Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

As we begin to approach the tail-end of the Nintendo Switch era, Oliver Mackenzie and John Linneman get together to discuss their personal selection of the most technically impressive games of the generation - absolute marvels bearing in mind that the core hardware is based on a 2015 Nvidia mobile chipset. In this first video, the emphasis is on first party exclusives published by Nintendo - but there's plenty to come from third parties too in a later video. There are some amazing games here, and a surprise contender at the top slot.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:41 Fast RMX

0:05:53 Metroid Prime Remastered

0:11:01 Super Mario Bros. Wonder

0:16:14 The Touryst

0:22:22 Xenoblade Chronicles 3

0:28:02 Super Mario RPG

0:32:40 Paper Mario: The Origami King

0:36:40 Metroid Dread

0:41:08 Super Mario Odyssey

0:45:49 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

0:51:40 Luigi’s Mansion 3

1:02:13 Runners up

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In this week's Direct, Microsoft says you don't need an Xbox to play Xbox - but if they're talking about streaming on a Fire Stick 4K, we'd beg to differ. Meanwhile, Alex talks about a 1.4GHz CPU overclock for the OG Xbox and shares his thoughts on the new Black Myth: Wukong full RT assets and benchmarks. Oliver tests out Ace Combat 7 on Switch, while Rich checks out frame generation on the First Descendant - in 30fps fidelity mode, 40fps balanced mode and 60fps performance mode. How high does frame-rate get - and are the lower fps modes a write-off?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:00:54 News 01: Microsoft says you don’t need an Xbox to play Xbox

0:24:31 News 02: Game Pass prices increased

0:38:36 News 03: New Black Myth: Wukong PC details revealed

0:53:26 News 04: Original Xbox gets 1.4 GHz CPU upgrade

1:01:34 News 05: The First Descendant frame gen tested!

1:13:21 News 06: Ace Combat 7 tested on Switch

1:19:41 Supporter Q1: Which Windows-based PC handheld would you recommend most?

1:25:36 Supporter Q2: Will you be doing more 3 person game playing videos?

1:29:44 Supporter Q3: What old unused Nintendo IP would you like to see again?

1:34:45 Supporter Q4: If Microsoft got Windows working seamlessly on ARM, what would that mean for their products?

1:43:27 Supporter Q5: Do you think Valve will give Steam Machines another shot?

1:49:21 Supporter Q6: Why is Intel’s XeSS so much better than AMD’s FSR?

1:59:01 Supporter Q7: Will Unreal Engine traversal stutter be fixed for the new Witcher game?

2:02:08 Supporter Q8: Could the PS Portal be updated or hacked to be a substantially more useful device?

2:06:25 Supporter Q9: John asks: how is the recording session going?

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In the new DF Direct, the team discuss the growing importance of VRR in console gaming - but are we reaching the point where it's becoming essential for good performance? Meanwhile, Rich has some positive things to say about Microsoft's Auto SR upscaling technology, John has much to share on the new Crazy Taxi, and there are some interesting discussion points raised in a recent Mark Cerny interview. Meanwhile, what on Earth is going on with the latest Elden Ring patch notes?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:04 News 01: Has VRR become a crutch for good performance?

0:20:00 News 02: Auto SR impressions!

0:37:26 News 03: New Crazy Taxi is open world, massively multiplayer

0:47:43 News 04: Mark Cerny dishes on PS5 architecture, games

1:03:22 News 05: Sony killing off recordable disc production

1:11:19 News 06: Elden Ring patch notes suggest odd performance fix

1:19:43 News 07: OutRun steeply discounted on Nintendo eShop

1:29:16 Supporter Q1: When do you think we’ll hear more about the PS5 Pro?

1:36:55 Supporter Q2: Could DF provide technical context to Eurogamer or IGN game reviews?

1:47:42 Supporter Q3: Why does the PS5 only support VRR over HDMI 2.1?

1:54:15 Supporter Q4: Why do many developers only offer software Lumen in their UE5 games?

1:56:40 Supporter Q5: Whatever happened to SLI and CrossFire?

2:02:23 Supporter Q6: How should console versions of games expose graphical options?

2:06:17 Supporter Q7: Is there a place for cinematic trailers?

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In the latest DF Direct Weekly, we take a very early first look at FSR 3.1's improved spatial upscaling, which 'dropped' just prior to recording. The team discuss Capcom's reveal of a NEW Dead Rising remaster/remake, while we have first impressions on a potentially game-changing patch for Dragon's Dogma 2. And just why is PlayStation 5 so technically competitive with Xbox Series X, despite having less horsepower? It's been a mystery for years, but we may finally have some answers.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:02:00 News 01: FSR 3.1 tested!

0:10:56 News 02: Dead Rising remake in development

0:22:55 News 03: Dragon’s Dogma 2 patched

0:30:12 News 04: Project Keystone details revealed

0:38:16 News 05: Forza Horizon 4 to be delisted

0:49:38 News 06: SGSSAA appears in new game

0:58:46 News 07: Unity 50Hz physics issue returns

1:07:55 Supporter Q1: Why haven’t more reviewers noted the issues with Elden Ring? And is it really fair to pile so much technical criticism on From Software?

1:27:03 Supporter Q2: What should our expectations be for a potential PS3 emulator on PS5?

1:36:05 Supporter Q3: Why is the Series X still sometimes outperformed by the PS5 in cross-platform games?

1:45:54 Supporter Q4: Could something like Auto SR be implemented on consoles for backwards compatible games?

1:50:00 Supporter Q5: Why do low settings in games look a lot better than they used to?

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Some practical tests in this week's episode of DF Direct as Rich examines the modded performance modes cropping up for the Xbox Series S version of Starfield - while his £2,000 investment in a Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X Elite translates into some truly awful gaming. Meanwhile, John's been checking out the new PlayStation 2 and PSP emulators for PS5, while Alex isn't particularly happy about Game Pass versions of PC games missing DLSS and other upscaler support.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:22 Starfield Series S high frame-rate mods tested!

0:09:26 PS2 and PSP emulation on PS5 analyzed

0:24:58 Snapdragon X Elite gaming performance disappoints

0:44:34 Still Wakes The Deep ships without FSR, DLSS, XeSS on Game Pass

0:54:17 LRG3 showcase features re-releases, remasters

1:05:04 How can I age as gracefully as the Switch?

1:13:55 Would you still recommend the Steam Deck over the new ROG Ally X?

1:16:46 Could the PS5 last 8 or 9 years as Sony’s flagship console platform?

1:23:25 Do you think a 1080p screen could be too much for a next-gen Switch?

1:28:46 Do you think any unannounced first party games will be released around launch for Switch 2?

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Just when we thought the summer festival of gaming events was over, Nintendo comes out of nowhere with a brand-new Direct featuring a wide rage of excellent titles - not bad for a system reaching the end of its life cycle. John Linneman and Oliver Mackenzie team up to share notes on the Direct, including a tech-orientated argument about how it's definitely NOT Switch 2 delivering the Metroid Prime 4 footage!

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:42 Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

0:14:08 The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

0:22:43 Lego Horizon Adventures

0:29:44 Mario & Luigi: Brothership

0:35:47 Funko Fusion, Nintendo Switch Online updates, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

0:45:42 Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, Fantasian: Neo Dimension

0:55:37 MIO: Memories In Orbit, The Hundred Line: Last Defence Academy, Super Mario Party Jamboree, ぶっとバード, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection

1:05:24 Evaluating the Direct and looking forward to Switch 2

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John, Alex and a freshly returned Rich deliver a 'come down' Direct that's a little more relaxed after the mania of the summer showcase events. The team bemoan the state of the Ubisoft Forward stream quality, ruining the visual quality of some great games, then move onto the discourse surrounding the Gears of War: E-Day cinematic. John's excited about the UE5 Riven remake, while Alex is even more excited about Sweeney's Prophecy - a brand new store leak promising a range of intriguing PC releases.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:58 News 01: Star Wars Outlaws demo analyzed!

0:28:11 News 02: Assassin’s Creed Shadows unveiled

0:46:24 News 03: Clarifying the Gears of War cinematic trailer

0:54:34 News 04: Epic Games Store leaks upcoming games

1:00:34 News 05: Riven demo released

1:08:28 Supporter Q1: Has any console generation been more boring than this one?

1:13:12 Supporter Q2: Was Microsoft showing Series X or PC footage at their games showcase?

1:19:49 Supporter Q3: Is delaying a physical release the best option for modern games?

1:26:35 Supporter Q4: Will you make an updated PC Gaming on a Budget video?

1:34:01 Supporter Q5: Do you have ambitions for growing your audience?

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Microsoft's Xbox 2024 Showcase turned out to be an excellent presentation, with banger after banger. In this new DF Direct Special, John Linneman, Alex Battaglia and Oliver Mackenzie break down the show with their reactions to each of the key games before moving on to discuss the somewhat underwhelming hardware line-up - plus comments on Phil Spencer's latest remarks on the Xbox multi-platform strategy.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:17 Doom: The Dark Ages

0:11:05 Perfect Dark

0:20:42 Gears of War: E-Day

0:28:53 Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

0:40:39 Fable

0:49:43 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

0:59:18 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

1:07:17 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

1:15:54 Other games - Mixtape, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, Atomfall, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, State of Decay 3, Age of Mythology: Retold

1:24:36 Updated Xbox Series consoles

1:31:35 Phil Spencer: more Xbox games are coming to other platforms

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The summer game showcase events are now in full swing and in this new episode of DF Direct Weekly, it's John, Oliver and Alex at mics, discussing the games of Summer Games 'Fest', along with other big new stories of the week. What's going on with the removal of the 8K label from the PS5 box? What do the team make of the PC adaptor for PSVR2 - and what's the score with Microsoft's AutoSR upscaling?

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:20 News 01: Summer Game Fest: Lego Horizon Adventures

0:13:44 Metaphor: Refantazio, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

0:25:17 Sonic X Shadow Generations, Alan Wake 2: Night Springs, Phantom Blade Zero

0:40:53 Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, Slitterhead, Killer Bean

0:50:14 Black Myth: Wukong, Civilization 7

1:03:59 News 02: Sony removes 8K support from PS5 box

1:22:49 News 03: PS VR2 PC adapter detailed

1:32:58 News 04: Microsoft unveils Auto SR upscaling tech

1:46:20 Supporter Q1: How can you optimize Windows text rendering for WOLED displays?

1:50:03 Supporter Q2: Why do people suggest limiting your frame-rate to just below the display refresh rate when using VRR on PC?

1:53:24 Supporter Q3: Would John recommend a PS VR2 or Meta Quest 3 for PC VR use?

1:55:33 Supporter Q4: Can you recall the first game that left you in awe of its graphics, making it hard to envision a better-looking game?

2:04:30 Supporter Q5: Are the consoles holding back RT use on PC?

2:10:25 Supporter Q6: What games do you wish you had first played on better hardware?

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With the DF team meeting up with IGN this week, this Direct comes to you straight from IGN's UK studio. Rich, John and Alex talk Sony State of Play, from the sublime Astro Bot to the distinctly unimpressive Concord. Meanwhile, the team discuss Sony's intention to sell PS5s from its PC ports and the big news that COD Black Ops 6 will be day one on Game(s) Pass rounds off the week's big stories.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:04 News 01: May 2024 State of Play: Astro Bot

0:11:00 Concord

0:19:51 Marvel Rivals, God of War Ragnarök PC, Dynasty Warriors: Origins

0:38:15 Silent Hill 2

0:51:35 Skydance’s Behemoth, Alien: Rogue Incursion

1:00:18 Monster Hunter Wilds, Path of Exile 2

1:10:22 Infinity Nikki, Ballad of Antara, Where Winds Meet, Until Dawn

1:19:23 News 02: Are PlayStation PC ports meant to sell PS5s?

1:36:03 News 03: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will debut on Game Pass

1:47:30 Supporter Q1: What games will Sony advertise alongside the PS5 Pro?

1:55:26 Supporter Q2: Will Nvidia launch another hardware-reliant software feature with 5000 series GPUs?

2:02:35 Supporter Q3: If Hellblade 2 had arrived last year, where would it have ranked on your Graphics of the Year video?

2:07:00 Supporter Q4: What are the best settings for using the Quest 3 wirelessly with a PC?

2:12:20 Supporter Q5: What’s the best way to deal with VRR flicker on OLEDs?

2:15:32 Supporter Q6: How does DLSS affect CPU usage?

2:21:40 Supporter Q7: Could a PS4 handheld enhance the look of older games?

2:24:44 Supporter Q8: What are you ordering for dinner in London?

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