Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

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
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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?

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In the run-up to GDC, Microsoft has given the new Xbox a codename - Project Helix - and there's confirmation that it'll run PC games too, but what else will be revealed and how much will it cost? Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that Sony's stepping back from bringing its triple-A singleplayer games to PC, John tries Marathon and bemoans RT changes made to RE Requiem, and Rich wonders what's going on with the reported RTX 5050 9GB. Finally, Pearl Abyss stands by the quality of Crimson Desert on consoles - and says that Digital Foundry will have full access to review code. Nice.

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In the third Q+A show, the DF team have lots to discuss - there's a bunch of big questions on the "PSSR2" reveal and we can share what we think about what's to come next month. Meanwhile, in the wake of Phil Spencer's departure from Xbox, there are many more queries about the nature of the next-gen machine and Microsoft's strategy. But there's more! Are we already seeing the limits of Switch 2 RT and what if Microsoft had partnered with Nvidia for Xbox Series machinery - could that have changed the outcome of the console "war"...?

00:55 Supporter Q1: What games are you excited to test with the new PSSR?
06:14 Supporter Q2: Is the new PSSR override a game-changer for PS5 Pro?
10:39 Supporter Q3: With new PSSR imminent, why won’t AMD release their INT 8 version of FSR 4?
14:41 Supporter Q4: Can DF remain fair and impartial on new PSSR?
20:38 Supporter Q5: Will Windows on next-gen Xbox be ‘full-fledged’?
24:20 Supporter Q6: Should Microsoft change tack on next gen Xbox and release a Series S replacement?
27:25 Supporter Q7: Is ray tracing on Switch 2 too much for AAA games like Resident Evil: Requiem?
36:36 Supporter Q8: What would Xbox Series look like if Microsoft had opted for Nvidia tech over AMD?

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In this week's Direct, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma tells us that "the plan's the plan until it's not the plan" - so is there actually a new strategy at all? Meanwhile, with Bluepoint cut loose from Sony, could the firm deliver the remasters/remakes that Xbox needs? The team discuss Death Stranding 2 specs and the "quietening" of PlayStation PC releases more generally before moving on to reaction to the Mario Wonder Switch 2 Edition reveal? There's a new PSSR patent worth talking about and... finally... what did we know about RE Requiem's new PSSR tech pre-review?

0:00:00 Introduction
0:00:34 News 1: Where Next For Xbox? Asha Sharma First Interview
0:30:47 News 2: Should Microsoft hire Bluepoint?
0:42:21 News 3: Death Stranding 2 PC specs drop
0:50:55 News 4: Super Mario Wonder Switch 2 Edition previewed
0:57:21 News 5: Could new Sony upscaler tech replace DRS?
1:06:39 Content discussion: reflecting on Requiem

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