Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

The clue is in the name - DF Direct arrives every week and this week is no exception. GDC 2021 is in full effect, so Rich, Alex and John discuss a couple of the more interesting and relevant presentations before powering on in sharing more about recent DF projects and tackling a big bunch of supporter Q+A. Join the DF Supporter Program to contribute to the show and get it early, every Saturday!

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:45 GDC 2021: UE5 Demo From The Coalition - Intel CPU/GPU Presentations

00:19:23 MODdb Receives Takedown Notice From Take Two

00:25:23 Final Words on The Resident Evil Village PC DRM Debacle

00:28:02 DF Content Discussion: Ratchet 40fps - Addressing The Confusion

00:36:19 DF Content Discussion: Unreal Engine for Video Production

00:45:11 Supporter Q1: Will it be possible to gauge the performance of the Steam Deck now?

00:46:43 Supporter Q2: Do you think the Steam Deck will be able to handle the games from the Total War series?

00:47:33 Supporter Q3: Is it likely that a performant ML-based upscaling solution similar to DLSS could be implemented on Xbox Series?

00:50:31 Supporter Q4: Curious what your opinion is on the rampant devotion to leaked info?

00:59:40 Supporter Q5: Could you elaborate on how you are using BFI on your LG OLED?

01:06:14 Supporter Q6: What measures did you take to help prevent burn in on your OLED monitor?

01:10:59 Supporter Q7: Much has been said about cross-gen development holding back the potential of the new consoles. Now, can the same be said about the PC, in the sense that targeting a wider range of platforms could hinder console games design?

01:17:25 Supporter Q8: Do any of you play with inverted vertical controls?

01:20:01 Ending

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The specs have been updated, a few hundreds frames have been tested - and we've taken a look at the state of integrated graphics performance on AMD APUs in the PC space. Rich Leadbetter, John Linneman and Alex Battaglia sit down to share all of their thoughts on the Steam Deck in a 75 minute DF Direct Special.

00:00:00 Introductions + Steam Deck First Impressions

00:07:34 Form Factor + Control Discussion

00:12:14 Why Steam Deck Needs Game-Specific Performance Profiles

00:14:22 Specs Update - 88GB/s Memory Bandwidth Confirmed

00:18:32 Off-Screen Performance Testing

00:22:49 Ryzen 9 4900HS 35W Integrated GPU Testing - Doom Eternal, Control, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

00:31:00 "Talk About The Screen!!" + Other Steam Deck Iterations From Other Companies

00:37:09 Will Docked Performance Be Better than Mobile?

00:38:47 The Proton Compatibility Layer

00:43:43 M.2 2230 SSD Confirmed - Is It Upgradeable?

00:45:27 SteamOS Suspend/Resume Technology Confirmed

00:47:12 Can GamePass And Other Launchers And Streaming Services Run From Linux On Steam Deck? Will We Get Windows Drivers?

00:52:45 Is Valve Really Trying To Compete With Nintendo?

01:01:19 Supporter Question: Can 8 RDNA 2 CUs run ray tracing games at 720p/800p?

01:03:25 Will Steam Deck Get Bespoke Support From Developers?

01:05:08 Supporter Question: What Games Will Be Especially Heavy On Battery Life?

01:07:32 Supporter Question: Can Steam Deck Run Crysis 3 at 720p60 Without All Settings At Low? Will You Be Testing Crysis With Steam Deck?

01:09:34 Final Thoughts + Do We Really Need A Switch Pro Right Now?

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DF Direct Weekly is back with a 20th episode milestone - shot before the Steam Deck reveal. We will have a Deck-specific Direct a bit later in the week. In this video, we talk about the lamentable Resident Evil Village DRM situation, Skyward Sword HD on Switch and the 'stealth 120Hz support' in A Plague Tale: Innocence - which is actually a good old PC-style v-sync off, unlocked fps scenario. All this and much, much more.

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:03 RE Village DRM situation

00:18:04 A Plague Tale Innocence 120Hz unlocked frame-rate

00:27:11 Zelda Skyward Sword HD impressions

00:36:40 Powerslave/Exhumed returns!

00:41:12 MiSTer gets CPS2 arcade support

00:46:54 DF Content Discussion/Supporter Program schedule

01:12:01 Supporter Q1: Does the PS5 Shortage indicate a long PS3-era console generation? 

01:19:33 Supporter Q2: What are the chances of other PS4 titles getting 120fps support?

01:24:11 Supporter Q3: Any plans for more switch overclocking videos?

01:29:22 Supporter Q4: Do you think the die shrink switch we got a couple years ago or the new oled switch will run cooler?

01:31:29 Supporter Q5: Would you be interested in digging into some of the older computer titles for DF Retro?

01:36:24 Supporter Q6: Will Sega ever tap the vast and excellent Saturn library? Also please talk about the Saturn more.

01:42:54 A NEW CHALLENGER HAS ARRIVED!

01:43:48 Ending

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A week packed full of news, topped by the Switch OLED reveal and the Switch Pro non-reveal, Dark Souls 3 FPS Boost, Assassin's Creed Infinity - the AC live service, TIE Fighter's total conversion - there's a ton to talk about! Joining Rich Leadbetter are Audi Sorlie and John Linneman.

00:00:00 Introductions

00:01:00 Switch OLED Q+A

00:22:21 Dark Souls 3 FPS Boost

00:36:28 Assassin's Creed Infinity

00:51:33 TIE Fighter Total Conversion

00:59:36 SGDQ 2021 recap

01:03:59 GTA6 rumors

01:15:17 DF Content + Supporter Program update

01:24:08 Supporter Q1: 120Hz 720p on FW900

01:28:29 Supporter Q2: What game/franchise would you like to see return?

01:35:39 Supporter Q3: Biggest pet peeves in graphics tech?

01:40:58 Supporter Q4: Your arcade fantasy scenario?

01:46:04 Ending

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Another week, another DF Direct Weekly and the triumvirate convene to discuss the most important tech and industry news items of the week, talk about their most recent projects and field a range of questions from users on the Digital Foundry Supporter Program. 73 minutes of tech chat - let's do it.

00:00:00 Introductions

00:00:48 Doom Eternal RT releases

00:05:33 Ryzen 4700S - PS5 Processor on a PC board

00:11:43 Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart 120Hz 40fps patch

00:16:26 Sony acquires Nixxes and Housemarque

00:27:04 Bloober Team + Konami enter STRATEGIC COOPERATION AGREEMENT

00:32:19 Final Fantasy PIXEL REMASTER UI troubles

00:38:58 DF Content discussion of the week

00:46:50 Supporter Q1: CRT RGB question and DF Retro request

00:50:29 Supporter Q2: Does the popularly held distinction between “gameplay” and “graphics” ever bother you?

00:57:59 Supporter Q3: Do you think ray tracing will get left behind as too specialized a technology once we get into the later half of this generation?

01:03:31 Supporter Q4: What title do you guys anticipate being the next milestone in bleeding edge video game graphics in the near future, and why?

01:06:41 Supporter Q5: How is it like to film these Direct Weekly segments?

01:10:39 Supporter Q6: Lichdom: Battlemage?

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It's DF Direct Weekly once again, where the team convenes to discuss the hot topics of the week - which this week amounts to AMD's FSR, Sonic's 30th anniversary, concerns with the Intellivision Amico plus our behind the scenes thoughts on the projects we're currently working on. Oh - and DF Supporter Q+A? Let's do it.

00:00:00 Introductions

00:01:15 AMD FSR Controversy and Reaction

00:32:00 Sonic 30th Anniversary & Sonic Memories

00:48:28 Jonathan Frakes joins PUBG

00:53:41 Myst VR coming Q3 to Mac and PC

00:56:47 Intellivision Amico Concerns

01:10:26 Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX has Issues

01:17:29 DF Content of the Week

01:34:15 Supporter Q1: Did John fix his Dolby Atmos lag?

01:36:55 Supporter Q2: Will Vulkan ever become the standard API?

01:39:28 Supporter Q3: Could ray tracing give in-game tactical advantage?

01:40:31 Supporter Q4: How is Digital Foundry viewed from inside developer studios?

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Rounding off our reactions to the major announcements, reveals and more at E3 2021, John Linneman and Audi Sorlie are joined by the legendary Modern Vintage Gamer to dissect the big reveals and to catch up with the latest retro news.

00:00:00 Introductions

00:01:59 Metroid Dread

00:10:31 Breath of the Wild 2

00:20:01 WarioWare

00:22:16 Advance Wars 1+2

00:24:10 Cave shooters

00:26:51 Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Wassen

00:29:10 Cruis'n Blast

00:31:06 Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania

00:33:21 Shin Megami Tensei V

00:36:10 Intellivision Amico

00:44:17 Limited Run Games (River City Girls Zero/2, Castlevania, Contra, Kunio Kun, Dusk, Strife, Retromania Wrestling, Plumbers Don't Wear Ties)

00:57:46 Demon Throttle

01:00:38 Gearbox Conference

01:00:45 E3 discussion

01:02:50 Square Enix Conference

01:14:42 Ubisoft Conference

01:17:13 Ending roundup

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Filmed on Thursday, June 10th and shared with DF Premium and Retro supporters a day later - and now available for all. Rich, John and Alex sit down to talk about their expectations for this year's E3, react to the Battlefield 2042 'Reveal', and talk about the very small number of actual next-gen exclusives released so far. 

00:00:00 Introductions

00:01:02 Battlefield 2042 Reveal

00:12:33 Microsoft E3 Predictions

00:22:11 Nintendo E3 Predictions

00:26:27 General E3 Predictions (SQEX, EA)

00:30:29 Next-Gen Only Games Available Now

00:51:16 Ridge Racer Trademark Renewed. Potential Collection?

00:54:53 DF Content Discussion

01:10:17 Supporter Q1: Modular controller designs coming back?

01:18:35 Supporter Q2: Does next-gen gaming really matter at the moment?

01:25:30 Supporter Q3: RTX 3080 Ti RT scaling

01:26:50 Supporter Q4: How can I achieve a 480i output from a PS4?

01:29:14 Supporter Q5: How does PS5/XSX fare in heatwaves?

01:33:54 Supporter Q6: Will E3 return to normal in the future?

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Join Alex Battaglia, Rich Leadbetter and John Linneman for 1.5 hours of chat covering the latest tech news - and of course, we take questions from users on the Digital Foundry Supporter Program! Join today to pose questions of your own and for early access to each new show!

00:00:00 Introductions

00:00:54 God of War: Ragnarok Delayed - PS5 Games Going Cross-Gen?

00:11:03 AMD FSR Revealed - What Should We Expect?

00:27:21 PS3 System Software Update 4.88

00:29:29 Doom Eternal Ray Tracing Upgrade!

00:35:12 Denon/Marantz - HDMI 2.1 update

00:42:07 Digital Foundry Content Discussion

01:03:14 Digital Foundry Supporter Q+A

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Join Alex Battaglia, Rich Leadbetter, Audi Sorlie and John Linneman for 1.5 hours of tech chat covering the latest tech news - and of course, we take questions from users on the Digital Foundry Supporter Program! Join today!

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:07 Unreal Engine 5 impressions

00:13:03 Crysis 2 tease?

00:17:33 Uncharted 4 PC

00:25:05 SteamPal

00:33:48 Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown

00:44:28 DF Retro Production

00:56:11 DF Supporter Program Exclusive Content

01:07:19 DF Supporter Q+A

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