Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

The arrival of a dramatically improved PSSR prompts many questions about the future of Sony ML features and the relationship with AMD. Meanwhile, the team tackle the baffling issue of no Crimson Desert Intel graphics support at launch, whether John can ever be tempted away from his CRTs and how future tech will balance dynamic resolution and dynamic frame-gen. Meanwhile, what's going on with diminished Xbox coverage?

00:00 Introduction
00:48 Supporter Q1: Which games actually have dedicated PSSR 2 patches?
06:23 Supporter Q2: Could AMD’s Ray Regeneration be implemented in Crimson Desert for PS5 Pro?
11:01 Supporter Q3: Will we have another PSSR upgrade this generation?
12:32 Supporter Q4 What is the long-term future of PSSR for PS6?
14:43 Supporter Q5: Is it acceptable for Crimson Desert to ship without Intel Arc support?
19:50 Supporter Q6: Is DF shunning Xbox coverage?
28:42 Supporter Q7: If OLEDs get an Nvidia Pulsar equivalent, will John ditch CRTs?
32:23 Supporter Q8: How do you balance between DRS and dynamic frame gen?
38:44 Supporter Q9: What acronym should Sony use for their PlayStation frame gen tech?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another big Direct! John talks base PlayStation 5 Crimson Desert mere hours after its launch, the team talk PSSR based on a new interview with Mark Cerny, while Oliver checks out the new handheld boost option for Switch 2 - and it's good! Cyberpunk 2077 is getting a PS5 Pro upgrade - but what is it? And finally, John enthuses even more about G-Sync Pulsar with its new 60Hz support feature!

0:00:00 Introduction
0:00:38 News 1: Crimson Desert base PS5 impressions
0:25:59 News 2: Our interview with Mark Cerny on the upgraded PSSR!
0:54:05 News 3: Nintendo adds Switch 2 “Handheld Boost”
1:08:44 News 4: Cyberpunk 2077 poised for PS5 Pro patch
1:18:25 News 5: G-Sync Pulsar monitors patched to support 60Hz games

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a wild few days. When we posted about DLSS 5, we were impressed with the technology and what it was doing - but we posted too soon. When generative AI is so divisive and with the future of games development possibly at stake, we should have taken the time to get the story straight and to analyse what we saw more thoroughly drawing on the thoughts of the whole team. In this video, we try to do just that while tackling the big questions raised by our supporters.

00:00 Explaining our initial DLSS 5 video
02:26 How can developers maintain artistic control with DLSS 5, especially for faces?
15:40 When the game industry is hurting, what are the ethics of using DLSS 5?
23:23 Why show off DLSS 5 now? Why call it DLSS 5?
30:38 Our technical reactions to DLSS 5
47:15 Dealing with harassment and concluding thoughts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After months - no, years - of speculation, we finally have proper information from Microsoft on the nature of its next generation Project Helix console - but how much is actually new? Meanwhile, Pearl Abyss share lavish detail on Crimson Desert specifications, while Nvidia talks The Witcher 4 with RTX Mega Geometry and Path Tracing. Rich is taken aback by Intel's Core 200 Ultra Plus announcement, Oliver has a new monitor and John pops up to talk more about our Crimson Desert PS5 Pro coverage.

0:00:00 Introduction
0:00:53 News 1: Microsoft reveals Project Helix at GDC
0:35:41 News 2: Crimson Desert console and PC specs drop
0:45:06 News 3: Witcher 4 gets RTX Mega Geometry, path tracing
0:53:36 News 4: Intel launches Core Ultra 200S Plus series
1:01:20 News 5: Oliver’s new Apple Studio Display XDR
1:10:01 Content discussion: Crimson Desert exclusive PS5 Pro review
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the fourth Q+A show, the team dive deeper into Xbox Project Helix and share their thoughts on potential performance vs PS6 along with hopes for what Microsoft will reveal this week at GDC. In the wake of Sony's reported change in PC strategy, where does that leave Nixxes? And what about the alleged "dynamic pricing" on the PlayStation Store? Oliver's getting a new display for the workplace, and Will Judd returns to Digital Foundry. And... can Sony justify releasing a PlayStation 6 Professional?

00:48 Supporter Q1: Will Project Helix dual boot Windows and Xbox OS, or will it rely more on virtualization?
12:14 Supporter Q2: Does Project Helix seem meaningfully more powerful than PS6, based off rumoured specs?
20:56 Supporter Q3: What will Nixxes do, given their reduced porting portfolio?
27:34 Supporter Q4: What do you think of dynamic pricing for digital game stores?
32:00 Supporter Q5: Are you impressed by the Pokémon Winds/Waves trailer?
35:16 Supporter Q6: Is the Apple Studio Display XDR any good for gaming?
41:32 Supporter Q7: Can Sony justify releasing a PS6 Pro?
46:43 Supporter Q8: How is Will doing, and when will you let him back on DF Direct?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices