Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

In the wake of criticism of DF's comments on Switch 2's motion blur display issues, independent benchmark data from multiple sources proves out our point, so what can be done? Meanwhile, John and Oliver share their impressions of Fast Fusion's "Pure" aka "DLSS Off" update, while Rich weighs in on the Nvidia RTX 5050 reveal specs. Hellblade 2's 60fps upgrade is discussed, while the team mull over the final HDMI 2.2 specifications. Finally, John and Oliver continue championing OLED and LCD displays respectively - and literally have the receipts to prove it.0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:57 News 1: Objective testing: Switch 2 display is very slow 0:23:45 News 2: Fast Fusion adds “Pure” visual mode without DLSS0:34:24 News 3: Hellblade 2 to receive 60fps option on consoles 0:41:59 News 4: Nvidia announces RTX 5050 0:54:12 News 5 HDMI 2.2 spec revealed1:05:42 News 6: John reviews his LG 5K2K OLED monitor!1:23:21 Supporter Q1: Is it smarter to focus on raster lighting techniques on consoles instead of ray tracing? 1:31:05 Supporter Q2: Is low-level optimization dead in an era of multiplatform games? 1:36:12 Supporter Q3: Should developers build their games around achieving 60fps on consoles? 1:42:30 Supporter Q4: Should we be worried about Switch 2’s image quality in demanding games? 1:46:19 Supporter Q5: Will ray tracing remasters be a common sight in the PS6 era? 1:52:24 Supporter Q6: What is behind you when you record DF Direct?

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In a packed new Direct, the team convene to discuss the detail - and lack of it - in Xbox and AMD's next-gen partnership announcement. What is the future of the Xbox console? Are MS/AMD looking to compete in the PC prebuilt market? Is the Xbox Ally X part of this arrangement? Is Windows truly capable of working as a robust console-style OS? Meanwhile, thoughts are shared on Nintendo's Donkey Kong Bananza Direct, while Rich tracks down working code for the original, truly dreadful Ark: Survival Evolved port - does Switch 2 have enough horsepower to tame one of the worst conversions ever? Spoilers: not entirely...

In a packed new Direct, the team convene to discuss the detail - and lack of it - in Xbox and AMD's next-gen partnership announcement. What is the future of the Xbox console? Are MS/AMD looking to compete in the PC prebuilt market? Is the Xbox Ally X part of this arrangement? Is Windows truly capable of working as a robust console-style OS? Meanwhile, thoughts are shared on Nintendo's Donkey Kong Bananza Direct, while Rich tracks down working code for the original, truly dreadful Ark: Survival Evolved port - does Switch 2 have enough horsepower to tame one of the worst conversions ever? Spoilers: not entirely...Join the DF Supporter Program for pristine video downloads, behind the scenes content, early access to new videos, early access to DF Direct Weekly and much, much more: https://bit.ly/3jEGjvxGo here to check out DF merch! https://store.digitalfoundry.netSubscribe for more Digital Foundry: http://bit.ly/DFSubscribe0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:10 News 1: Xbox-AMD partnership announced for next gen 0:31:55 News 2: Donkey Kong Bananza Direct reaction0:47:29 News 3: Neural Texture Compression improvements detailed 1:00:08 News 4: Original Ark port tested on Switch 2!1:10:37 Supporter Q1: Does AMD dominate the broader gaming market, in light of Microsoft’s announcement?1:18:35 Supporter Q2: With Microsoft’s Windows console shift, will Sony change their PC strategy? 1:27:06 Supporter Q3: Will Microsoft allow Windows to run on Series S and X?1:30:45 Supporter Q4: Will Nintendo or Microsoft ultimately triumph in console strategy? 1:32:58 Supporter Q5: As Apple expands their rendering tech, will DF do more Mac game testing? 1:40:53 Supporter Q6: Is there room to evolve The Witcher 4’s graphics for high-end PCs?

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It's here - the biggest and most comprehensive Digital Foundry hardware test we've ever done. Across two hours of #content, Oliver Mackenzie, John Linneman and Rich Leadbetter share their data, tests, opinions and impressions of the entire Switch 2 package ranging from hardware analysis, display options, power consumption and efficiency, loading time and WiFi tests, back-compat, Game Share, Game Chat and much, much more. We love most of what we see - but key technologies like VRR and HDR disappoint in a blurry handheld experience that must be improved.

0:00:00 Overview 0:01:54 Hardware overview: specs, form factor, and Pro Controller 0:10:33 Portable screen: contrast, response time, handheld HDR and VRR0:37:21 Display output: HDMI quirks, HDR configuration, 120Hz support0:48:08 Power efficiency, power consumption, and battery life 1:02:46 Loading times: internal storage, MicroSD, and cartridge differences 1:06:17 WiFi and ethernet download speeds 1:10:54 Backwards compatibility: game speedups and incompatibilities 1:22:09 GameChat and GameShare 1:35:05 Virtual Game Card and UI issues 1:44:59 Overall thoughts and conclusion

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The catastrophic launch of MindsEye dominates the Direct this week - but how does the game actually look and run on PS5 Pro and PC? We'll have a more detailed review soon, but there's good and bad with this one. Meanwhile, legit-looking specs emerge for the next-gen PlayStation handheld, Switch 2 sells through 3.5m units in four days and Rich spends some time looking at Stellar Blade's PC ports. Meanwhile, John has a brace of retro-based stories to share with you.

0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:48 News 1: MindsEye suffers troubled launch 0:20:27 News 2: Switch 2 sells 3.5 million units in first four days 0:28:45 News 3: Next-gen PlayStation handheld specs rumoured 0:41:29 News 4: Stellar Blade PC delivers good performance 0:51:39 News 5: Retro Afterplay enables web browser emulation 0:58:27 News 6: Mortal Kombat 2 ported to 3DO 1:05:20 Supporter Q1: Will next-gen Xbox be third party like the Xbox Ally? 1:12:13 Supporter Q2: What Switch games would you like to see patched for Switch 2? 1:17:43 Supporter Q3: How widespread is DLSS actually on Switch 2? 1:29:25 Supporter Q4: What happens to game rendering when you change the output resolution on your console? 1:33:07 Supporter Q5: Could Microsoft have bluffed their way to success with Xbox One?

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The summer gaming events continue with the arrival of the Xbox Showcase. Microsoft has had a stellar 2025 and has delivered some exceptional events over the last few years - but this one doesn't quite make the grade. Rich, John and Oliver talk Ally handhelds, the pick of the games shown, the 2026 teases and we have capture and analysis of the "shadow dropped" port of Final Fantasy 16. The summer gaming events continue with the arrival of the Xbox Showcase. Microsoft has had a stellar 2025 and has delivered some exceptional events over the last few years - but this one doesn't quite make the grade. Rich, John and Oliver talk Ally handhelds, the pick of the games shown, the 2026 teases and we have capture and analysis of the "shadow dropped" port of Final Fantasy 16. Join the DF Supporter Program for pristine video downloads, behind the scenes content, early access to new videos, early access to DF Direct Weekly and much, much more: https://bit.ly/3jEGjvxGo here to check out DF merch! https://store.digitalfoundry.netSubscribe for more Digital Foundry: http://bit.ly/DFSubscribe0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:43 Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X0:15:51 Xbox full-screen experience on Windows 110:30:19 Final Fantasy 16 shadowdropped on Xbox - and we’ve tested it! 0:39:35 Ninja Gaiden 40:44:40 Persona 4 Revival 0:52:12 Beast of Reincarnation 0:56:46 Call of Duty: Black Ops 71:04:13 2026 teases: Fable, Forza, Gears of War - and Halo? 1:09:02 Thoughts on the showcase

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Join Rich, Alex and John for their thoughts on two of the major summer events: Sony's State of Play and Geoff's Summer Game Fest. The team share their thoughts on the biggest games of the shows, before moving onto other matters: Rich is happy to see that Sony has fixed the VRR stuttering problem with PlayStation consoles, Alex discusses the team's cameo in an Unreal Fest anti-stutter presentation and the trio try to get to grips with Black Myth Wukong's sudden Xbox announcement.

0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:17 News 1: Summer Game Fest 2025 - Resident Evil Requiem 0:10:00 Mortal Shell 2, Onimusha: Way of the Sword,0:17:12 Felt That Boxing, Mina The Hollower 0:26:26 Death Stranding 2 and Geoffcon evaluations0:31:31 News 2: State of Play June 2025 - Lumines Arise 0:36:12 Pragmata, Romeo is a Dead Man 0:43:36 Silent Hill F, Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement 0:49:49 Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, Nioh 3 0:57:40 007: First Light 1:07:25 Ninja Gaiden, Mortal Kombat, Hirogami, Final Fantasy Tactics, Thief VR, Sword of the Sea, Marvel Tōkon1:16:59 News 3: PS5 VRR stutter fixed! 1:23:26 News 4: Black Myth: Wukong gets Xbox release date 1:32:47 News 5: DF features in “Kill the Hitch” 1:41:10 Supporter Q1: How do The Witcher 4 (in tech demo form) and GTA 6 compare? 1:47:20 Supporter Q2: How close will the final version of The Witcher 4 be to its tech demo? 1:51:02 Supporter Q3: Will the Witcher 4 run on Switch 2? 1:53:01 Supporter Q4: Why is the Switch 2 such a conservative hardware concept? 1:59:23 Supporter Q5: Is there a compelling reason for Switch 2 owners to keep their Switch 1s?

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The pre-launch anticipation for Nintendo Switch 2 ratchets up a level as retail units leak ahead of time, revealing the system's boot procedure, a preview of the front end and... not much more. The DF team react to those leaks, reflect on the Switch 2 journey that brought us to this launch and share some initial plans for coverage. Meanwhile, according to reporting from Windows Central, Microsoft has prioritised its bespoke handheld in favour of concentrating on Windows 11 gaming upgrade, Alex takes a look at F1 25's path tracing upgrade and Rich is super-impressed with GeForce Now's native aaaapppp for Steam Deck.

0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:16 News 1: Switch 2 retail units leak! 0:33:30 News 2: Microsoft reportedly delaying Xbox handheld 0:50:49 News 3: F1 25 packs path tracing punch 1:12:20 News 4: Nvidia releases native GeForce Now Steam Deck app 1:21:02 Supporter Q1: What games has John picked up in Japan? 1:28:58 Supporter Q2: How do the DLSS versions and presets interact? 1:34:34 Supporter Q3: Could Nvidia make DLSS mandatory on PC?1:40:09 Supporter Q4: With Switch 2 fast approaching, have we underestimated the appeal of DLSS? 1:45:16 Supporter Q5: Is the RetroTINK 4K still useful on Switch 2? 1:47:41 Supporter Q6: Are there technical obstacles to standardizing ML upscaling through DirectX?

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Another packed Direct sees Tom, Rich and Oliver pore over 37 minutes of Cyberpunk 2077 Switch 2 footage, stacking it up against Series S and PS4 with intriguing results. AMD's announcement for the RX 9060 XT promises to be everything RTX 5060 isn't, while the team mull over Mario Kart World developer disclosures! Oliver gets Doom: The Dark Ages' PC performance meters working on both Xbox consoles while there's some bafflement surrounding Ninja Theory's Hellblade 2 PS5 announcement...0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:39 News 1: 37 minutes of Cyberpunk 2077 Switch 2 footage released!0:18:51 News 2: AMD introduces 9060 XT0:31:43 News 3: AMD teases “FSR Redstone” 0:44:15 News 4: Doom has hidden performance metrics on Xbox 0:53:38 News 5: Mario Kart World originally planned for Switch 11:02:49 News 6: Hellblade 2 coming to PS5 1:11:29 Supporter Q1: What do you make of the Nvidia/Gamers Nexus controversy? 1:19:41 Supporter Q2: If Microsoft is working on an Xbox emulator for Windows, does that signal the end for traditional Xbox consoles? 1:28:56 Supporter Q3: Should Nintendo release a non-portable, home-only Switch 2? 1:35:32 Supporter Q4: Could Switch 2 become a dumping ground for last-gen games? 1:40:29 Supporter Q5: What are your hopes and concerns for Switch 2?

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In this week's Direct, Rich, John and Alex discuss the strongly rumoured plans for NO Switch 2 launch reviews, along with apparent news that the next-gen Xbox will use ARM-based Snapdragon processors. Rich tests out our in-development VRR capture/analysis tools with Days Gone Remastered, measures the ongoing PS5 VRR stutter effect while Alex shares his excitement for Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows disclosures. Finally, John's excited about the new Backbone Pro controller - which is much more than just a mobile controller peripheral.

0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:57 News 1: Nintendo reportedly not sending early Switch 2 review units0:11:52 News 2: Should we criticize “forced ray tracing”? 0:32:03 News 3: Next-gen Xbox to use Snapdragon ARM chips? 0:43:03 News 4: Assassin’s Creed Shadows devs spill ray tracing revelations0:59:11 News 5: Days Gone patch brings balanced modes, VRR support 1:13:27 News 6: John tests the Backbone Pro 1:23:23 Supporter Q1: Are we reaching the end of the home console era? 1:29:46 Supporter Q2: Should Halo run on id Tech? 1:38:38 Supporter Q3: Could Doom: The Dark Ages get a PS4 version? A Switch 2 version? 1:41:55 Supporter Q4: What happened to the review of Spider-Man 2 on PC? 1:48:33 Supporter Q5: What are your favourite memories of the Sega Saturn?

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Switch 2 mysteries are finally resolved as two independent analyses confirm an 8nm processor... with a twist. Meanwhile, Rich, Alex and Oliver debate the meaning of 'gameplay' with regards to Grand Theft Auto 6, Trailer 2 while the team compares notes on the Asus ROG Ally 2, Xbox Project Kennan leaks. Oliver stacks up Switch 2 Final Fantasy 7 Remake footage against the PS5 performance mode, while Nvidia's plan to launch RTX 5060 without any accompanying reviews does not go down particularly well with the team. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:09 News 1: Switch 2 SoC examined under a microscope! 0:22:00 News 2: Rockstar claims GTA 6 trailer is half gameplay0:40:06 News 3: ROG Ally 2 and Project Kennan handhelds leak 0:53:15 News 4: New FF7 Remake Switch 2 footage analyzed! 1:05:24 News 5: Nvidia holding back RTX 5060 drivers until launch 1:22:56 Supporter Q1: Should AMD continue to work on FSR 3? Will we get FSR 4 quality upscaling in GTA 6 on PS5 Pro?1:28:04 Supporter Q2: Could we get a Switch 2 version of GTA 6? 1:35:01 Supporter Q3: How will GTA 6 scale to Series S? 1:42:18 Supporter Q4: What do you think of viewers using DF Direct as a sleeping aid?

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