It's a gigantor-scale DF Direct Weekly as Oliver, Alex and Tom deliver a 155-minute show kicking off with the verdict to Sony's latest State of Play, followed up by the sad news of layoffs at Crytek and a highly uncertain future for Crysis 4. Beyond that, Alex shares his thoughts on Assassin's Creed Shadows PC specs, while Oliver tests out the PS5 Pro patch for Astro Bot. And in the background, a flu-stricken Rich does nothing much except to write this description.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:11 News 1: State of Play: Tides of Annihilation

0:09:37 MindsEye

0:16:38 Days Gone Remastered

0:22:28 Saros

0:29:12 Dreams of Another

0:36:59 Lost Soul Aside

0:41:39 Other games: Borderlands 4, Sonic Racing Crossworlds, Onimusha, Midnight Walk

0:59:34 Overall impressions of the State of Play

1:06:43 News 2: Crysis 4 put “on hold” as Crytek lays off employees

1:16:24 News 3: Assassin’s Creed Shadows PC specs revealed

1:36:32 News 4: Astro Bot gets PS5 Pro upgrade

1:42:59 Supporter Q1: After 3 months, what do you think of the PS5 Pro and PSSR?

1:52:53 Supporter Q2: Why don’t more developers use CryEngine?

1:59:40 Supporter Q3: Will Nvidia “gate” new AI features to their most recent hardware?

2:09:17 Supporter Q4: Does RTX Mega Geometry eliminate the need for proxy geometry for RT?

2:15:17 Supporter Q5: Could Oliver address some of the recent state of the art AI tech?

2:26:52 Supporter Q6: How much do you need to spend on a GPU to have a good experience?

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Through a combination of the passing of time and regularly turning up every week to do the same thing, DF Direct Weekly 'celebrates' its 200th edition! We reminisce over the creation of the show before moving onto the news at hand - Switch 2 pricing and some intriguing new Nintendo patents, along with our first look at the new Battlefield. Meanwhile, we're not particularly enthused with Monster Hunter Wilds performance, Star Wars Outlaws on PS5 Pro gets a PSSR upgrade and the RTX 5080's overclocking prowess plays havoc with RTX 4090/4080 Super performance differentials.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:02:07 News 1: DF Direct celebrates episode 200!

0:32:01 News 2: Nintendo sets Switch 2 price expectations

0:46:17 News 3: Next Battlefield shown in brief teaser

0:55:45 News 4: Monster Hunter Wilds beta, benchmark tested

1:09:05 News 5: RTX 5080 overclocking tested

1:26:52 News 6: Epic admits Unreal Engine has a #StutterStruggle problem

1:34:17 News 7: Star Wars Outlaws updated with new PSSR version

1:41:07 Supporter Q1: Could you test the 5090 with no AI features vs. the 5080 with all AI features?

1:47:23 Supporter Q2: Could DF establish a latency rating system?

1:54:41 Supporter Q3: Would increasing resolution and AA quality be enough for Nintendo Switch 2 games?

1:57:53 Supporter Q4: Is a Bloodborne remaster imminent?

2:03:32 Supporter Q5: Could 1080p actually be preferable to 4K for Switch 2 games?

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Join Rich, Alex and Oliver for another huge Direct, covering off the 'no red lines' Xbox news and the Forza Horizon 5 PS5 announcement, hints from Phil Spencer about next-gen Xbox, along with early impressions on Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on PC. Meanwhile, the team field questions about the controversial RTX 5080 release, while Alex tests out the surprise new feature - Nvidia Smooth Motion. Finally, Oliver is very, very excited about DeepSeek - but does it spell the end of Nvidia's AI dominance?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:00 News 1: Forza Horizon 5 headed to PS5

0:12:04 News 2: Phil Spencer: Xbox hardware will be the differentiator

0:30:37 News 3: Spider-Man 2 PC disappoints

0:44:44 News 4: RTX 5080 review reaction

1:11:48 News 5: Nvidia Smooth Motion adds frame gen on all games

1:18:46 News 6: DeepSeek R1 LLM impresses!

1:32:51 Supporter Q1: Does AMD have a big opportunity with the RX 9070 series?

1:40:31 Supporter Q2: Is there a risk in shipping console hardware ML acceleration too early?

1:45:00 Supporter Q3: What kind of techniques do you think will be accelerated by ML in the future?

1:51:02 Supporter Q4: Should GPU reviewers test different upscalers at “equivalent image quality” settings?

1:55:28 Supporter Q5: What would Apple need to do to compete in AAA gaming?

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As we close in on the 200th edition of DF Direct Weekly - where we currently have no special plans whatsoever - Alex, Oliver and Rich discuss Microsoft's brilliant Xbox Developer_underscore_Direct, and get highly excited about Doom: The Dark Ages, before moving on to discuss the reaction to the RTX 5090 reviews, the problems of GPU reviewing, Sony's baffling live services strategy - and the mysterious delay of AMD's RDNA 4 cards.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:56 News 1: Developer Direct 2025 - Doom: The Dark Ages

0:17:36 Ninja Gaiden 4

0:22:54 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

0:27:55 South of Midnight

0:32:38 News 2: RTX 5090 review reaction

1:14:39 News 3: Radeon 9070 cards arriving in March

1:27:53 News 4: Sony cancels Bluepoint and Bend Studios live service games

1:36:27 Supporter Q1: Could the Switch 2 pack unanticipated custom hardware?

1:42:18 Supporter Q2: Will GTA 6 cost $100 US?

1:48:11 Supporter Q3: Should the PS5 Pro be supported with new games for longer than the PS5?

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Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been revealed in a somewhat detail-light two minute presentation, showcasing renders of the new hardware, some details on backwards compatibility and a teaser for what may well be Mario Kart 9. John, Rich and Oliver sit down after the reveal and discuss the reveal - along with some intriguing leaks about the clock speeds of the main processor.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:12 Switch 2 hardware

0:16:42 New Mario Kart analysis

0:28:32 Only partial backwards compatibility?

0:36:44 Rumoured Switch 2 clockspeeds

0:47:52 Supporter Q1: Can Switch 2 use transformer model DLSS?

0:50:32 Supporter Q2: Can DLSS salvage Switch 2’s output on 4K screens?

0:52:19 Supporter Q3: Will Nintendo release performance patches for Switch 1 games on Switch 2?

0:58:21 Final Switch 2 thoughts and impressions

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The embargo has lifted on the Editor's Day material Nvidia shared with the press during CES 2025. In this DF Direct Special, Oliver and Alex share their thoughts on the architectural improvements to the RTX 50-series cards, the laptops, the new AI features, DLSS 4, price and projected performance.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:08 Blackwell architecture: Blackwell SM design

0:03:39 Updated Tensor Core and RT Core

0:09:37 AI Management Processor and Max Q power management

0:15:13 Display Engine and video encode/decode

0:18:32 Hardware specs: RTX 5080 and 5090

0:29:16 RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti

0:34:23 RTX 50 Series laptops

0:40:14 RTX Software: Neural Shaders

0:44:24 SER 2.0

0:47:06 RTX Mega Geometry

0:50:15 RTX Hair

0:53:13 Neural Radiance Cache

0:55:58 RTX Skin

0:58:01 DLSS 4: Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, Frame Generation

1:06:18 Generative AI demos

1:10:03 Wrap up discussion: RTX 50 series price and performance

1:17:36 Nvidia’s software package and features

1:22:38 How should we review graphics hardware?

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Yes, it's true - not only do Oliver and Alex have full torsos and legs but they have now actually met in person at CES 2025! The duo discuss their reactions to the Nvidia keynote and the RTX demos that excited them the most before moving on sharing further impressions on their AMD, Intel, Asus and Razer visits. Also, the pair's critical eyes land upon the latest generation of displays showcased at the show.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:47 Nvidia CES demos - RTX Mega Geometry

0:14:25 RTX Neural Materials

0:21:24 RTX Neural Faces and RTX Hair

0:31:37 ReStir Path Tracing + Mega Geometry

0:36:49 Black State with DLSS 4

0:42:47 Alan Wake 2 with DLSS 4

0:46:01 Reflex 2 in The Finals

0:53:22 AMD at CES: AI denoiser demo, Lenovo Legion Go handhelds

1:03:51 Razer at CES: Laptop Cooling Pad, new Razer Blade

1:11:30 Asus and Intel at CES

1:17:29 CES displays: Mini-LED, Micro-LED, OLED + monitor sins!

1:30:07 Supporter Q1: Will Switch 2 support DLSS 4?

1:32:22 Supporter Q2: Did you see the Switch 2 mockups at CES?

1:33:56 Supporter Q3: Could you test DLSS against an ultra high-res “ground truth” image?

1:37:52 Supporter Q4: Why would a developer use Nvidia-developed rendering techniques over their UE5 equivalents?

1:40:38 Supporter Q5: Will multi frame gen solve game stutters?

1:42:05 Supporter Q6: Will multi frame gen make VRR obsolete?

1:44:27 Supporter Q7: Is Sony regretting sticking with AMD for their console business?

1:49:49 Supporter Q8: What do you think of the FF7 Rebirth PC specs?

1:52:37 Supporter Q9: What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen on the show floor at CES?

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DF Direct returns in the year of our lord, 2025! Rich and Oliver mull over the leaked imagery of the Nintendo Switch 2 motherboard. Is the SoC on a sub-standard Samsung process? Does it really matter? Can we expect PS4 Pro levels of performance? (Spoilers: no). Meanwhile, a higher quality version of GTA 6 Trailer 1 reveals new details, and Game Science has issues with console optimisations on Xbox Series S - so is this why Black Myth: Wukong isn't on Microsoft's consoles? Finally, Rich wonders why the staff keep referring to the year of our lord - and Oliver's getting rather excited about the latest breakthroughs in AI technology.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:50 News 1: Switch 2 motherboard leaks - with possible 8nm SoC!

0:27:47 News 2: Nintendo patent hints at Switch 2 upscaling

0:43:45 News 3: High quality GTA 6 trailer reveals new details

0:55:35 News 4: Wukong developer says Series S holding back Xbox port

1:07:41 News 5: AI update: new GPTs, game tech

1:19:38 Supporter Q1: Does it make sense to pair an AMD CPU with an Intel GPU for a budget build?

1:26:02 Supporter Q2: Will Sony ship games like Marvel’s Spider-Man on Switch 2?

1:31:23 Supporter Q3: Are you saving some performance-challenged Switch games for Switch 2?

1:35:26 Supporter Q4: Is this the most exciting Q1 in gaming history?

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As another year comes to a close, Digital Foundry unleashes its traditional holiday video, celebrating the best game graphics of the year. Outside of some highly honourable mentions, ten games are lauded for their phenomenal visuals. John, Alex and Oliver share their thoughts in a massive 108-minute long celebration!

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:58 Honourable mentions: STALKER 2, Persona 3 Reload, Metaphor ReFantazio, Nightdive Studios, Tiny Glade, FF7 Rebirth, Power Rangers

0:20:46 Dragon’s Dogma 2

0:26:35 Riven

0:30:32 Dragon Age: The Veilguard

0:37:24 Silent Hill 2

0:48:50 Astro Bot

0:54:32 Penny’s Big Breakaway

0:58:05 Black Myth: Wukong

1:08:49 Top 3 Discussion

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With an official announcement for Nintendo Switch 2 due in the next month or so, it's perhaps no surprise to see the leaks coming in thick and fast - but how believable are they? Meanwhile, Oliver gets to grips with the latest patch for Alan Wake 2 on PS5 Pro - is there genuine improvement? Rich tries to piece together the latest RTX 50-series rumours into something coherently plausible, while John examines the latest Switch IP-abusing shovelware: the mighty Monkey Kong in New-York.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:09 News 1: Switch 2 leaks describe dock, magnetic connection

0:17:40 News 2: New Alan Wake 2 PS5 Pro patch tested!

0:28:14 News 3: Indiana Jones lighting improved on Xbox

0:35:32 News 4: New Legion Go uses SteamOS

0:49:50 News 5: RTX 50 series leaks continue

1:01:35 News 6: DF Supporter Game of the Year awards!

1:18:01 News 7: “Monkey Kong” hits Nintendo eShop

1:25:36 Supporter Q1: After the Mark Cerny interview, how do you think Sony will approach PS6?

1:33:47 Supporter Q2: How will Project Amethyst affect Microsoft’s relationship with AMD?

1:39:00 Supporter Q3: How will today’s high-end PC hardware compare to next gen consoles?

1:45:01 Supporter Q4: Why was PS3/360 game performance often so poor?

1:55:02 Supporter Q5: What do you make of FF7 Rebirth’s PC lighting upgrades?

1:58:54 Supporter Q6: What’s the best looking last gen game?

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