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Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

Technology Podcasts

When it comes to video games and the hardware and tech we play them on, the team at Digital Foundry are unparalleled experts. Each week, DF Direct breaks down the latest breakthroughs in video game visuals, sound, and performance happening on PlayStation, Xbox, the most powerful PC setups, and more. If you’re a geek for graphics, GPUs, or just video games in general, DF Direct will help you get the most out of your gaming setup.

Location:

United Kingdom

Description:

When it comes to video games and the hardware and tech we play them on, the team at Digital Foundry are unparalleled experts. Each week, DF Direct breaks down the latest breakthroughs in video game visuals, sound, and performance happening on PlayStation, Xbox, the most powerful PC setups, and more. If you’re a geek for graphics, GPUs, or just video games in general, DF Direct will help you get the most out of your gaming setup.

Language:

English

Contact:

07851413480


Episodes
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DF Direct Q+A: Phil Spencer Retires From Xbox... So What Happens Next?

2/25/2026
In our second spin-off Q+A show, we tackle the gaping hole in DF Direct Weekly #252 - the gigaton news that Phil Spencer is retiring from Xbox, Sarah Bond is leading and Asha Sharma is in as EVP and CEO. The team share their initial reactions to the next and wonder what happens next. Beyond that, Sony's strategies are under the microscope, there's a focus on PS5 Pro's fortunes when PS6 appears and finally, will the RAM crisis go as far as impacting game design? 00:00 Supporter Q1: What do you make of the sudden departure of Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond from Microsoft? 20:09 Supporter Q2: Should Sony change their PC strategy and offer a game launcher? 27:12 Supporter Q3: Will the PS5 Pro prove its worth in the PS6 era? 33:23 Supporter Q4: How will Sony more aggressively monetize their install base? 37:20 Supporter Q5: How will RAMageddon impact game design? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:47:35

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DF Direct Weekly #252: Sony Kills Bluepoint, PS6 Delayed? Xenoblade Switch 2 Issues, DLSS IQ Champ!

2/23/2026
This Direct was recorded pre-Phil Spencer retirement news, but we'll be on that imminently. In the meantime, Rich, John and Alex talk Bluepoint Games, a prospective PS6 delay, Steam Deck stock issues, Square-Enix's plans for FF7R Part 3 multiplatform deployment, DLSS winning blind tests against native rendering and FSR 4 and some bizarre IQ issues with Xenoblade Chronicles X on Switch 2. And finally, Alex tells all about his back issues and his journey towards a healthy, pain-free recovery. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:25 News 1: Sony closing Bluepoint Games 0:25:25 News 2: Report: Sony considering 1-2 year PS6 delay 0:36:10 News 3: Steam Deck goes out of stock in multiple regions 0:45:03 News 4: Director: FF7R part 3 won’t be compromised by multi-plat strategy 0:52:53 News 5: ComputerBase blind tests peg DLSS 4.5 as upscaling champ 0:58:50 News 6: Xenoblade Chronicles X has bizarre Switch 2 image quality 1:06:08 Content Discussion: Alex’s spine struggles and new standing desk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:23:09

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DF Direct Q+A: The Big Unreal Engine 5 Image Quality/Performance Debate

2/18/2026
In our first spin-off Q+A show, it's pretty clear what the community is discussing: what's going on with Unreal Engine 5 games in terms of image quality and performance? Are compromised experiences now "part of the furniture" or can/will something be done? Beyond that, we discuss how YouTube quality issues impact our work, whether gaming laptops serve any purpose in the era of the handheld, whether you should play Death Stranding 1 before Death Stranding 2 and if Nvidia really has left the gamer behind. And finally, if we could bring back/remaster/remake any old game, what would it be? 00:00 Introduction 01:05 Supporter Q1: Should we challenge Unreal Engine performance issues more often? 23:14 Supporter Q2: Why do people mistake YouTube issues for game issues? 31:03 Supporter Q3: Do gaming laptops make sense in an era of Switch 2 and PC handhelds? 39:04 Supporter Q4: Is Death Stranding 2 a good point to jump in if you haven’t played the original? 41:50 Supporter Q5: Why is Nvidia skipping new consumer GPU releases this year? 52:02 Supporter Q6: Which game would you rescue from obsolete hardware? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:57:28

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DF Direct Weekly #251: God of War Trilogy, MGS 4, Control Resonant, Silent Hill Townfall!

2/16/2026
It's a big State of Play reaction video as Sony spills the beans on a colossal range of games across a 72 minute magnum opus. John, Oliver and Rich share their thoughts on all the key games that were revealed or showcased in more depth before moving on to other matters. Rich gets a look at DLSS dynamic multi frame-gen and starts to get more of an idea of where graphics technology is heading, while Oliver and John discuss the Unreal Engine 5 image quality/performance comments raised by the audience in the wake of the High on Life 2 review. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:17 News 1: Sony’s jam-packed State of Play: God of War Trilogy Remake, God of War: Sons of Sparta 0:09:46 Saros 0:15:59 Death Stranding 2 PC 0:22:31 Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse 0:36:38 Silent Hill: Townfall 0:42:01 Star Wars: Galactic Racer 0:48:40 Kena: Scars of Kosmora, Control Resonant, 0:58:08 Crimson Moon, Yakoh Shinobi Ops, Project Windless, Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, Rev. NOiR, Untitled John Wick Game, 007 First Light 1:07:56 News 2: Rich tries DLSS Dynamic Multi Frame Gen! 1:20:13 DF Content Discussion: Did we go too easy on High on Life 2? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:40:04

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DF Direct Weekly #250: Steam Machine Delay, Next-Gen Xbox SoC in 2027, Nintendo Direct Reaction!

2/9/2026
In a slightly extended 250th episode, Rich is joined by Oliver, Alex and John for a huge discussion across a range of topics. Valve's still not able to tell us when Steam Machine is coming out, but the projected Q1 release now seems to be H1 instead. Meanwhile, AMD's Dr Lisa Su says that the next-gen Xbox SoC is on track for a 2027 console release... but will the console actually release in 2027? Beyond that, all the reaction to the big Nintendo Direct Direct, Rich reveals that Intel Panther Lake can beat Xbox Series S at 30W, while Alex's tests on the latest Resident Evil 4 update for PC suggest that new DRM can have an impact on game performance. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:38 News 1: Valve: RAM and storage shortages will affect Steam Machine 0:15:51 News 2: AMD: we can support a 2027 Xbox launch 0:32:54 News 3: Nintendo Partner Direct: Oblivion Remastered 0:39:27 Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle 0:50:13 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 0:58:51 Pragmata 1:07:36 Rave Racer, Goemon, Orbitals, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Tales of Arise 1:11:09 News 4: Co-op Horizon game breaks cover 1:21:34 News 5: Intel Panther Lake tested at 30W! 1:33:55 News 6: New Resident Evil DRM hurts performance 1:44:47 Supporter Q1: Could the UE5 denoiser issue affect other upscalers like PSSR? 1:50:15 Supporter Q2: Could path tracing trample on a developer’s artistic vision? 1:53:59 Supporter Q3: Is Genie 3 the end of game development? 2:00:12 Supporter Q4: What are the rules of the OptiPlex challenge? 2:11:52 Supporter Q5: What’s hiding in the 61K unread emails in Oliver’s inbox? 2:15:20 Supporter Q6: Happy 250th episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:02:24:16

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DF Direct Weekly #249: Ryzen 9850X3D Review, Handheld PS4, Kingdom Come Deliverance Console Upgrade!

2/2/2026
A bit of a quiet week, where even the launch of the new CPU gaming champion doesn't quite live up to its billing. Rich talks 9850X3D, John talks 9800X3D system building, while a custom-built handheld PS4 perhaps gives us a hint of the PlayStation handheld to come. John's been playing the Banjo-Kazooie decompilation project and memories are shared on the event of Duke Nukem 3D's 30th birthday. And a current-gen console upgrade for Kingdom Come: Deliverance? Sounds like a good idea! 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:32 News 1: AMD releases chart-topping 9850X3D processor 0:19:19 News 2: Can you build an affordable PC in 2026? 0:41:58 News 3: Banjo-Kazooie recompilation released 0:52:17 News 4: Modder builds portable PS4 handheld 1:00:04 News 5: Kingdom Come: Deliverance current-gen enhancement leaks 1:08:08 News 6: Celebrating Duke Nukem 3D’s 30th anniversary 1:25:10 Supporter Q1: Why doesn’t AMD release an RDNA 4 based SoC for handhelds? 1:30:48 Supporter Q2: Why might Rockstar delay a physical GTA 6 release? 1:36:56 Supporter Q3: If PS6 is delayed to 2029, will Sony improve the hardware? 1:43:21 Supporter Q4: Will cross-gen PS5/6 titles run at 30fps on PS5? 1:49:59 Supporter Q5: What are your expectations for Nvidia’s 6000 series GPUs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:02:06:16

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DF Direct Weekly #248: Forza Horizon 6, Fable, FF7R Xbox, Switch 2 Game Boosts, Saturn Ray Tracing!

1/26/2026
The best gaming showcase event returns - Xbox Developer_underscore_Direct has a proven track record of delivering excellent presentations of impressive games, and the latest is no exception. Rich, John and Oliver discuss Forza Horizon 6, Fable, Beast of Reincarnation and Kiln, before moving onto a brace of Switch 2 enhanced titles, plus a look at the Xbox versions of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade. And yes - Sega Saturn ray tracing. It's real and it's spectacular. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:00 News 1: Developer_Direct 2026 - Forza Horizon 6 0:16:00 Fable 0:31:27 Beast of Reincarnation 0:37:27 Kiln 0:45:50 News 2: DKC Returns gets fixes, Switch 2 boosts + Animal Crossing’s odd Switch 2 Edition 0:58:49 News 3: Final Fantasy 7 Remake tested on Xbox Series! 1:06:43 News 4: Modder builds 3-in-1 Switch/Xbox/PlayStation 1:17:41 Supporter Q1: Why hasn’t Microsoft announced more Switch 2 games? 1:22:03 Supporter Q2: Should Rockstar give PS5 Pro a 40fps mode in GTA 6? 1:27:58 Supporter Q3: Could Microsoft pull out of gaming hardware in favour of cloud gaming? 1:33:52 Supporter Q4: What’s a game everyone loved, but you hated? 1:41:22 Supporter Q5 Is RDNA 5 hyped too much? 1:45:46 Supporter Q6: Now that the Saturn can do ray tracing, should we ditch our current-gen machines? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:57:03

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DF Direct Weekly #247: Monster Hunter PC Perf Drama, Mario 64 Dreamcast Port, RE Requiem Looks Hot!

1/19/2026
Another week, another controversy surrounding Monster Hunter Wilds PC performance - but perhaps this time we're looking at more of a silly bug than a game-breaking issue. John clues us in on a remarkable port of Super Mario 64 for the Sega Dreamcast (!), offers up opinions on Code Vein 2 on PS5 and shares his excitement for the latest Resident Evil Requiem disclosures. There's comment on the RTX 5070 Ti discontinuation reports and general bafflement on what's going on with 007 First Light's PC specs. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:00 News 1: Monster Hunter DLC checks drag PC performance 0:19:37 News 2: RE Requiem trailer showcases dual protagonist gameplay 0:27:34 News 3: RTX 5070 Ti “discontinuation” fracas 0:44:27 News 4: Super Mario 64 ported to Dreamcast 0:56:27 News 5: 007 First Light gets updated PC requirements 1:05:10 News 6: John previews Code Vein 2! 1:09:37 Supporter Q1: How should we pick between DLSS 4.0 and 4.5? 1:19:27 Supporter Q2: What’s a tech that you championed early - for better or for worse? 1:32:57 Supporter Q3: Why do Unreal Engine games on consoles have no shader gathering issues? 1:35:52 Supporter Q4: After the Switch 2 rumour cycle, have you changed your approach to evaluating unverified info? 1:42:55 Supporter Q5: Did Alex ‘raw dog’ his trip to CES? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:52:05

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DF Direct Weekly #246: The BIG CES Special - Hardware Highlights, Crimson Desert, Intel, Nvidia, AMD

1/12/2026
Direct from Las Vegas, A Redbull-powered Alex Battaglia and Oliver Mackenzie share their thoughts on everything they saw at the Consumer Electronics Show 2026, while also discussing all of the big announcements. Nvidia, AMD and Intel announcements, the latest TVs and monitors and... the weirdness. Plus, what is Crimson Desert and why should be excited about it? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:07 News 1: Nvidia, AMD, and Intel: chipmaker announcements 0:15:37 News 2: PC hardware: laptops, desktops, and accessories 0:28:49 News 3: TVs: MicroRGB, OLED, MicroLED, “Laser”, HDMI 2.2 0:54:54 News 4: Monitors: new QD-OLED coatings, RGB OLEDs, 5K2K ultrawides 1:02:46 News 5: Crimson Desert demo 1:08:37 News 6: CES weirdness: Project AVA, fighting robots, AI saturation, RCA and RadioShack revival, AR avatars, Lego Panther Lake, recumbent chairs, China pavilion 1:36:50 News 7: Reflections on Las Vegas and CES 2026 1:42:54 Supporter Q1: How will new CES tech be affected by RAM scarcity? 1:46:06 Supporter Q2: With new price constraints, is pushing graphics tech unsustainable? 1:51:23 Supporter Q3: Where’s Nvidia’s Reflex 2? 1:54:32 Supporter Q4: Is 30fps with frame gen a good idea for Ark on Switch 2? 2:01:00 Supporter Q5: Are monitors advancing too fast for GPUs? 2:05:28 Supporter Q6: Should games mask #StutterStruggle with tear-jerking content? 2:07:38 Supporter Q7: With Nvidia continuing to innovate, why should people buy AMD GPUs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:02:15:27

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DF Direct Special: Digital Foundry's Best Gaming Hardware 2025

1/7/2026
In the last DF Direct video of the year, Rich, Oliver and Alex join forces to discusses their experiences of the best gaming hardware of 2025. Handhelds dominate, and while Switch 2's mega sales cannot be denied, Rich makes the case for the crazy GPD Win 5, while Oliver opts for the SteamOS-based Lenovo Legion Go S. Beyond portables, it's all about the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, RTX 5090, the Blackwell and RDNA 4 launches in general and - finally - green shoots of hope in what looks to be a grim 2026. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:53 GPD Win 5 0:11:07 Asus ROG Xbox Ally X 0:15:40 Lenovo Legion Go S 0:18:44 MSI Claw 8 AI + 0:19:45 Nintendo Switch 2 0:28:59 AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 0:38:52 Nvidia Blackwell 0:51:11 AMD RDNA 4 0:59:58 Expectations for 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:15:46

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DF Direct Special: Digital Foundry's Best Game Graphics of 2025

1/1/2026
Need we saw more? As we draw to the end of another remarkable year in video games, the Digital Foundry team sit down to pore over the technological showcases of the last 12 months in an attempt to answer the immortal question: What were the best game graphics of the year? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:09 Honourable Mentions: Kirby Air Riders, Mario Kart World, Star Wars Outlaws (Switch 2), Fast Fusion 0:11:45 Routine 0:16:35 Earthion 0:20:00 Silent Hill f 0:25:50 Mafia: The Old Country 0:32:18 Metroid Prime 4: Beyond 0:39:00 Ghost of Yōtei 0:46:11 Dying Light: The Beast 0:56:32 Top Three Discussion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:36:08

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DF Direct Weekly #245: Half-Life 3 Steam Machine Launch Game? Skyrim Switch 2 Lag Patch, Marathon!

12/22/2025
A critical mass of rumours is strongly suggesting that Half-Life 3 will be a launch title for Steam Machine - but how does that work when the RAM crisis is making any kind of hardware launch so challenging? Meanwhile, Oliver pops in to talk about an actual patch for the woeful Switch 1 port of Batman: Arkham Knight, while Tom makes a similarly cameo-sized appearance to talk about Skyrim's anti-latency patch - which isn't quite what we were hoping for. And that's just the tip of the iceberg for what is an absolutely colossal Direct which will also be the last we produce in the year of our lord 2025. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:33 News 1: Is Half-Life 3 a Steam Machine launch game? 0:14:45 News 2: Batman: Arkham Knight patch brings Switch 2 boosts 0:26:28 News 3: Skyrim Switch 2 patch improves input lag - at a cost 0:34:57 News 4: Ayaneo announces Strix Halo uber-handheld 0:45:56 News 5: Bungie exhibits Marathon in new video 0:58:46 News 6: Avatar gets DLSS Frame Generation and Ray Reconstruction 1:14:27 News 7: Blur Busters releases TestUFO 3.0 1:22:42 News 8: Presenting the Digital Foundry 2025 Community Awards! 1:44:13 Supporter Q1: Will future handhelds be fast enough to run path-traced games? 1:47:30 Supporter Q2: Are there realistic alternatives to UE5 for AAA games? 1:52:39 Supporter Q3: What do you think of Mega Man: Dual Override? 1:54:25 Supporter Q4: What are the best graphics of 2025 on low-end hardware? 2:00:31 Supporter Q5: How would you set up an Xbox 360 or PS3 in the modern era? 2:04:55 Supporter Q6: Should AI write supporter questions for DF Direct? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:02:12:09

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DF Direct Weekly #244: The Game Awards Reaction, First PS3 Emu on PS5, FSR Redstone First Look!

12/15/2025
It's that time of the year! The Digital Foundry team discuss the big reveals and the games that caught their eye at The Game Awards, with the traditional complaints about the volume of CG trailers. Beyond that, Rich shares his impressions on the first PS3 emulator for PlayStation 5, Alex gets to grips with the wobbly performance of FSR Redstone frame generation and Oliver shares some eyebrow-raising results from Skyrim on Switch 2. And as usual, questions are answered. Questions like: "Is Star Wars Outlaws more ‘bespoke’ on Switch 2 than Assassin’s Creed Shadows?" 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:12 News 1: The Game Awards: Control Resonant 0:08:42 Tomb Raider: Catalyst and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis 0:16:56 Total War: Warhammer 40,000 0:23:59 Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, Exodus, Divinity 0:34:23 Ontos, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, No Law, Pragmata, AUDIOMECH, TankRat 0:49:34 News 2: Devs ship PS3 emulator in PS5 game 0:59:09 News 3 Skyrim disappoints on Switch 2 1:07:21 News 4: AMD FSR Redstone launches 1:26:38 Supporter Q1: Will The Witchers 4, 5, and 6 be constrained by cross-gen limits? 1:35:14 Supporter Q2: Will Unified Memory Architecture appear on PCs? 1:39:21 Supporter Q3: Could Microsoft port their backwards compatibility solution to PS5? 1:44:31 Supporter Q4: Is there a way to install a streamlined Windows 11 cleansed of Microsoft services? 1:56:38 Supporter Q5: Is Star Wars Outlaws more ‘bespoke’ on Switch 2 than Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:02:06:03

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DF Direct Weekly #243: Metroid Prime Switch 1 vs 2, The Witcher 4-6, Crucial RAM Dead, 32-bit PhysX!

12/8/2025
Nintendo didn't release Metroid Prime 4 Switch 1 review code to journalists, so how does it stack up against Switch 2? Rich does some digging. Meanwhile, the team lament the end of the iconic Crucial RAM, but there's better news about the return of some kind of 32-bit PhysX support for RTX 50-series GPUs. Oliver talks Sonic Racing Crossworlds on Switch 2, John's impressed by TimeSplitters Rewind - and just how bad have things got for HDR support in video games? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:55 News 1: Metroid Prime 4 tested on Switch 1! 0:29:22 News 2: Micron kills Crucial RAM 0:39:29 News 3: Nvidia partially brings back 32 bit PhysX for 50 series 0:45:34 News 4: Sonic Racing Crossworlds tested on Switch 2 0:51:00 News 5: CD Projekt plans fast release pace for Witchers 4-6 0:59:21 News 6: Veteran HDR dev bemoans state of HDR in games 1:14:23 News 7: TimeSplitters Rewind impresses 1:22:17 Supporter Q1: Will price hikes cause a gaming Dark Age? How are next gen consoles affected? 1:32:44 Supporter Q2: How could Cyberpunk 2077 be improved visually? 1:35:59 Supporter Q3: What games are “Too Big for Steam Machine?” 1:39:46 Supporter Q4: Should Nintendo have tried to match Series S with Switch 2? 1:44:33 Supporter Q5: Do you have any fond PSP gaming memories? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:57:38

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DF Direct Weekly #242: Ghost of Yōtei Big Upgrades, AC Shadows Switch 2, Death Stranding 2 PC Coming

12/2/2025
In this week's Direct, Rich gets to grips with Ghost of Yōtei's unlocked frame-rate and balanced mode upgrades, discovering some excellent results. The team discuss the seemingly soon arrival of a PC port for Death Stranding 2, while mulling over Ubisoft's details on its upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows Switch 2 port. John's highly excited by eXoWin9X and there's a celebratory round of applause for Panic Button - entrusted by Nintendo to upgrade some its most important games for Switch 2. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:32 News 1: Ghost of Yōtei gets unlocked VRR modes 0:19:58 News 2: Death Stranding 2 PC incoming? 0:27:06 News 3: eXoWin9x gets vintage PC games running on modern Windows 0:36:48 News 4: Assassin’s Creed Shadows Switch 2 version detailed 0:49:24 News 5: Panic Button handled key Switch 2 updates 0:55:25 Supporter Q1: Is Kirby Air Riders the game Mario Kart World should have been? 1:01:26 Supporter Q2: What’s the most unexpected feature announced for a product? 1:10:25 Supporter Q3: Will Steam Machine cement a performance target for game developers? 1:14:29 Supporter Q4: Will surging RAM prices doom the Steam Machine? What about PS6? 1:21:21 Supporter Q5: Does Nvidia need to concentrate more on Linux driver development? 1:26:39 Supporter Q6: Can Alex share a recent PC gaming experience that made him happy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:34:15

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DF Direct Weekly #241: Steam Machine Price Concerns, Win 11 Update Kills Perf, Proton FSR 4, RDR1!

11/24/2025
A meaty new episode of DF Direct Weekly kicks off with a Valve double-header - reaction to news that Steam Machine may be heading for PC pricing, plus news of Linux FSR 4 support via Proton... including old GPUs. Meanwhile, Angry Alex is back and he's measured just how bad Windows performance in AC Shadows is impacted by a rogue update. Red Dead Redemption 1 returns once again, Oliver has opinions on Horizon Steel Frontiers and let's just say that we really think you should check out Sektori. 0:00:00 Introduction0:01:07 News 1: Steam Machine price: above $500?0:18:36 News 2: FSR 4 gets Proton support0:33:00 News 3: Windows update kills gaming performance0:50:10 News 4: Price hikes incoming: should you buy a GPU right now?1:05:21 News 5: Red Dead Redemption gets new round of ports1:11:06 News 6: Horizon Steel Frontiers announced1:17:52 News 7: Twin-stick shooter Sektori impresses1:23:00 Supporter Q1: On the system’s 20th anniversary, what are your favourite Xbox 360 games?1:32:20 Supporter Q2: Why is everyone so excited for Steam Machine?1:38:19 Supporter Q3: Is there a new sub-PS5 hardware tier developing?1:43:44 Supporter Q4: Will developers add new Steam Machine graphical presets?1:50:47 Supporter Q5: Is Switch 2 DLSS superior to FSR 3?1:55:49 Supporter Q6: Should Sony fret over Steam Machine competition? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:02:04:54

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DF Direct Weekly #240: Steam Machine - Pricing, Specs, VRAM, ARM Ambitions + More

11/17/2025
Valve's reveal of the Steam Machine has proven phenomenally popular to the point where our coverage is by far and away the biggest DF video of the year. But there's more information emerging post-embargo we had to share, plus plenty of discussion points to wade through. How much will it cost? Does this really cause problems for Microsoft? What is the actual make-up of the Zen 4 CPU? And is a spec that's comparable with PlayStation 5 really the best that could be done over five years into this generation? Rich, Oliver and Alex convene once again to talk about the Valve initiative. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:41 Steam Machine pricing 0:13:42 Potential impacts to Microsoft 0:25:18 CPU: likely Hawk Point 2 0:30:54 Hardware concerns and deficits 0:45:11 Should Valve have used Strix Halo? 0:51:41 8GB of VRAM and SteamOS efficiencies 1:03:04 Steam Frame and Valve’s push into ARM 1:14:25 Supporter Q1: Will Steam Machine have pre-loading of shader cache? 1:19:17 Supporter Q2: How can Valve solve the anti-cheat problem? 1:22:25 Supporter Q3: Will Valve drop Half-Life 3 for the launch of Steam Machine? 1:28:21 Supporter Q4: What is a proper punishment for Alex after his denigration of PS3? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:37:14

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DF Direct Special: Valve's Steam Frame VR Headset - Hands-On + Impressions, Specs + Tech Breakdown

11/13/2025
While the new Steam Machine PC/console hybrid has taken centrestage, it's not the only major hardware launch revealed by Valve today. Steam Frame is a state-of-the-art VR headset that not only streams games from your PC but can actually run them on the headset itself, with an x86 to ARM translation layer working in addition to Proton. Oliver's been hands-on and shares his impressions with John in this DF Direct Special. 00:00 Overview04:17 Internal specifications06:55 Displays and optics15:19 Foveated rendering and foveated streaming18:06 Modularity, controls, and audio24:52 Standalone gaming functionality32:30 Game streaming37:25 Analysis and conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:44:17

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DF Direct Special: Hands-On With Steam Machine: Valve's Beautiful PC/Console - Specs, Impressions And More

11/12/2025
It's the hardware we've been waiting for. Built on SteamOS, Valve's brand-new Steam Machine runs the same games that Steam Deck does, with 6x the graphics horsepower - all built into a super-cute, premium, cube-like design. Oliver visited Valve HQ to go hands-on with both the new PC/console hybrid and the new Steam Controller, reporting back with impressions, specs and insights from the engineers behind the project. 0:00:00 Introduction0:01:11 Steam Machine overview0:04:38 Specs and architecture0:22:38 Other specs and capabilities0:30:24 Steam Controller0:36:26 Analysis and conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:51:47

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DF Direct Weekly #239: GTA 6 Delayed, Silent Hill 2 Xbox, Switch 2 Biggest Console Launch Ever?

11/10/2025
Aside from the monumental release of our brand new website, it was looking like a quiet week until the gigaton news that Grand Theft Auto 6 was delayed again quote-unquote dropped. The team discuss the implications in this week's Direct, before moving onto PS Portal cloud streaming impressions and the AMD marketing debacle that is the RDNA 1/2 driver situation. Silent Hill 2 is all but certain to arrive on Xbox, but what about Switch 2? Plus: kudos to Nintendo as it looks almost certain now that Switch 2 is the biggest console launch of all-time... within a three-month launch window at least! 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:53 Our new website - digitalfoundry.net! 0:09:13 News 1: GTA 6 launch delayed to November 2026 0:21:20 News 2: PS Portal now officially supports PS5 Cloud Streaming 0:39:17 News 3: AMD’s RDNA 1 and 2 driver debacle 0:55:30 News 4: Switch 2 is the fastest selling console of all time (so far) 1:04:09 News 5: Silent Hill 2 reportedly headed to Xbox 1:10:41 Supporter Q1: What do you consider “retro”? 1:18:23 Supporter Q2: What is the most exciting console gen technologically? 1:23:09 Supporter Q3: Should Microsoft worry about Valve’s future devices? 1:33:46 Supporter Q4: Will Rockstar reconsider a simultaneous GTA 6 PC launch? 1:41:21 Supporter Q5: Will the upcoming PS handheld play PS6 games natively, or only via streaming? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:52:15