduction00:51 News 1: How does the gaming industry survive recent hardware price bumps?24:54 News 2: What’s your advice for saving money on gaming hardware?33:44 News 3: How is John feeling after the GTA 6 code-in-a-box fiasco?42:11 News 4: Is GTA 6 the most overhyped game ever?46:57 News 5: If you could time travel, how would you fix Xbox?55:28 News 6: What’s the future of the Steam Machine? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Weekly #270: GTA 6 Screens: Are They Real-Time, Xbox Price Jump, FSR 4 on RDNA 3 29.06.2026 1h 18min

  Oliver, Rich and Tom discuss GTA 6. Are the 63 new screenshots indicative of actual gameplay? What about the "code in a box" situation? Are the latest PS5 Pro rumours plausible? Meanwhile, the panel is shocked by the huge Xbox price rises, somewhat more positive about FSR 4 arriving on RDNA 3 GPUs, and there's a full breakdown of Sonic Frontiers for Switch 2. And finally, SteamOS can now power a range of desktop PC hardware - but wasn't Bazzite doing that already?0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:37 News 1: New GTA 6 assets, details released 0:32:43 News 2: AI-driven price rises hit Xbox, Apple0:45:52 News 3: FSR 4.1 released for RDNA 3 GPUs0:57:50 News 4: SteamOS 3.8 supports wide range of AMD PCs1:05:53 News 5: Sonic Frontiers tested on Switch 2! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Q+A: Steam Machine - The Big Price/Performance/Form Factor Debate 26.06.2026 39min

  In the wake of our Steam Machine review, Rich and Will tackle a range of Supporter questions on the price, value and design of the hardware, the ability of Valve to supply it - and the future of SteamOS in general.00:00 Introduction00:37 Supporter Q1: What should we think of the value of the Steam Machine?12:03 Supporter Q2: What’s the target audience for the Steam Machine?20:01 Supporter Q3: Should Valve have used unified memory?25:19 Supporter Q4: Is Valve incapable of shipping hardware in volume at the moment?29:30 Supporter Q5: Will Nvidia be supported in future SteamOS releases?35:09 Supporter Q6: Why doesn’t the Steam Machine have a lunchbox-style handle? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Weekly #269: GTA 6 News Reaction, UE5 Upgrades, UE6, Gears E-Day Tech Demo 21.06.2026 1h 11min

  Actual GTA 6 news - and a new clip - see John, Tom and Oliver "concerned" over missing RT reflections. Then it's onto Unreal Fest with discussion on the latest Unreal Engine 5 upgrades and the implications of AI in Unreal Engine 6 workflow. The Gears of War: E-Day tech demo demands attention, while John gets to grips with a staggeringly expensive VR headset. And would you believe it's been a whole five years since we published our massive PS1 launch episode of DF Retro? John's got some stories to share.0:00:00 Introduction0:02:33 News 1: Rockstar releases new GTA 6 footage0:11:10 News 2: Unreal Engine 5.8 demonstrated at Unreal Fest0:31:10 News 3: Epic reveals new Unreal Engine 6 details0:39:41 News 4: New PS5 8TB SSD costs nearly $30000:45:20 News 5: Call of Duty Black Ops 1 and 2 being ported to PlayStation0:50:49 News 6: John tests Pimax Dream Air1:03:56 Retrospective: looking back on DF Retro PS1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Q+A: Xbox Reboot Studio Closure Reports, RTX 50-Series Super Returns? ARM ML Rendering 17.06.2026 53min

  The team is left reeling after reports emerge of studios on the brink within Microsoft - a far cry from the highs of the summer showcase and previous comments from management about preserving their studio structure. Meanwhile, we discuss ARM's new ML rendering suite, the potential return of the previously cancelled RTX 50-series Super cards and... is Sega working on a retro handheld and if so, what would we want from it?00:00 Introduction00:48 Supporter Q1: What’s going on at Xbox?21:08 Supporter Q2: Will Xbox become the next 3DO?29:35 Supporter Q3: What do you think of ARM’s new AI rendering suite?36:44 Supporter Q4: What should we expect from the 50 series Super cards?44:00 Supporter Q5: What does Intel and Nvidia’s GPU collaboration mean for Arc?49:35 Supporter Q6: Is Sega working on a new retro handheld? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Weekly #268: Ocarina of Time Remake, Nintendo Direct, Fable Gameplay, RTX 3060 Returns 15.06.2026 1h 13min

  Nintendo Direct rounds off the big summer gaming events and... well, it's a mixed bag for sure. What have we learned about the Ocarina of Time Remake? How well are the third party ports holding up? John, Rich and Oliver have some thoughts on that before moving on to reactions to the 30 minute Fable gameplay demo. Meanwhile, Nintendo is planning a new Switch 2 revision with a replaceable battery and... somehow, the RTX 3060 has returned.0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:12 News 1: Nintendo Direct: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 0:09:29 Xenoblade Genesis, Xenoblade 1-3 Switch 2 Editions0:17:40 Kingdom Hearts 4, Kingdom Hearts 1-3 0:22:21 Third party games: Dragon’s Dogma 2, Onimusha, Metaphor Refantazio, Space Marine 2, The Duskbloods, Devil May Cry 5, Rise of the Tomb Raider 0:35:47 News 2: Fable previewed in 30 minute demo 0:42:55 News 3: Switch 2 gets easily repairable EU edition 0:50:46 News 4: Is the RTX 3060 coming back? 1:03:51 Retrospective: Five years of FSR 1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Q+A: The Big "Xbox Reset" Memo Debate - What Happens Next? 12.06.2026 49min

  Our audience has questions, we've got answers - but first, the team gets to grips with the contents of Asha Sharma and Matt Booty's Xbox Reset memo. Beyond that, is Xbox console exclusivity the best route forward? Should Valve update Steam Machine specs? Will God of War Laufey get a massive PS6 enhancement? It's a big show and there's still more to discuss beyond that.00:00 Introduction01:00 What should we make of Asha Sharma’s “XBOX Reset?”21:40 Supporter Q1: Will exclusives be enough to save Xbox?27:47 Supporter Q2: Should Valve scrap Steam Machine for something more powerful?33:44 Supporter Q3: Could God of War Laufey feature RTGI on PS6?37:44 Supporter Q4: Are mainstream CPUs good enough for modern games?44:18 Supporter Q5: Has the Series S secretly saved Switch 2? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Weekly #267: Resi Evil Veronica, FF7 Revelation, Stellar Blade 2 - The Big SGF Video 09.06.2026 1h 6min

  Taped before we produced our Xbox Showcase coverage, it's John, Rich and Oliver at their respective microphones to discuss all the big games at the recent Summer Game Fest. Geoff came good - as this excellent line-up of titles reveals. 0:00:00 Introduction0:02:28 Final Fantasy 7 Revelation0:10:35 Resident Evil Veronica0:19:20 Stellar Blade: Blood Rain0:24:35 Mighty Cuphead Adventures0:29:25 Alien Isolation 20:33:21 Gen Atlas0:40:23 Clutch0:45:12 Crossfire0:52:42 Virtua Fighter Crossroads0:58:14 Other games: Haex, Star Wars Galactic Racer, 1666 Amsterdam, Star Wars Zero Company, Hot Wheels Infinite Rush, Guild Wars 3, Super Yooka-Laylee Kart Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Special: Xbox Showcase 2026: Gears E-Day, Halo, Senua, Metro 2039 Reaction + More 08.06.2026 1h 11min

  It's Xbox's time to shine with the latest in the big summer showcases and Team Green certainly delivered. Gears of War: E-Day finally breaks cover, Halo Campaign Evolved impresses, while Senua, Metro 2039 and Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy look phenomenal. But what's the deal with Microsoft's exclusivity strategy and will it actually work?0:00:00 Introduction0:00:46 Gears of War: E-Day0:13:36 Clockwork Revolution0:16:21 Is Xbox returning to exclusive games?0:29:30 Halo Campaign Evolved0:34:24 Persona 4 Revival and Persona 60:38:52 Senua0:43:21 Spyro: A Realm Beyond0:46:02 Metro 20390:49:35 Crazy Taxi: World Tour0:53:20 Doom: The Dark Ages | Revelations0:57:57 Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember1:00:48 Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy1:04:40 Xbox 25th Anniversary Series X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Special: Nintendo Switch 2 - Year One - The Digital Foundry Verdict 06.06.2026 51min

  At the time of publication, it has been one year and one day since Nintendo launched the Switch 2 console - so, as is DF tradition, it's time to look back over the last year and assess the system's track record so far. Strong back compat, impressive first and third party support, actual ray tracing and game-changing DLSS results - has Nintendo managed to put a foot wrong at all?00:00 Overview01:10 Is Switch 2 a generational leap over Switch 1?11:40 What are the worst and best Switch 2 ports?21:46 Has Nintendo extracted the most from Switch 2 in their own games?27:34 Have we accepted Switch 2’s hardware flaws?33:27 What do we make of GameChat, GameShare, and mouse controls?37:51 How do we rate Switch 2’s backwards compatibility?44:08 Concluding thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Q+A: Can Switch 2 Handle 60FPS Call of Duty? Custom PC vs Steam Machine, Nvidia RTX Spark 05.06.2026 50min

  With the welcome announcement of Call of Duty coming to Switch 2, the question is... can the hardware handle the series' signature 60fps? Meanwhile, what does Nvidia aim to achieve with its new RTX Spark processor? In the wake of the shock Steam Deck price rises, could a self-built PC potentially offer superior value? What's the fate of Xbox Series S in the Helix era? All this and more in the new DF Direct Q+A show.00:00 Introduction00:40 Supporter Q1: Do you think Modern Warfare 4 will be good on Switch 2?09:38 Supporter Q2: Is the Nvidia N1X an expensive, niche chip?24:25 Supporter Q3: Is a custom PC a better deal than Steam Machine?31:00 Supporter Q4: Are review embargoes becoming more strict?37:50 Supporter Q5: Will Microsoft ditch Series S when Project Helix arrives?42:07 Supporter Q6: Are high hardware prices a boon for game optimization? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Special: State of Play June 2026 Reaction - Wolverine, God of War Laufey, Tomb Raider, Rayman + More! 03.06.2026 47min

  The summer games showcase event season is upon us and Sony is first off the mark with an excellent showing. God of War Laufey and Marvel's Wolverine are the highlights of the event, but there's plenty more that caught our eye here. John and Oliver share their thoughts on the event.00:00 Introduction 01:13 God of War Laufey 08:44 Marvel’s Wolverine 16:46 Rayman Legends Retold 20:50 Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve 25:09 Stuntman Hollywood 28:55 Until Dawn 232:24 Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis 35:30 Kemuri 37:45 Omimusha: Way of the Sword 43:07 Concluding thoughts  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Weekly #266: Huge Steam Deck Price Rises, New Witcher 3 Expansion, Switch 2 COD, MGS4! 01.06.2026 1h 30min

  The shock news of +40% price rises for Steam Deck kicks off a BIG Direct this week, swiftly followed by the team's first impressions of the PC version of 007 First Light - and its ker-azy upscaling issues. The new Call of Duty coming to Switch 2 is a topic of much interest, as is the announcement of a brand-new expansion for The Witcher 3. Rich is dismayed by the presentation of bare buttocks in Metal Gear Solid 4's PS5 remaster, the panel reminisces on five years of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart - and we deliver an explainer on why it's getting more difficult to cover Xbox Series versions of third-party multi-platform games.0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:04 News 1: Valve restocks Steam Deck with massive price bump 0:20:26 News 2: 007 First Light suffers DLSS issues on PC 0:39:39 News 3: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 announced 0:47:13 News 4: New Witcher 3 expansion announced0:53:27 News 5: MGS4 PS5 port demoed! 1:04:33 News 6: Xbox whitelisting woes derail game coverage 1:14:08 Retrospective: Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart 5-year anniversary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  DF Direct Q+A: What Is Unreal Engine 6? If Steam Is A Monopoly, Why Do We Like it? 29.05.2026 53min

  The team sit down once more to discuss the latest questions from DF Supporters. What do we make of Unreal Engine 6's debut in Rocket League of all places? Has Epic delivered a version of Lumen that is performant enough for lower spec kit? Is Sony's quality control to be blamed for lower than expected PC sales and finally, the big one... if Steam is a monopoly, why do we like it?00:00 Introduction01:09 Supporter Q1: What should we make of the Unreal Engine 6 announcement?16:48 Supporter Q2: What does the new “medium Lumen” preset mean for Switch 2?21:52 Supporter Q3: Which UE5 game got closest visually to The Matrix Awakens?25:58 Supporter Q4: Has the RTX 4090 aged like fine wine?34:10 Supporter Q5: Should Sony’s declining PC port quality be blamed for poor sales?42:05 Supporter Q6: If people don’t like monopolies, why do they like Steam? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.