Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

DF Direct Special: Nintendo Switch 2 - Year One - The Digital Foundry Verdict 06.06.2026 51dk

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.

DF Direct Q+A: Can Switch 2 Handle 60FPS Call of Duty? Custom PC vs Steam Machine, Nvidia RTX Spark 05.06.2026 50dk

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.

DF Direct Special: State of Play June 2026 Reaction - Wolverine, God of War Laufey, Tomb Raider, Rayman + More! 03.06.2026 47dk

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.

DF Direct Weekly #266: Huge Steam Deck Price Rises, New Witcher 3 Expansion, Switch 2 COD, MGS4! 01.06.2026 1sa 30dk

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.

DF Direct Q+A: What Is Unreal Engine 6? If Steam Is A Monopoly, Why Do We Like it? 29.05.2026 53dk

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.

DF Direct Weekly #265: The End of Destiny 2, Lego Batman Tested, Yoshi Switch 2 25.05.2026 1sa 25dk

John, Oliver and Rich sit down to discuss the latest gaming and technology news, kicking off with the end of the road for Destiny 2. It's had a fantastic long run, but where does that leave Bungie? Following that, it's a - dare we say it - Unreal Fest. The team discuss the latest Lego Batman on PS5 and PC, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on Switch and more, before moving into retrospective mode - it's been one year since the Witcher 4 UE5 demo and five years since we went hands-on with the Valley of the Ancient demo, so what have we learned? And finally, the nostalgia continues: this week, it's been an incredible TEN YEARS of DF Retro!0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:16 News 1: Bungie ends Destiny 2 development0:19:44 News 2: Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight released 0:32:51 News 3: Yoshi and the Mysterious Book tested 0:45:41 News 4: Two new UE5 games buck engine trends 0:57:36 Retrospective: 5 year Unreal Engine 5 early access anniversary 1:12:07 Retrospective: DF Retro celebrates 10 year anniversary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Sony Tightens Grip on Exclusivity, FSR 4 on Xbox? What Is The Immense Engine? 21.05.2026 43dk

The show kicks off with the news that Sony is no longer bringing its single-player narrative-driven games to PC before moving on to supporter questions! How competitive would PS5 with Linux be to Valve's Steam Machine? Will FSR 4.1 come to Xbox consoles and could a PSSR Lite come to base PlayStation 5? Would there be any point bringing Quick Resume to PS6 and... is it Xbox or XBOX and should we change our pronounciation of the name?!00:00 Introduction00:45 News: Sony says single-player Sony games will no longer release on PC08:14 Supporter Q1: Could a Linux-running PS5 be a good Steam Machine alternative?12:48 Supporter Q2: Will FSR 4.1 come to Xbox? What about a PSSR for base PS5?19:03 Supporter Q3: Could Sony implement Quick Resume for PS5?24:56 Supporter Q4: Could a new third party commercial game engine succeed?33:15 Supporter Q5: Do any of you double dip on game re-releases?40:42 Supporter Q6: Is it Xbox or XBOX? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #264: PS5 Path Tracing Tested, FSR 4.1 For RDNA 2/3, 007 First Light Hits 60FPS! 17.05.2026 1sa 23dk

PS5 Linux continues to yield dividends as Rich tests path tracing on PS5 with Quake 2 RTX, Portal RTX and Cyberpunk 2077 RT Overdrive (!) on Sony's console. Beyond that, there's great news with the announcement of FSR 4.1 coming to older Radeon graphics cards, and there's a hint that Xbox may have some kind of "disc to digital" way to bring your physical purchases over to a potentially disc-less Project Helix. Finally, the team celebrate a duo of key anniversaries - Uncharted 4 and Doom 2016!0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:03 News 1: Path tracing tested on PS5! 0:22:07 News 2: FSR 4.1 coming to RDNA 2/30:36:07 News 3: New 007 First Light footage shows 60fps PS5 Pro gameplay 0:46:23 News 4: Report suggests Xbox “disc to digital” program may be coming0:57:18 Retrospective: 10 year Uncharted 4 anniversary 1:09:36 Retrospective: 10 year Doom (2016) anniversary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Do We Actually Need Next-Gen Graphics? Can Switch 2 Last 6-7 Years? Switch 2 OLED? 12.05.2026 56dk

Another packed Direct Q+A show sees Oliver, Rich and Alex getting to grips with high-end graphics: are they actually worth it and are technological advances worth pushing? Meanwhile, can Switch 2 last for the 6-7 years Nintendo wants it to - or will next-gen consoles make it obsolete for multi-platform titles? All this and more in the new Direct Q+A Show. 00:00 Introduction 00:53 Supporter Q1: Is the high end PC experience really worth it? Should we stop pushing top-tier visuals in general? 11:07 Supporter Q2: Will we have to wait years for a SWOLED 2? What should we make of Nintendo’s reported increase in R&D spend? 19:44 Supporter Q3: Can Switch 2 handle another 6 or 7 years of cross-gen software? 24:46 Supporter Q4: Given inflation, isn’t it true that gaming hardware today is relatively cheap? 31:02 Supporter Q5: Could Microsoft ship a version of Windows for Xbox Series? 35:36 Supporter Q6: Will Project Helix hardware prove tempting for AI users? 39:09 Supporter Q7: Is PC emulation on Android ready for prime time? 44:04 Supporter Q8: What would you do in 2026 with an old 10-series PC? 49:17 Supporter Q9: How much does Oliver cut out of DF Direct every week? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #263: Star Fox Returns, Switch 2 Price Hike, Nvidia GTX 10-Series 10th Anniversary! 11.05.2026 1sa 20dk

In this week's Direct, Oliver, John and Rich get to grips with the reveal of Nintendo's Star Fox remake for Switch 2, there's justified concern over the Nintendo price hike for its new console, while Activision confirms that the next Call of Duty will finally leave last generation hardware behind. Meanwhile, the Pragmata resolution saga continues with an undocumented resolution hike for the PlayStation 5 Professional, while Pragmata (again) has an unconventional way to boost performance on Switch 2. And finally, the panel mark the 10th anniversary of Nvidia's remarkable Pascal architecture.0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:19 News 1: Nintendo reveals Star Fox! 0:17:18 News 2: Nintendo increases Switch 2 prices 0:27:38 News 3: Next Call of Duty drops PS40:39:05 News 4: Pragmata gets surprise PS5 Pro resolution bump 0:46:39 News 5: Switch 2 GameChat can boost game performance! 0:56:24 News 6: Nvidia 10 series hits 10 year anniversary! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Is Project Helix A Console Or PC? Will Non-RT Modes Get Worse Over Time? Neo Geo AES+ 07.05.2026 53dk

A new Q+A show sees John, Rich and Alex tackle a number of big questions. Is Project Helix a console or PC? What's the difference nowadays anyway? Will Microsoft's "K2" initiative win back users lamenting the Windows experience? Meanwhile, with no games focusing on ray tracing, will rasterised fallbacks decline in quality going forward? All this and much, much more.00:00 Introduction 00:50 Supporter Q1: When does a console become a PC? 10:27 Supporter Q2: What should we expect from Microsoft’s “K2” plan for Windows? 21:33 Supporter Q3: Will developers stop caring about their raster-only graphics? 34:19 Supporter Q4: What do you think of the Neo Geo AES+?39:19 Supporter Q5: Why is Intel starting to ignore gaming dGPUs? 44:54 Supporter Q6: Is using frame gen to get to 30fps acceptable? 51:12 Supporter Q7: Do you know what pico means in Chilean Spanish? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #262: PS5 Linux Steam Gaming Tested vs PS5, Oblivion Remastered Still "Broken" 04.05.2026 1sa 12dk

Exploited PS5s can now run Linux - so obviously we had to check it out, running Steam versions of Crimson Desert, Black Myth Wukong and Pragmata on Linux via Steam, stacked up against the actual PS5 versions - with some fascinating results. Meanwhile, Alex talks us through an amazing tech presentation from the developers of Teardown, John impresses us with his new Anbernic RG477M, Tom provides us test data to prove that Oblivion Remastered is indeed still "broken", while Rich and Alex come to terms with the fact that it's time to say goodbye to the Ryzen 5 3600.0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:15 News 1: Linux gaming on PS5 tested! 0:26:31 News 2: Teardown devs highlight voxel ray tracing enhancements0:38:10 News 3: Anbernic retro handheld tested! 0:50:31 News 4: Oblivion Remastered is still broken 0:59:29 News 5: Saying goodbye to the Ryzen 5 3600 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Will Path Tracing Go Mainsteam? Will Oblivion Remastered Ever Get Fixed? 29.04.2026 56dk

Some excellent questions from Digital Foundry Supporters this week. Does the F1 25 PS5 Pro path tracing demo and ReSTIR optimisations mean that path tracing is going mainstream - maybe for next gen? Is there still untapped potential in PS5 and Series X? Is Microsoft's new "We Are Xbox" strategy document just a massive balloon of hot air? Is Nvidia making path tracing an exclusive feature and what do we think about that? And... a year on from release, why Oblivion Remastered still broken?00:00 Introduction 00:35 Supporter Q1: Will path tracing efficiency improvements bring PT to current gen console games? 12:30 Supporter Q2: Is there still untapped potential in PS5 and Series X?19:25 Supporter Q3: Have we hit the peak of ML image reconstruction? 27:45 Supporter Q4: Why is path tracing exclusive to Nvidia in so many recent games? 32:54 Supporter Q5: Will Oblivion Remastered ever be fixed? 39:57 Supporter Q6: Would games really run 30% faster if they were optimized for Intel CPUs? 45:31 Supporter Q7: Do Microsoft’s recent Xbox promises mean anything? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #261: F1 25 PS5 Pro Path Tracing Demo, AC Black Flag Resynced, New Xbox Strategy 27.04.2026 1sa 28dk

A new DF Direct arrives and with it, some remarkable news that failed to emerge from this year's GDC - namely that Codemasters has a demo of path tracing working on the PS5 Pro version of F1 25. How good is it? How fast is it? Alex clues us in. Meanwhile, the team discuss the AC Black Flag Resynced reveal, Tom looks at Mouse PI For Hire across several platforms and there's much excitement about the prospect of Panther Lake arriving in the handheld space.0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:03 News 1: GDC talk: F1 25 path tracing implemented on PS5 Pro0:20:22 News 2: LiberNovo Omni Chair [Sponsored] 0:33:15 News 3: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced revealed! 0:44:09 News 4: Game Pass Ultimate price slashed, Call of Duty access restricted1:03:05 News 5: News 5: Mouse: P.I. For Hire tested! 1:18:11 News 6: Intel planning Panther Lake handheld reveal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Will PSSR Lower Game Resolutions? Starfield Switch 2, Is RTX 5080 OK For Path Tracing 22.04.2026 48dk

The latest Q+A show sees Rich, Oliver and Alex discussing a range of topics. If PSSR2 looks good at lower resolutions than the standard PS5 version, should developers focus on higher settings? There are plus and minus points. Should Nintendo add 120Hz and VRR support on Switch 2 when running Switch 1 software? Is an RTX 5080 good enough for path tracing? And should Sony's more affordable next-gen console actually live in the cloud?00:00 Introduction01:18 News 1: Why do developers keep increasing internal resolutions in their PS5 Pro games with PSSR?08:57 News 2: Could Nintendo add 120Hz support or VRR for Switch 1 software on Switch 2?15:04 News 3: Should studios develop game engine specific upscalers like PICO?23:36 News 4: Can we solve uncapped frame-rates by capping the display to 30Hz? And why doesn’t Capcom cap their games?29:25 News 5: What will the rumoured Switch 2 Starfield port look like?35:23 News 6: Should I get an RTX 5080 for path traced games?40:36 News 7: Should Sony offer a PS6 Cloud Edition? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #260: Metro 2039 Looks Phenomenal, Ryzen 5800X3D Returns, Starfield PS5 Crash Fix? 21.04.2026 1sa 4dk

The new Direct sees Alex, Rich and Oliver reacting to the reveal of Metro 2039 - and it looks like another technical showcase from the brilliant 4A Games. Nvidia denies wanting to acquire a big PC manufacturer, but it kinda of makes sense, so is it going to happen? The team share disbelief about the quality of tech QA on Starfield PS5's launch, before moving on to Asha Sharma's comments about Game(s) Pass being too expensive. There's a warm welcome for the return of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D - but how much will it cost? And finally, what happened when Pragmata on PS5 ran at 1440p on Rich's PS5 - but only 1080p on Oliver and Tom's consoles? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:13 News 1: Metro 2039 revealed! 0:15:50 News 2: Nvidia: we aren’t acquiring a PC maker 0:22:58 News 3: Bethesda: Starfield PS5 crash fixes incoming0:33:16 News 4: Asha Sharma: Game Pass is too expensive 0:44:16 News 5: Report: Ryzen 5800X3D to return0:54:33 Content discussion: is Pragmata on PS5 1080p or 1440p? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: Should Nintendo Make A Switch 2 Home Console? Is Console Gaming Stagnating? 15.04.2026 51dk

In the latest edition of the DF Direct Q+A show, we tackle the question of whether Switch 2 and the upcoming Sony handheld should spawn cheaper "micro-console" variants. We ponder the reasons behind the delay of the Switch 2 port of 007 First Light. Why do Xbox games have screen-tearing where Sony versions do not? And a big one - is console gaming and gaming in general stagnating?00:00 Introduction 00:44 Supporter Q1: Should Nintendo release a home console-only version of Switch 2? And should Sony package their PS6 handheld as a home console? 10:16 Supporter Q2: Given recent handheld price spikes, what’s a realistic price for a PS6 handheld? 16:36 Supporter Q3: Is the 007 First Light delay for Switch 2 a good thing? 22:06 Supporter Q4: Why do Xbox games often tear when their PS5 counterparts are perfectly v-synced? 28:50 Supporter Q5: Have console stagnation and game engine homogeneity made gaming boring? 38:51 Supporter Q6: Should PC settings options be less granular? 45:58 Supporter Q7: Should console game devs introduce settings that don’t do anything to placate users? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #259: Pragmata Tested, Forza Horizon 6, Samson Disappointment, Nvidia N1 Leaks 13.04.2026 1sa 24dk

It's another BIG Direct! The embargo for Pragmata lifts today and John and Rich share their thoughts on the PC version ahead of a look at all of the console versions later in the week. The team discuss the recent round of Forza Horizon 6 previews, before moving on to the highs and the lows of playing Samson from Liquid Swords. Alex has much to share about Nvidia's latest path tracing innovations, Rich is intrigued by Nvidia's upcoming Nvidia N1/N1X based laptops, while the reveal of an amazing Super Mario Bros demo on Sega Master System leads to some disturbing anecdotes from Rich. 0:00:00 Introduction0:00:56 News 1: Pragmata tested on PC!0:15:09 News 2: Forza Horizon 6 impresses in new previews0:26:06 News 3 Samson proves deeply disappointing0:48:12 News 4: Nvidia talks path tracing advances at GDC1:02:21 News 5: Nvidia N1 motherboard leaks1:12:14 News 6: Super Mario Brothers demoed on Sega Master System Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Q+A: The Big PlayStation 6 Pricing Debate + Will It Support Physical Media? 08.04.2026 52dk

In the wake of pricing discussion at the end of DF Direct Weekly #258, Rich opens up the question to the audience: how much would you pay for PlayStation 6? And will it support physical media? If a Sony handheld arrives, how will it play your older PlayStation titles? And moving away from next-gen Sony, will Project Helix have configurable memory options? And if you're not so interested in consoles, is there actually a good time to upgrade your PC? Finally, with Crimson Desert offering so many different options at this point, should console users just get the full PC graphics menu?01:14 Supporter Q1: How much would you be willing to pay for a PS6? 23:31 Supporter Q2: Will the PS6 have a detachable disc drive?27:39 Supporter Q3: Can Sony square a PS6 handheld with existing physical game libraries?33:46 Supporter Q4: Is this actually a good time to upgrade my PC?39:41 Supporter Q5: Could Project Helix have configurable RAM? 44:48 Supporter Q6: Should Crimson Desert offer PC-like settings configurability on consoles? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DF Direct Weekly #258: Crimson Desert Switch 2, New PS6 Leaks, DLSS Dynamic Multi Frame-Gen 06.04.2026 1sa 27dk

Pearl Abyss has started research into a Switch 2 port of Crimson Desert, but warns that there may be cutbacks and changes - so what would they be? Rich, John and Alex discuss before moving onto a brace of new Nvidia technologies. DLSS Dynamic Multi Frame-Gen feels like it isn't quite finished, while Auto Shader Compilation also feels early - failing to address the main #StutterStruggle problem. John shares his impressions of Daytona USA on MAME, the team assess the latest PS6 leaks, while unearthing original Assassin's Creed Unity E3 2014 trailers raises a lot of questions...0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:50 News 1: Crimson Desert Switch 2 has begun R&D0:12:08 News 2: DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Gen tested! 0:32:55 News 3: Nvidia Auto Shader Compilation aims to smooth driver updates 0:45:25 News 4: Daytona USA finally in great shape on MAME 0:56:28 News 5: PS6 leaks: Handheld CPU spec, BoM cost, online infrastructure 1:12:49 Content discussion: E3 2014 Assassin’s Creed Unity demos Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.