Digital Foundry: Red Dead Redemption, PS5 Audio & AMD GPU Rumors

Red Dead Redemption Port Analysis

The team discusses the recent announcement of a Red Dead Redemption port for PlayStation 4 and Switch. While the technical quality is expected to be competent given it is being handled by Double 11, the lack of a native PC version and the absence of a dedicated PlayStation 5 release are highlighted as significant missed opportunities. The team also argues that charging full price for a game that is readily available and backwards-compatible on Xbox is controversial.

PS5 Dolby Atmos and Tempest Audio

Following the recent beta firmware announcement, Mark Cerny provided details on how Tempest 3D Audio integrates with Dolby Atmos. It is essentially a repackaging of standard ambisonic audio data, explaining why games already supporting 3D audio worked immediately. Concerns regarding audio latency on Xbox versus the low-latency implementation on PlayStation are contrasted, with the team testing various configurations to mitigate delays.

PS5 'Slim' Hardware Leaks

Leaked images and videos suggest a new PlayStation 5 revision with a detachable Blu-ray drive. This design move likely simplifies manufacturing by consolidating SKUs. The team expresses frustration with the current PS5 hardware design, particularly the unreliable stands and the bulky form factor, hoping the new version addresses these ergonomic pain points.

AMD RDNA 4 and GPU Market Trends

Rumors suggest that AMD's next-generation RDNA 4 architecture might lack a high-end halo product. The team explores the implications of this, agreeing that it could be a strategic misstep.

"Competition is sorely needed in the GPU space, particularly in terms of keeping prices in check."

They emphasize that high-end chips are crucial for brand mindshare and setting the tone for future graphical technologies.

RetroTink 4K Preview

John provides his first impressions of the new RetroTink 4K scaler. It is praised for its robust feature set, including exceptional VGA capture quality for retro PC games and advanced scaling options for HDMI-based consoles.

• Key Takeaways:
- The RetroTink 4K effectively handles high-refresh-rate inputs and provides razor-sharp pixel scaling.
- It addresses a critical void in the market for high-quality retro hardware scaling.
- Custom mask and scanline simulations are highly configurable.