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Artwork for Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

Digital Foundry
Nintendo Switch 2
Xbox
Ray Tracing
Playstation 5
Cyberpunk 2077
NVIDIA
Playstation 5 Pro
DLSS
Grand Theft Auto 6
Switch 2
Nintendo
Microsoft
Unreal Engine 5
Sony
Xbox Series X
Star Wars Outlaws
Playstation 6
Playstation
Steam Deck
AMD

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 th... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes354Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureNewsTech News

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Artwork for Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

Latest Episodes

A massive week for news. PlayStation ends decades of partnership with Hideo Kojima as Physint is cancelled by Sony - but picked up by Microsoft, meaning it's coming to Xbox. The team take a look at the surprise-but-a-welcome-one reveal of VRR coming ... more

The DF Direct Q+A Show returns and suffice it to say, there's a huge amount of interest around DLSS 5. Will AMD and indeed Intel deliver equivalent tech? What are the limits of DLSS 5 and how will they be overcome? Meanwhile, is Pearl Abyss developer... more

YouTube

The 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 ... more

YouTube

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 ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

John Lennon
Guest on DF Direct Q&A
Digital Foundry
Episode: DF Direct Q+A: The Big "$1000 Next-Gen Console" Debate + Is GTA 6 Over-Hyped?
Tom Morgan
Contributor assisting with the Lego Batman and Yoshi topics
Episode: DF Direct Weekly #265: The End of Destiny 2, Lego Batman Tested, Yoshi Switch 2
Will Judd
Colleague who compiled archival Unreal Engine discussions
Digital Foundry
Episode: DF Direct Weekly #265: The End of Destiny 2, Lego Batman Tested, Yoshi Switch 2
John Lindemann
Guest, PSSR analysis expert
Digital Foundry
Episode: DF Direct Q+A: The Future Of PSSR, Crimson Desert Intel Issues, DRS vs Dynamic Frame-Gen
John Linnewin
Guest discussing Crimson Desert and related tech
Pearl Abyss (mentioned in discussion)
Episode: DF Direct Weekly #255: Xbox's Big Helix Reveal, Witcher 4 Path Tracing, Crimson Desert Specs
Mark Triforce-Dettelson
Special guest, recording footage for DF Retro
Digital Foundry
Episode: DF Direct Weekly #254: Xbox Project Helix, Sony Exiting PC? Starfield PS5, Crimson Desert Console!
Oliver McKenzie
Special guest co-host, DF editor
Digital Foundry
Episode: DF Direct Weekly #245: Half-Life 3 Steam Machine Launch Game? Skyrim Switch 2 Lag Patch, Marathon!
Thomas Morgan
Special correspondent
Episode: DF Direct Weekly #245: Half-Life 3 Steam Machine Launch Game? Skyrim Switch 2 Lag Patch, Marathon!
Mark Cerny
Lead system architect for PlayStation 5 Pro
Sony
Episode: DF Direct Special: Mark Cerny's PlayStation 5 Pro Deep Dive - Tomorrow's Tech Today?

Hosts

John Linneman
Host with long-standing involvement across DF Direct Weekly and related segments; core technical analysis and discussion leadership.
Rich Leadbetter
Co-host and governance voice on DF Direct Weekly; strong emphasis on engineering detail and testing methodology.
Oliver McKenzie
Segment contributor and host; provides testing insights and hands-on hardware impressions.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Keep it up Foundrymen

    The Foundry has been smelting in my ears for many years and it never been so good. 2 shows in a week is a treat. I used to watch the videos but I prefer the audio form. I know I’m missing some visual gags. Keep it up gents. Love y’all

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DTheVigne
    Canadaa month ago
  • Stop the AI service ads

    Love the show, but low score will remain until you stop playing ads for stupid AI services.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    NoThxBro
    United States3 months ago
  • “Good stuff”

    like he always says 😂

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rosbeee
    France4 months ago
  • My favorite tech podcast!

    Hi and welcome to this, my brief review of the DF Weekly podcast.

    Originally, I was led to this show from John’s guest appearance on another gaming podcast I regularly enjoy. I love hearing each host’s perspective on various gaming and technology news, and I’ve found myself looking forward to spending time listening to this show each week.

    While there is plenty of high level discussion on games and the games industry, my favorite aspect of this podcast is the technical deep dive they frequen... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    metalheadtundra
    United Statesa year ago
  • Snooty

    Picture a podcast where Marjorie Taylor Greene was reviewing bills and Democratic candidates, but she was supposed to be talking about Democrats like she was a part of them. While she’s talking, she’s choking on her own farts that is basically the summary of these guys making video games seem like an awful hobby for some reason.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Darkbroccoli
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listener sentiment is mixed on some hot takes, yet overall positive about depth and quality of analysis.
Often technical but accessible, with practical testing and testing results driving the conversations.
Independence and honest industry critique are seen as strong positives.
Tech-focused, deep-dive discussions on hardware and platform strategy are highly valuable for listeners.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#75
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#36
United Kingdom/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#67
Canada/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#77
Australia/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#107
Germany/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#117
Italy/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

DF Direct Q+A: What If PlayStation 6 Is Actually The New PS Portable/Handheld?
Q: You keep talking about the portable PlayStation and the PS6 as separate things, but maybe the portable thing is actually the PlayStation 6. What do you think about this idea?
The hosts acknowledge the two-device model as plausible, noting tradeoffs like power budgets, memory, and the need for a device that can convincingly offer a PlayStation 5/PS6-like experience, while recognizing that the handheld would struggle to deliver PS5 Pro-level performance if it's constrained by current hardware and battery limits.
DF Direct Q+A: Oblivion Remastered - Can Switch 2 Optimisations Fix PS5/PC/Xbox Versions?
Q: What about the memory requirements discussion for next-gen consoles—could higher memory on PS6/Helix shift the balance?
If next-gen consoles ship with substantially more memory, developers could push higher texture settings and larger assets, but the reality is more nuanced: memory bandwidth, compression techniques, and engine design all drive performance, so simply adding memory won't automatically deliver console-like results without architectural optimisations.
DF Direct Q+A: Oblivion Remastered - Can Switch 2 Optimisations Fix PS5/PC/Xbox Versions?
Q: Are there optimisations in the Switch 2 version that could be brought to bear on other platforms?
There could be components of the Switch 2 work—such as memory compression, draw call reduction, and improved asset streaming—that might help, but the underlying Gamebryo+UE5 integration and engine architecture would require significant overhauls to translate these gains to PS5 and Xbox, so any real fix would need broader, platform-wide changes.
DF Direct Q+A: Oblivion Remastered - Can Switch 2 Optimisations Fix PS5/PC/Xbox Versions?
Q: Can you sum up the existing issues with Oblivion Remastered across platforms?
The core problems are stubborn frame pacing at 30 FPS, hitching in open-world traversal, crashes tied to memory leaks and save-loading, and a general degradation of performance that isn't fully resolved by the Switch 2 optimisations, making it hard to recommend any version as truly solid across PS5, Xbox, and PC.
DF Direct Q+A: Celebrating DF Independence - One Year Since Leaving IGN!
Q: What has been the most surprising aspect of being independent so far?
The biggest surprise has been the degree of practical freedom and direct support from our community, which has allowed us to pursue more ambitious projects and bring back long-form content like DF Retro while maintaining stability in staffing and operations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

What is Digital Foundry Direct Weekly about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Tech-focused listeners tune in for rigorous hardware and performance analysis across PC, console, and hybrid platforms. Episodes frequently dissect GPU/CPU balance, upscaling, ray tracing, memory constraints, and the business shifts shaping digital storefronts, with extra attention to next-gen hardware, handhelds, and the evolving ecosystem of physical vs. digital ownership. A standout trait is the panel-style format featuring deep technical nerd-outs, informed predictions, and candid industry commentary, often correlating practical testing with broader industry trends. The show's appeal lies in its ability to translate complex GPU and system architecture topics into actionable insights for enthusiasts, developers, and prosumers who want to... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Digital Foundry Direct Weekly?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Digital Foundry Direct Weekly:

1. The Nerd Nest - A Video Game Podcast
2. Broken Silicon
3. Friends Per Second
4. Unlocked
5. Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast

How many episodes of Digital Foundry Direct Weekly are there?

Digital Foundry Direct Weekly launched 5 years ago and published 354 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Digital Foundry Direct Weekly?

Recent guests on Digital Foundry Direct Weekly include:

1. John Lennon
2. Tom Morgan
3. Will Judd
4. John Lindemann
5. John Linnewin
6. Mark Triforce-Dettelson
7. Oliver McKenzie
8. Thomas Morgan

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