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Digital Foundry Direct Weekly
DF Direct Q+A: Creation Engine 3 in Elder Scrolls 6/Fallout 5, Is Doom THE Great American Videogame?
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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-handheld ecosystem? And what's the deal with Oliver's cat?
00:00 Introduction
00:42 Supporter Q1: What can we expect from Bethesda’s Creation Engine 3?
13:58 Supporter Q2: Is Doom (1993) the great American video game?
20:37 Supporter Q3: Does Sony’s new vapour chamber patent mean they are ditching liquid metal?
26:58 Supporter Q4: Will developers deliver native ARM versions of their games for RTX Spark?
33:16 Supporter Q5: Would console graphics look better if developers skipped 60 FPS modes entirely?
41:40 Supporter Q6: Has the next-gen portable PlayStation driven Sony’s decision to kill discs?
46:58 Supporter Q7: When will we see the non-tail parts of Oliver’s cat?
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280. DF Direct Weekly #280: John on GTA 6, State of Play Disappoints, Helix "Family of Devices"
01:16:08||Season 1, Ep. 280The Digital Foundry panel convene to talk about Sony's disappointing State of Play, John shares his thoughts on the Grand Theft Auto 6 Extended Look and there are more hints about Xbox's next-gen strategy as Asha Sharma discusses a family of devices - amongst other things - in an interview with the BBC. For an ad-free DF Direct Weekly with a private RSS feed and high quality video downloads, support us here: https://patreon.com/digitalfoundry0:00:00 Introduction0:01:43 News 1: Sony releases disappointing State of Play0:25:49 Supporter Q1: What does John think of the GTA 6 Extended Look?0:41:59 Supporter Q2: Is Microsoft pivoting to a more mainstream “family” of next-gen Xboxes?0:57:18 Supporter Q3: Will Microsoft regret their disc-to-digital program?1:04:49 Supporter Q4: Will the PSP 3 actually be able to play PS5 games?1:09:43 Supporter Q5: Should Nintendo implement a global frame-rate cap option for Switch 2?DLSS 5 Tested: NBA 2K27 Image Quality + Benchmarks, Mods And More
01:17:28|Six months after its reveal, DLSS 5 has launched with NBA 2K27 and its utilisation is a world apart from the first clips, not to mention the vast array of modded footage we've seen since its leak last week. Rich, John and Oliver compare notes on the difference it makes, the huge performance cost, what is achievable with mods and more.Join the DF Supporter Program for ad free video downloads and a private ad free RSS feed. https://patreon.com/digitalfoundry0:00:00 Introduction0:02:27 What is DLSS 5?0:15:36 DLSS 5 visuals in NBA 2K270:25:07 DLSS 5 performance in NBA 2K270:42:17 Mods: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth0:50:03 Mods: Forza Horizon 6, Monster Hunter Rise, Starfield1:00:14 Concluding thoughts279. DF Direct Weekly #279: The Witcher 3 Remaster Reaction, Xbox Disc To Digital, Best of Gamescom 2026!
01:17:41||Season 1, Ep. 279While Grand Theft Auto 6's gameplay reveal somewhat overshadowed proceedings, it was indeed Gamescom 2026 this week and with Rich's legs giving out, it was down to John to represent us at the show. So, after dispensing with some gaming and technology news, John delivers his own "best of" tour of Gamescom, discussing the titles he loved.Looking to enjoy DF Direct Weekly ad-free? Gain access to a private RSS feed and video downloads on our Patreon: https://patreon.com/digitalfoundry0:00:00 Introduction0:02:01 News 1: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered revealed0:12:52 News 2: Xbox disc to digital program officially announced0:23:18 Gamescom demos: Fable0:30:46 Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve0:38:01 Capcom: Mega Man: Dual Override, Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen0:46:51 Sega: Alien Isolation 2, Stranger than Heaven0:54:48 Konami: Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Silent Hill: Townfall1:10:20 State of Decay 3Grand Theft Auto 6 Extended Look: The Most Impressive Real-Time Game Graphics Yet?
01:16:45|26 minutes of actual GTA 6 gameplay "dropped" - and on balance, it's one of the most extraordinary visual accomplishments ever seen in real-time game graphics. It's not perfect - nothing can be - but in this DF Direct Special, Oliver and Rich share their thoughts and reactions to the presentation. 0:00:00 Introduction0:01:24 Overall impressions0:10:09 Performance: 30 FPS only0:25:22 Lighting: shadowmaps, RT reflections, RTGI0:37:31 Simulation and the open world0:45:49 Image quality0:50:57 Supporter Q1: How will next-gen consoles and PCs improve on the PS5 visuals?0:56:55 Supporter Q2: Will PS5 Pro fix GTA 6’s image quality issues?1:01:45 Supporter Q3: Will GTA 6 become a new highly contested PC benchmark?1:04:56 Supporter Q4: How did the Netflix-only trailer launch go?DF Direct Q+A: What If PlayStation 6 Is Actually The New PS Portable/Handheld?
45:40|At the time of recording, it was the lull before the storm that is Gamescom 2026 - but we've still got a bunch of fascinating questions to wade through. Have we got it all wrong with PlayStation 6? Is it actually the hotly rumoured handheld with Sony pivoting in a Nintendo-like direction? If games hit photorealism, where does that leave Digital Foundry? And are plasma TVs the new CRT?00:00 Introduction 01:21 Sponsored by MSI QD-OLED02:42 Supporter Q1: Could the next-gen PSP and PS6 be the same thing?14:26 Supporter Q2: Should PC games rename their graphics settings to constrain performance expectations?22:27 Supporter Q3: If games become photorealistic, what will Digital Foundry do?31:20 Supporter Q4: Are plasma TVs the new CRTs?42:58 Supporter Q5: Will DF leave secret messages about upcoming hardware in DF Directs?278. DF Direct Weekly #278: Sony Undecided On PS6 Price/Launch Date, Black Myth Zhong Kui Gameplay
01:15:13||Season 1, Ep. 278We're not going to be commenting on leaks from a stolen GTA 6 build that's years old and promoting a memecoin but we WILL be talking about Sony's comments on not knowing PS6's pricing and release date and assessing the Black Myth Zhong Kui gameplay reveal. Rich is intrigued by Alan Wake's big PC upgrade for AMD users, while John muses over the reported end of live service elements in Horizon Hunters Gathering. Finally, five years ago, Alex made a range of predictions about Switch 2 and DLSS... so how accurate did they turn out to be?0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:49 News 1: Sony undecided on PS6 release date 0:20:18 News 2: Remedy adds FSR 4.1 support in Alan Wake 20:27:23 News 3: Black Myth: Zhong Kui demoed 0:34:57 News 4: Horizon: Hunters Gathering drops live service elements0:45:38 News 5: Doom ported to 12 year old camera0:51:59 Retrospective: Alex’s Switch 2 DLSS predictionsDF Direct Q+A: Oblivion Remastered - Can Switch 2 Optimisations Fix PS5/PC/Xbox Versions?
52:33|Bethesda is promising a new patch for Oblivion Remastered based on the Switch 2 version's optimisations - but is there any evidence to suggest that the Switch 2 improvements will make any real differences for the other versions? Meanwhile, Oliver clarifies his comments on which PC specs reflect next-gen consoles, whether Project Helix will make much of a difference for Microsoft and whether Epic should make their own console (!). Finally, how come Switch 2 hasn't really much in the way of cross-gen first party exclusives?00:00 Introduction 01:19 Supporter Q1: Can Switch 2 Optimisations Fix Oblivion Remastered on other systems?16:47 Supporter Q2: How should we think about GPU VRAM and next gen consoles? 25:13 Supporter Q3: How was Nintendo able to transition from Switch 1 to Switch 2 so quickly?32:24 Supporter Q4: If Microsoft stops shipping Xboxes, what will be lost?40:57 Supporter Q5: Is Valve not being stringent enough with their Steam Deck Verified program? 45:49 Supporter Q6: Should Epic make their own Epic Games Machine with Unreal Engine optimizations?277. DF Direct Weekly #277: Crimson Desert Switch 2 Confirmed, Gears E-Day PC Tested, Viture XR Glasses!
01:24:06||Season 1, Ep. 277The 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 coming to Linux and there's some eyebrow-raising data on Resident Evil Requiem physical disc sales.0:00:00 Introduction0:02:36 News 1: Gears of War: E-Day tested on PC!0:24:28 News 2: Switch 2 port of Crimson Desert confirmed0:36:11 News 3: Viture Beast, Pro 2 XR glasses tested0:50:11 News 4: Resident Evil Requiem figures show high physical sales1:00:37 News 5: Project Xodus brings Xbox PC games to Linux, Mac1:09:23 News 6: VR Games Showcase demos upcoming VR titlesDF Direct Q+A: Celebrating DF Independence - One Year Since Leaving IGN!
59:23|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, how Nintendo has achieved success without compromising its identity and finally... what PC spec today would match the consoles of tomorrow?00:00 Introduction01:07 Celebrating one year of DF independence!27:42 Supporter Q1: Should we blame Microsoft for the state of PlayStation?37:32 Supporter Q2: Should Sony follow Nintendo’s first-party centric console approach?46:22 Supporter Q3: Could Xbox Helix be a system-on-a-chip for PC systems?50:46 Supporter Q4: What PC hardware will you need for next generation games?