Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

In our DF Direct Special in the wake of the PlayStation 5 Pro reveal, we had much to say about the hardware, the pitch and the price - but not much to say about the games, owing to the poor media quality. Now, armed with a 65GB ProRes file of the Mark Cerny presentation, we can go deeper - much deeper - into the software that was shown and how good PSSR AI upscaling actually is. Strap in for another two hour show - and there's much to share in this one.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:02:47 The Last of Us Part 2

0:11:49 Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

0:23:44 Alan Wake 2

0:33:27 Horizon Forbidden West

0:39:09 Hogwarts Legacy

0:45:48 Gran Turismo 7

0:54:35 Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows

0:57:43 Supporter Q1: Could PS5 Pro run Elden Ring at 60fps?

1:03:36 Supporter Q2: Is PS5 Pro a good deal relative to PC?

1:16:48 Supporter Q3: With the Pro reaching $700, what will the PS6 look like?

1:26:42 Supporter Q4: Could PSSR run on the base PS5?

1:33:04 Supporter Q5: Why hasn’t Sony developed machine learning based frame gen tech for PS5 Pro?

1:37:11 Supporter Q6: Will the high price of PS5 Pro drive people to PC?

1:44:13 Supporter Q7: Will low PS5 Pro sales cause development problems?

1:51:46 Supporter Q8: What game reveals would have excited you about PS5 Pro?

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It's finally happened. PS5 Pro is real, announced and detailed by none other than lead system architect, Mark Cerny. John, Rich and Alex sit down to discuss the reveal, how Sony chose to market it, the Big Three tech innovations - larger GPU, ML upscaling and RT enhancements - and of course, the shocking price-point.

0:00:00 Overview

0:01:20 How is Sony marketing the PS5 Pro?

0:09:43 Big three features: larger GPU, machine learning and ray tracing enhancements

0:25:10 The missing disc drive

0:33:12 $700 USD sticker shock: does it make sense?

0:44:23 What do we want to see out of PS5 Pro?

0:49:43 Supporter Q1: Was Microsoft right to skip an enhanced console this generation?

0:54:06 Supporter Q2: Is GT7’s 8K mode as stupid as it sounds?

0:57:26 Supporter Q3: What PC GPU is the best match for PS5 Pro?

1:00:27 Supporter Q4: Will Sony encourage developers to stick to a single PS5 Pro mode, or have multiple?

1:02:58 Supporter Q5: Why doesn’t the PS5 Pro have a larger CPU upgrade?

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The inevitability of Sony's PlayStation 5 Pro increases still further as the firm 'leaks' the new design in a 30th anniversary artwork. Meanwhile, there are highs and lows for PlayStation: Concord crashes and burns, resulting in its withdrawal from sale - and yet spirits are raised by the frankly incredible Astro Bot. Elsewhere, RTX 5080 performance leaks suggest a 10 percent improvement over RTX 4090 - but where does that leave the RTX 5090 then? And then there's Anandtech: the team commiserate over the site's decline and closure.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:41 News 1: Sony leaks PS5 Pro design

0:13:42 News 2: Concord pulled from sale, servers close

0:37:11 News 3: Astro Bot review reaction!

0:53:23 News 4: RTX 5000 series performance and power rumoured

1:05:51 News 5: Bloodborne PC progresses

1:14:53 News 6: John’s Windows handheld impressions!

1:27:04 Supporter Q1: What should we make of the closure of AnandTech?

1:39:09 Supporter Q2: Where will Microsoft be in 15 years?

1:46:14 Supporter Q3: Could an RTX 6090 equipped Xbox explain Microsoft’s largest generational leap claims?

1:52:44 Supporter Q4: Could Ridge Racer make a return in the near future?

1:57:58 Supporter Q5: If Alan Wake 2 isn’t profitable, what hope do other original single player games have?

2:03:28 Supporter Q6: Will we really see ray tracing on Switch 2?

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Another week of exciting news as reputable sources reveal that PlayStation 5 Pro is incoming - and we've even got a sketch of the (possible!) design. Meanwhile, the Black Myth: Wukong Xbox no-show continues to command attention - as does the decision to release Avowed on Xbox consoles at 30fps. John, Rich and Oliver are on the mics this week - but Tom ducks out of his short vacation for a quick chat about the recent Metal Gear Solid: Delta and Silent Hill 2 press event he attended.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:07 News 1: PS5 Pro name, design possibly leaked

0:27:16 News 2: Why isn’t Black Myth: Wukong on Xbox?

0:41:24 News 3: Astro Bot VR ruled out - but PC could be coming

0:49:53 News 4: MGS Delta: Snake Eater preview!

1:06:53 News 5: Silent Hill 2 hands-on!

1:26:24 News 6: Avowed vows to target 30fps on Xbox Series consoles

1:34:48 Supporter Q1: What games do you most want to see updated for PS5 Pro?

1:41:36 Supporter Q2: How will Microsoft deal with the PS5 Pro?

1:52:24 Supporter Q3: Could Intel GPUs be in the next-gen consoles?

1:56:35 Supporter Q4: Given that the 4090 can no longer sustain native 4K at max settings in a lot of games, are we about to hit a performance wall?

2:04:28 Supporter Q5: Did Sony and Microsoft underestimate the needed console specs this generation?

2:12:19 Supporter Q6: Would DF consider adding a quantitative rating system to their reviews?

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Rich returns from Gamescom 2024, bringing with him hands-on impressions of STALKER 2 on Xbox and the incredible Black State on PC. Alex and Oliver share notes on the Final Fantasy 16 PC demo, while the team discuss the highlights - such as they are - of Geoff Keighley's Opening Night Live. But the big story is the news that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming to PlayStation 5 - and the extent of Microsoft's multi-platform strategy is finally revealed.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:58 News 01: Indiana Jones headed to PS5

0:19:53 News 02: Hands-on with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2

0:31:31 News 03: FF16 demo tested on PC!

0:47:13 News 04: Black State impresses

0:57:50 News 05: Gamescom Opening Night Live recap

1:06:45 News 06: Nvidia’s Gamescom announcements

1:19:14 Supporter Q1: Is disabling RT depending on the scene a good idea?

1:27:47 Supporter Q2: Is Series S preventing a Black Myth: Wukong release on Xbox?

1:34:33 Supporter Q3: Why did Wukong on PS5 use FSR and not TSR?

1:38:35 Supporter Q4: Could improved Wukong performance be a good selling point for PS5 Pro?

1:45:06 Supporter Q5: How will Microsoft differentiate the next Xbox?

1:52:21 Supporter Q6: Did Microsoft and Sony focus on the wrong features with PS5 and Xbox Series?

2:01:18 Supporter Q7: Is 12GB enough VRAM for graphics cards this generation?

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On the eve of release, the team ponder the dearth of Black Myth: Wukong PS5 reviews - and then some last-minute footage emerges. Will Judd joins the team to discuss the latest AMD Zen 5 problems, more rumours of Xbox exclusives coming to PlayStation 5, while The Verge bravely talk about the game nobody's supposed to be talking about but everyone's playing. Meanwhile, we don't actually have a Switch 2 release date, but apparently it's been delayed - what's going on?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:48 News 01: Black Myth: Wukong benchmark drops

0:22:35 News 02: Zen 5 launch unravels

0:44:24 News 03: Switch 2 possibly “delayed” further into 2025

0:54:49 News 04: Unannounced game Deadlock hits 18,000 concurrent players

1:06:33 News 05: FF7 Remake trilogy third title to switch to UE5?

1:12:32 News 06: Man connects 444 consoles to one TV

1:20:39 News 07: Tango Gameworks acquired by Krafton

1:24:26 News 08: Forza Horizon 5 potentially headed to PS5

1:34:40 News 09: Valve plans to offer SteamOS to other handhelds

1:44:58 Supporter Q1: As Microsoft increasingly goes multiplatform, what’s the point of Xbox?

1:49:45 Supporter Q2: Should Microsoft be putting older exclusives on Switch?

1:52:10 Supporter Q3: What does the DF audience have to look forward to in 2025?

1:56:12 Supporter Q4: Which graphically intense ports should come to Switch 2?

2:00:10 Supporter Q5: What are some technical annoyances you have with modern gaming?

2:04:34 Supporter Q6: What is the best way to achieve good frame-rates for PS3 titles?

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Another packed edition of DF Direct Weekly sees Rich, Alex and Oliver discussing a range of topics. Why is it so difficult to get PSVR 2 working on PC? Why are the AMD Ryzen 9000/Zen 5 reviews to contentious? As Star Wars Jedi: Survivor breaks cover on last-gen consoles, what exactly is the point - and will the PC version get fixed? Meanwhile, the team rave about Space Marine 2's visuals, Doom/Doom 2 get a brand-new Nightdive release, Final Fantasy 16 may be imminent on PC and Oliver brings together all of the latest Half-Life 3 conspiracy theories... Could it actually be happening?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:54 News 01: PS VR2 tested on PC - without an adapter!

0:12:49 News 02: Zen 5 launches to mixed reviews

0:29:57 News 03: Space Marine 2 previewed

0:40:50 News 04: Half-Life 3 confirmed???!!!!

0:50:24 News 05: Jedi: Survivor last-gen screenshots revealed

1:06:32 News 06: Classic Doom games get revised port

1:11:07 News 07: Final Fantasy 16 PC release may be imminent

1:18:51 News 08: Ready at Dawn shut down

1:25:56 Supporter Q1: Why isn’t every new game using DirectStorage?

1:30:56 Supporter Q2: How could a “Stop Killing Games” directive work for online-only titles?

1:39:13 Supporter Q3: Should we be less judgmental about generative AI use?

1:48:18 Supporter Q4: Is the Ryzen 5800X3D one of the greatest ever CPUs?

1:55:35 Supporter Q5: Why does the PS4 refuse to die?

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With John and Alex either on holiday or otherwise unavailable, Rich is joined by Tom and Oliver for our weekly show discussing the latest gaming and technology news. The team take a look at the recent Star Wars Outlaws previews, Tom gets to grips with Nobody Wants To Die and Visions of Mana, while also taking a look at the RT upgrades to EA Sports titles using the Frostbite engine. Meanwhile, Rich shares the ROG Ally X benchmarks we couldn't share in the preview, and shares his thoughts on AMD's Fluid Motion Frames 2 upgrade.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:02:01 News 01: Star Wars Outlaws gameplay preview!

0:14:31 News 02: Nobody Wants To Die impresses

0:23:05 News 03: EA Sports titles getting RTGI

0:38:55 News 04: PS VR2 dramatically discounted

0:47:47 News 05: Visions of Mana demo released

0:55:47 News 06: ROG Ally X benchmarked!

1:03:40 News 07: AMD Fluid Motion Frames 2 previewed

1:17:45 News 08: Destiny 3 not in development

1:25:51 Supporter Q1: Could you compare in-home streaming services like Steam Link?

1:33:01 Supporter Q2: Where is the console Minecraft ray tracing update?

1:38:56 Supporter Q3: Could upcoming consoles feature more bespoke kinds of hardware?

1:46:42 Supporter Q4: Do developers deserve flack for not optimizing their games, or are more demanding titles just a consequence of graphics advancement?

1:54:37 Supporter Q5: Why wasn’t x86 adopted for earlier consoles?

1:58:27 Supporter Q6: Could Microsoft release their backwards compatible Xbox titles on PC?

2:03:29 Supporter Q7: Is the M4 iPad Pro’s display bright enough for Oliver?

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Once again, the PS5 Pro (which doesn't exist apparently) dominates the news, with RDNA 4 ray tracing features revealed - said to be integrated into the upcoming Sony console... but what do these features actually do? Meanwhile, PS5 Pro (which isn't real) has a settings profile in the new No Man's Sky update, so how is Hello Games utilising the enhanced console's hardware? Beyond that, John's enthused about a CRT 'overclocked' to run at 700Hz, Rich and Alex are wondering just what on Earth is happening in the PC CPU space - and the epic Fallout London mod is finally released.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:05 News 01: Potential PS5 Pro RT enhancements leaked

0:11:52 News 02: PS5 Pro settings leaked for No Man’s Sky

0:20:06 News 03: Modder reaches 700Hz on CRT monitor

0:33:49 News 04: Old Xbox Ones suffer from update issues

0:45:22 News 05: Intel seeking to address CPU failures

0:54:46 News 06: Super Monkey Ball 50Hz physics tickrate fixed

0:58:20 News 07: Fallout London launched!

1:05:50 News 08: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood headed to Mega Drive

1:12:48 Supporter Q1: Should Valve provide community settings templates for games on Steam Deck?

1:20:30 Supporter Q2: Will Nintendo launch multiple discrete Switch 2 variants at launch?

1:25:06 Supporter Q3: How can Microsoft deliver a capable Xbox handheld while keeping price in check?

1:30:58 Supporter Q4: Could Microsoft offer generic Xbox emulators to sidestep licensing issues?

1:36:05 Supporter Q5: How would the PS4 have fared if it only shipped with 4GB of RAM?

1:41:54 Supporter Q6: What do you think of stereoscopic 3D on PS3?

1:49:24 Supporter Q7: Have PC ports improved since Alex’s “13 Ways to End Lousy PC Ports”?

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Another big DF Direct Weekly sees John, Rich and Alex discussing PS5 Pro release date uncertainties, the unprecedented support from Hello Games on No Man's Sky and the alarming stories surrounding stability issues on Intel's 13th and 14th Generation Core processors. Alex has much to share in terms of Unreal Engine and GPUOpen presentations, while John gets to play some Death Game Hotel with none other than Swery.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:24 News 01: Will PS5 Pro release in 2024?

0:11:59 News 02: No Man’s Sky updated with new visual features

0:20:12 News 03: Intel CPU stability issues may run deep

0:34:54 News 04: GPUOpen tech presentations with Alex!

0:48:58 News 05: John’s next project: PlayStation vs. Saturn

0:57:48 News 06: Can #StutterStruggle be overcome in Unreal Engine?

1:09:56 News 07: Gears of War Ultimate Edition suffers poor performance on PC

1:17:58 News 08: Playing Death Game Hotel with SWERY!

1:25:05 Supporter Q1: What would you like to see in a hypothetical DirectX 13?

1:30:20 Supporter Q2: Could a new Nvidia Shield device enhance game streaming with local processing?

1:36:58 Supporter Q3: Are large decreases in frame-rates still impactful when targeting high FPS?

1:45:54 Supporter Q4: What should we expect from the mooted handheld Xbox?

1:53:15 Supporter Q5: Is releasing a game as an early access title a good idea?

1:58:01 Supporter Q6: Will Switch 2 devs make use of the console’s hardware decompression functionality?

2:01:47 Supporter Q7: Have any pivotal decisions altered your gaming destinies?

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