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Digital Foundry Direct Weekly
30 episodes
DF Direct Weekly #277: Crimson Desert Switch 2 Confirmed, Gears E-Day PC Tested, Viture XR Glasses!
Ep 277 · Aug 17, 2026 · 1 hr 24 min
The team react to Pearl Abyss' statement that Crimson Desert is - somehow - coming to Switch 2, but the first order of business is to share impressions (and performance testing) for the Gears of War E-Day MP beta on PC... and while extremely impressive, we do have some concerns. Rich tests a remarkable system for playing Switch 2 games on the go in TV move with a virtual 174-inch OLED display, John's excited by a new wave of announced VR titles, there's curiousity around Xbox/Game Pass app games…
DF Direct Q+A: Celebrating DF Independence - One Year Since Leaving IGN!
Aug 12, 2026 · 59 min
It's been a year since Digital Foundry parted ways with IGN, buying out its shares and becoming completely independent. The team discuss the challenges of the last 12 months within the context of continuing bad news within the games business, before discussing what we've achieved from our objectives, where we've fallen short and how we're looking to revamp our tools. Beyond that, there are more questions about the future of the console business, the idea of an Xbox Helix "add in card" for PC, ho…
DF Direct Weekly #276: GTA 6 An Extended Look Reveal Reaction, Quakecon 2026, Xbox 360 On PC
Ep 276 · Aug 10, 2026 · 1 hr 27 min
What was looking like a fairly quiet week turned into a frenzy with the news that Rockstar will be publishing an "extended look" at Grand Theft Auto 6 on August 27 - but what should we expect? And why on earth would Netflix pay for a six-hour exclusivity window? Meanwhile, The Verge reveals Microsoft docs confirming Xbox 360 emulation for PC, Xbox Disc2Digital should be coming soon and someone has Half-Life Alyx kinda running on Meta Quest 3. Finally can the Steam Hardware Survey really be trust…
DF Direct Q+A: Sony Finally Responds To End-Of-Disc Backlash - And It's Not Good News
Aug 4, 2026 · 55 min
It took a Q+A session of its own within a financial earnings call - as opposed to talking directly to its users - but Sony has finally responded to the backlash whipped up by its announcement of the cancellation of physical media. What do we make of the response? And if it's just a small minority of PlayStation users upset by the news, is it right that Sony ignores the very negative feedback? Beyond that, we talk next-gen "secret source", whether it's possible for PC users to get a curated out-o…
DF Direct Weekly #275: This Is The Most Performant Console Generation Since 16-Bit 2D
Ep 275 · Aug 3, 2026 · 1 hr 25 min
The news has been pretty grim for the last few months, so why not concentrate on the positives? PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have delivered the best performing videogame generation since the 16-bit 2D era with more support for 60fps gaming than any other 3D-focused console. How did this happen and what are the drawbacks? Meanwhile, if those same consoles are effectively pint-sized PCs using PC components, why is there the sense that PC gaming is far less performant than it should be? John, Ri…
DF Direct Q+A: Too Expensive? No Exclusives? Is Next-Gen Just For Enthusiasts?
Jul 31, 2026 · 53 min
The hardware situation grows more bleak by the week, so where does this leave next generation consoles? If they're too expensive, will developers target them over current-gen hardware? Is enhanced RT and path tracing enough to make people upgrade? Will there be actual next-gen exclusives? Would it make more sense to buy a higher-end PC now? All this and more is discussed in the latest show. 00:00 Introduction 00:57 Supporter Q1: Why should people want next-gen consoles? 19:09 Supporter Q2: Will…
DF Direct Weekly #274: OG Xbox/Xbox 360 PC 'Back Compat', Valve - Memory Crisis "Getting Worse"
Ep 274 · Jul 27, 2026 · 1 hr 21 min
In the latest DF Direct Weekly, we go deeper into the OG Xbox emulator for PC... which is actually running within an Xbox 360 emulator, Inception-style. So what's the masterplan from Microsoft? The team mull over the reaction to Halo: Campaign Evolved, more details emerge on the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 2 and it's panic stations - again - as Valve predicts that the memory crisis is only going to get worse. Much worse. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:03:25 News 1: Xbox BC tested on PC! 0:…
DF Direct Q+A: Creation Engine 3 in Elder Scrolls 6/Fallout 5, Is Doom THE Great American Videogame?
Jul 24, 2026 · 51 min
The Q+A show returns, with Rich, Oliver and Will getting to grips with the potential of the Creation Engine 3 in The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5, while assessing the merits of Doom as THE great American videogame. Sony's new vapour chamber patent is considered for PS6 viability, while questions linger over what Sega's support for Nvidia's RTX Spark actually amounts to. And there's more: what would the generation have looked like if it stuck to 30fps? Is Sony killing discs really about its post…
DF Direct Weekly #273: The Future of Fallout + Elder Scrolls, Xbox Account Deletion, Switch 2 OLED?
Ep 273 · Jul 20, 2026 · 1 hr 38 min
Bethesda tweets out its current Fallout/Elders Scrolls plans... but why? Meanwhile, digital accounts and draconian anti-consumer limitations come into focus, the Ryzen 7 7700X3D is released and Capcom reveals good news about its upcoming Dragon's Dogma 2 Switch 2 port. Dying Light The Beast is cancelled on last-gen, rumours emerge of a Switch 2 OLED and the team reflect on the tenth anniversary of our reveal of the original Nintendo Switch specs. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:40 News 1: Bethesda ann…
DF Direct Q+A: How Does The Xbox Reset Impact Project Helix?
Jul 16, 2026 · 47 min
The fallout from the Xbox Reset continues as more questions are raised: does Xbox's recent pivots change the plan for Project Helix? Will it still allow other PC stores to run on it? Will it have a disc drive? Meanwhile, other questions are asked: will cancelling PlayStation Plus make Sony rethink its physical media cancellation? What about the "code in the box" GTA 6? And is Nintendo the last platform holder that not to lay-off its developers and antagonise its audience? 00:00 Introduction 01:0…
DF Direct Weekly #272: id Software Lay-Offs Damage Control, COD Black Ops PS5, 5 Years Of Steam Deck
Ep 272 · Jul 13, 2026 · 1 hr 26 min
In the wake of the outcry against the decimation of id Software, Microsoft and seemingly id itself try to downplay the damage and reassure the audience - but what do we think of this - and indeed John Carmack's statements on the issue? Meanwhile Oliver has some bad news about Call of Duty Black Ops on PS5 or rather, the "Just There" edition as Rich dubs it. Beyond that, the petition against the end of PS5 physical media crosses the 250,000 threshold and there's further evidence that RTX 50 Serie…
DF Direct Q+A: Xbox 'Reset' Worse Than Expected - Huge Job Losses + The End of idTech?
Jul 7, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
One part necessary re-organisation, one part liberation for key developers, one part vandalism of Xbox studios, it's a mixture of disbelief and anger from the DF panel as the full extent of Xbox's so-called "reset" becomes clear. If Asha Sharma's report on the business is on the level, clearly something had to be done - but as the scale of the lay-offs and the astonishing cuts to id Software become clear, are spreadsheets now more important to Microsoft than its audience? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:…
DF Direct Weekly #271: The End Of PlayStation Physical Media & True Game Ownership
Ep 271 · Jul 6, 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Sony announces the end of PlayStation game discs via a three paragraph blog post - bringing to an end the era of physical media and actually owning the games you buy, along with the right to resell them, share them and preserve them. A sombre panel assesses the full implications of Sony's decision, why it's doing it, the damage it'll cause and how the PlayStation Store needs a major revamp to take the place of physical media. Also: Sony shuts down the PS3 and Vita stores, Xbox may have alternati…
DF Direct Q+A: The Big "$1000 Next-Gen Console" Debate + Is GTA 6 Over-Hyped?
Jul 1, 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
In the wake of Steam Machine pricing and sharp Xbox MSRP increases, are we looking at the prospect of a $1000 next-gen console? John, Rich and Oliver discuss. Meanwhile, in the current climate, how can you save money on gaming hardware? Is GTA 6 in danger of being the most over-hyped game ever? And if time travel were available, how could the current Xbox crisis have been averted? 00:00 Introduction 00:51 News 1: How does the gaming industry survive recent hardware price bumps? 24:54 News 2: Wha…
DF Direct Weekly #270: GTA 6 Screens: Are They Real-Time, Xbox Price Jump, FSR 4 on RDNA 3
Ep 270 · Jun 29, 2026 · 1 hr 19 min
Oliver, Rich and Tom discuss GTA 6. Are the 63 new screenshots indicative of actual gameplay? What about the "code in a box" situation? Are the latest PS5 Pro rumours plausible? Meanwhile, the panel is shocked by the huge Xbox price rises, somewhat more positive about FSR 4 arriving on RDNA 3 GPUs, and there's a full breakdown of Sonic Frontiers for Switch 2. And finally, SteamOS can now power a range of desktop PC hardware - but wasn't Bazzite doing that already? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:37 Ne…
DF Direct Q+A: Steam Machine - The Big Price/Performance/Form Factor Debate
Jun 26, 2026 · 40 min
In the wake of our Steam Machine review, Rich and Will tackle a range of Supporter questions on the price, value and design of the hardware, the ability of Valve to supply it - and the future of SteamOS in general. 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Supporter Q1: What should we think of the value of the Steam Machine? 12:03 Supporter Q2: What’s the target audience for the Steam Machine? 20:01 Supporter Q3: Should Valve have used unified memory? 25:19 Supporter Q4: Is Valve incapable of shipping hardware i…
DF Direct Weekly #269: GTA 6 News Reaction, UE5 Upgrades, UE6, Gears E-Day Tech Demo
Ep 269 · Jun 21, 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Actual GTA 6 news - and a new clip - see John, Tom and Oliver "concerned" over missing RT reflections. Then it's onto Unreal Fest with discussion on the latest Unreal Engine 5 upgrades and the implications of AI in Unreal Engine 6 workflow. The Gears of War: E-Day tech demo demands attention, while John gets to grips with a staggeringly expensive VR headset. And would you believe it's been a whole five years since we published our massive PS1 launch episode of DF Retro? John's got some stories t…
DF Direct Q+A: Xbox Reboot Studio Closure Reports, RTX 50-Series Super Returns? ARM ML Rendering
Jun 17, 2026 · 54 min
The team is left reeling after reports emerge of studios on the brink within Microsoft - a far cry from the highs of the summer showcase and previous comments from management about preserving their studio structure. Meanwhile, we discuss ARM's new ML rendering suite, the potential return of the previously cancelled RTX 50-series Super cards and... is Sega working on a retro handheld and if so, what would we want from it? 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Supporter Q1: What’s going on at Xbox? 21:08 Suppo…
DF Direct Weekly #268: Ocarina of Time Remake, Nintendo Direct, Fable Gameplay, RTX 3060 Returns
Ep 268 · Jun 15, 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Nintendo Direct rounds off the big summer gaming events and... well, it's a mixed bag for sure. What have we learned about the Ocarina of Time Remake? How well are the third party ports holding up? John, Rich and Oliver have some thoughts on that before moving on to reactions to the 30 minute Fable gameplay demo. Meanwhile, Nintendo is planning a new Switch 2 revision with a replaceable battery and... somehow, the RTX 3060 has returned. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:12 News 1: Nintendo Direct: The L…
DF Direct Q+A: The Big "Xbox Reset" Memo Debate - What Happens Next?
Jun 12, 2026 · 50 min
Our audience has questions, we've got answers - but first, the team gets to grips with the contents of Asha Sharma and Matt Booty's Xbox Reset memo. Beyond that, is Xbox console exclusivity the best route forward? Should Valve update Steam Machine specs? Will God of War Laufey get a massive PS6 enhancement? It's a big show and there's still more to discuss beyond that. 00:00 Introduction 01:00 What should we make of Asha Sharma’s “XBOX Reset?” 21:40 Supporter Q1: Will exclusives be enough to sav…
DF Direct Weekly #267: Resi Evil Veronica, FF7 Revelation, Stellar Blade 2 - The Big SGF Video
Ep 267 · Jun 9, 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Taped before we produced our Xbox Showcase coverage, it's John, Rich and Oliver at their respective microphones to discuss all the big games at the recent Summer Game Fest. Geoff came good - as this excellent line-up of titles reveals. 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:28 Final Fantasy 7 Revelation 0:10:35 Resident Evil Veronica 0:19:20 Stellar Blade: Blood Rain 0:24:35 Mighty Cuphead Adventures 0:29:25 Alien Isolation 2 0:33:21 Gen Atlas 0:40:23 Clutch 0:45:12 Crossfire 0:52:42 Virtua Fighter Crossroad…
DF Direct Special: Xbox Showcase 2026: Gears E-Day, Halo, Senua, Metro 2039 Reaction + More
Jun 8, 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
It's Xbox's time to shine with the latest in the big summer showcases and Team Green certainly delivered. Gears of War: E-Day finally breaks cover, Halo Campaign Evolved impresses, while Senua, Metro 2039 and Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy look phenomenal. But what's the deal with Microsoft's exclusivity strategy and will it actually work? 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:46 Gears of War: E-Day 0:13:36 Clockwork Revolution 0:16:21 Is Xbox returning to exclusive games? 0:29:30 Halo Campaign Evolved 0:3…
DF Direct Special: Nintendo Switch 2 - Year One - The Digital Foundry Verdict
Jun 6, 2026 · 51 min
At the time of publication, it has been one year and one day since Nintendo launched the Switch 2 console - so, as is DF tradition, it's time to look back over the last year and assess the system's track record so far. Strong back compat, impressive first and third party support, actual ray tracing and game-changing DLSS results - has Nintendo managed to put a foot wrong at all? 00:00 Overview 01:10 Is Switch 2 a generational leap over Switch 1? 11:40 What are the worst and best Switch 2 ports?…
DF Direct Q+A: Can Switch 2 Handle 60FPS Call of Duty? Custom PC vs Steam Machine, Nvidia RTX Spark
Jun 5, 2026 · 50 min
With the welcome announcement of Call of Duty coming to Switch 2, the question is... can the hardware handle the series' signature 60fps? Meanwhile, what does Nvidia aim to achieve with its new RTX Spark processor? In the wake of the shock Steam Deck price rises, could a self-built PC potentially offer superior value? What's the fate of Xbox Series S in the Helix era? All this and more in the new DF Direct Q+A show. 00:00 Introduction 00:40 Supporter Q1: Do you think Modern Warfare 4 will be goo…
DF Direct Special: State of Play June 2026 Reaction - Wolverine, God of War Laufey, Tomb Raider, Rayman + More!
Jun 3, 2026 · 47 min
The summer games showcase event season is upon us and Sony is first off the mark with an excellent showing. God of War Laufey and Marvel's Wolverine are the highlights of the event, but there's plenty more that caught our eye here. John and Oliver share their thoughts on the event. 00:00 Introduction 01:13 God of War Laufey 08:44 Marvel’s Wolverine 16:46 Rayman Legends Retold 20:50 Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve 25:09 Stuntman Hollywood 28:55 Until Dawn 2 32:24…
DF Direct Weekly #266: Huge Steam Deck Price Rises, New Witcher 3 Expansion, Switch 2 COD, MGS4!
Ep 266 · Jun 1, 2026 · 1 hr 30 min
The shock news of +40% price rises for Steam Deck kicks off a BIG Direct this week, swiftly followed by the team's first impressions of the PC version of 007 First Light - and its ker-azy upscaling issues. The new Call of Duty coming to Switch 2 is a topic of much interest, as is the announcement of a brand-new expansion for The Witcher 3. Rich is dismayed by the presentation of bare buttocks in Metal Gear Solid 4's PS5 remaster, the panel reminisces on five years of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apar…
DF Direct Q+A: What Is Unreal Engine 6? If Steam Is A Monopoly, Why Do We Like it?
May 29, 2026 · 53 min
The team sit down once more to discuss the latest questions from DF Supporters. What do we make of Unreal Engine 6's debut in Rocket League of all places? Has Epic delivered a version of Lumen that is performant enough for lower spec kit? Is Sony's quality control to be blamed for lower than expected PC sales and finally, the big one... if Steam is a monopoly, why do we like it? 00:00 Introduction 01:09 Supporter Q1: What should we make of the Unreal Engine 6 announcement? 16:48 Supporter Q2: Wh…
DF Direct Weekly #265: The End of Destiny 2, Lego Batman Tested, Yoshi Switch 2
Ep 265 · May 25, 2026 · 1 hr 25 min
John, Oliver and Rich sit down to discuss the latest gaming and technology news, kicking off with the end of the road for Destiny 2. It's had a fantastic long run, but where does that leave Bungie? Following that, it's a - dare we say it - Unreal Fest. The team discuss the latest Lego Batman on PS5 and PC, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on Switch and more, before moving into retrospective mode - it's been one year since the Witcher 4 UE5 demo and five years since we went hands-on with the Valley…
DF Direct Q+A: Sony Tightens Grip on Exclusivity, FSR 4 on Xbox? What Is The Immense Engine?
May 21, 2026 · 43 min
The show kicks off with the news that Sony is no longer bringing its single-player narrative-driven games to PC before moving on to supporter questions! How competitive would PS5 with Linux be to Valve's Steam Machine? Will FSR 4.1 come to Xbox consoles and could a PSSR Lite come to base PlayStation 5? Would there be any point bringing Quick Resume to PS6 and... is it Xbox or XBOX and should we change our pronounciation of the name?! 00:00 Introduction 00:45 News: Sony says single-player Sony ga…
DF Direct Weekly #264: PS5 Path Tracing Tested, FSR 4.1 For RDNA 2/3, 007 First Light Hits 60FPS!
Ep 264 · May 17, 2026 · 1 hr 24 min
PS5 Linux continues to yield dividends as Rich tests path tracing on PS5 with Quake 2 RTX, Portal RTX and Cyberpunk 2077 RT Overdrive (!) on Sony's console. Beyond that, there's great news with the announcement of FSR 4.1 coming to older Radeon graphics cards, and there's a hint that Xbox may have some kind of "disc to digital" way to bring your physical purchases over to a potentially disc-less Project Helix. Finally, the team celebrate a duo of key anniversaries - Uncharted 4 and Doom 2016! 0:…
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