DF Direct Weekly #237: Halo Campaign Evolved Reaction, "Premium" Next-Gen Xbox, New DF Retro Show!
A gigantic new episode of DF Direct Weekly sees the team's reaction to the big Halo Campaign Evolved reveal - and some unfortunate Unreal Engine 5 issues already coming into view. Meanwhile, what does Microsoft actually mean by its "very premium, very high-end" next-gen comments and is the Xbox Ally X interface really the best way forward? Meanwhile, John and some familiar faces reveal our next big project - the DF Retro Super Show - our brand new video podcast. Beyond that, Rich talks PlayStation power saver with Death Stranding 1 and 2, while alarming stats are revealed about the decline of games journalism.
0:00:00 Introduction
0:01:12 News 1: Halo Campaign Evolved revealed!
0:23:03 News 2: Sarah Bond: next Xbox "very premium, very high-end"
0:55:55 News 3: Announcing the DF Retro Super Show!
1:01:46 News 4: Nvidia drops Bonsai tech demo
1:13:05 News 5: Death Stranding 1 + 2 tested in Power Saver mode
1:27:11 News 6: Game journalists rapidly departing industry
1:42:37 Supporter Q1: Is Microsoft making a mistake by muddling the definition of an Xbox?
1:50:50 Supporter Q2: Is Microsoft’s new 30% gaming margin target driving its recent woes?
1:57:17 Supporter Q3: Does pursuing the state of the art make sense in a cost-constrained, multi-platform era?
2:01:25 Supporter Q4: Is Sony’s new portable PlayStation doomed to the same fate as the Vita?
2:05:58 Supporter Q5: How can AAA game studios survive in an era of increasing console prices?
2:12:09 Supporter Q6: Did you ever hear the tragedy of Alex Battaglia the Wise?
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DF Direct Weekly #236: Xbox Ally X Review-In-Progress, Next-Gen Spec Leak Comparisons, New PS5 Pro!
ROG Xbox Ally X is "in the house" and Rich describes his first couple of days in the review process. Alex answers the big question as to whether new PC games stutter more than older ones, while Oliver gets to grips with Black Myth Wukong's latest patch on PlayStation, complete with Lumen-free performance mode. Finally, next-gen Xbox and PlayStation spec leaks are gathering pace - so what do we make of them?
0:00:00 Introduction
0:00:54 News 1: ROG Xbox Ally X first impressions and benchmarks!
0:31:28 News 2: Black Myth: Wukong patch brings Xbox updates to PS5
0:42:23 News 3: Did old PC games stutter less?
0:57:52 News 4: Latest Xbox Magnus rumours suggest large, expensive die
1:10:38 News 5: New PS5 Pro features subtle revisions
1:16:35 Supporter Q1: What does Alex think of Mark Cerny’s recent Project Amethyst announcements?
1:26:47 Supporter Q2: What does Microsoft’s collaboration with AMD look like?
1:33:59 Supporter Q3: Should Nintendo release a docked-only version of Switch 2?
1:36:43 Supporter Q4: Any thoughts on the recent Gamers Nexus animation error exposé?
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DF Direct Weekly #235: Microsoft Re-Confirms Next-Gen Xbox, Red Dead 2 Remaster Heavily Rumoured
In this week's DF Direct, Microsoft deny rumours that its next-gen console has been cancelled - but to what extent are its statements credible in the wake of the infamous "four games" messaging? The existence of ports of Red Dead Redemption 2 for PS5, Xbox and Switch 2 are confirmed by the most reliable leaker in the business, while John shares his impressions of Yooka-Replaylee. And to what extent did Nintendo underclock the SoC for Switch 2?
0:00:00 Introduction
0:00:58 News 1: Microsoft: future Xbox console hardware re-confirmed
0:17:10 News 2: Yooka-Replaylee lands on current gen systems
0:27:51 News 3: Red Dead Redemption 2 remaster heavily rumoured
0:35:18 News 4: Ominous omens surround next Halo
0:47:16 Supporter Q1: If the next-gen Xbox is cancelled, what will have been lost?
0:52:47 Supporter Q2: Will competing consoles continue to launch at a similar cadence in the future?
0:59:27 Supporter Q3: Will developers focus on more advanced physics or mechanics to differentiate their games during cross-gen?
1:06:38 Supporter Q4: How will PS5 Pro fare in cross-gen software?
1:10:09 Supporter Q5: Should we consider Microsoft’s commercially unsuccessful consoles to be failures?
1:22:18 Supporter Q6: Is the Switch 1 or Switch 2 underclocked more heavily?
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DF Direct Special: Sony/AMD Project Amethyst Update - Next-Gen Tech Revealed + Mark Cerny Q&A
Could this be the foundational GPU technology for the PlayStation 6? Mark Cerny's latest Project Amethyst update describes the building blocks of future graphics technology, with a strong focus on ray tracing and machine learning capabilities, along with bandwidth-enhancing features designed to reduce the need on massive memory controllers. John, Rich and Oliver discuss the tech and share more information from Mark Cerny via an email Q&A conducted in the wake of the video's publication.
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DF Direct Weekly #234: Huge Game Pass Price Hike Causes Outrage, New PS5 Teardown
The latest DF Direct is dominated by discussion of Microsoft's gigantic price hikes for Game Pass - proof positive that the previous prices were unsustainable, or a greedy cash grab from Xbox? And who exactly wants the new content added to the top-end tier? Meanwhile, the team share their thoughts on the new Austin Evans PS5 teardown video, while Rich reports on a brace of native Steam Deck ports: Baldur's Gate 3 and Cronos. The former shows big improvements, but there's confusion surrounding Cronos. Meanwhile, John's back with plenty of stories from his latest visit to Japan.
0:00:00 Introduction
0:01:27 News 1: Game Pass hit by massive price hikes
0:32:39 News 2: New PS5 Slim disassembled, examined
0:43:54 News 3: Native Steam Deck versions of Cronos, Baldur’s Gate 3 arrive
0:55:52 News 4: New DualSense reportedly features replaceable battery
1:02:14 News 5: John reports back from Japan
1:22:04 Supporter Q1: What do you think of the Panzer Dragoon Zwei remake?
1:30:12 Supporter Q2: Will the PlayStation handheld produce better visual results than Strix Halo handhelds?
1:36:32 Supporter Q3: What lessons can PC handhelds take from Switch 2 and its DLSS?
1:48:04 Supporter Q4: How do you think the PS6 will be initially received?
1:54:04 Supporter Q5: Do Wii games look good on a flatscreen with a typical remastering treatment?
1:58:41 Supporter Q6: What did everyone’s retro PC setups look like?
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When it comes to video games and the hardware and tech we play them on, the team at Digital Foundry are unparalleled experts. Each week, DF Direct breaks down the latest breakthroughs in video game visuals, sound, and performance happening on PlayStation, Xbox, the most powerful PC setups, and more. If you’re a geek for graphics, GPUs, or just video games in general, DF Direct will help you get the most out of your gaming setup.
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