Ubisoft Forward Showcase Analysis and Gaming News

Overview

This episode features the Digital Foundry team discussing the latest gaming news, specifically focusing on the recent Ubisoft Forward event. The team provides technical insights into Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Shadows, discusses the state of online streaming quality, and addresses fan queries regarding console hardware comparisons and streaming transparency.

Star Wars Outlaws

Technical Performance: The team expresses concern over the trailer's frame rate and judder, speculating on potential use of NVIDIA Share or incomplete work-in-progress builds.
Graphical Fidelity: While the game features impressive, cutting-edge Snowdrop engine technology, there are criticisms regarding vignetting and lens flare behaviors that appear inconsistent with high-quality film aesthetics.
Gameplay: The integration of arcadey ship combat with simulation-style UI elements (like lead pips) was highlighted as an interesting design choice.

Assassin's Creed Shadows

Visual Evolution: The shift to an RTGI (Ray Traced Global Illumination) solution marks a significant leap, though the team noted the lack of per-object motion blur at 30fps makes fast camera movements look stuttery.
Interactivity: Combat animations are praised for their weight and environmental interaction, marking a positive departure from older, static Ubisoft titles.

Industry Reflections and News

The 'Epic Prophecy': The team discusses the leaked Epic Games Store database, noting its potential accuracy in revealing future PC ports like Red Dead Redemption.
Riven Remake: John expresses excitement over the Unreal Engine 5 remake of Riven, noting its visual fidelity and the massive challenge of bringing such a title to Quest 3.
Gears of War E-Day: The team clarifies that the trailer is likely pre-rendered using in-game assets, emphasizing a desire for more transparent labeling in industry marketing.

"I think it's as you say, Alex, it's probably more of just like an image quality boost. And to get something out that looks pristine, even if it is rendered in the engine, it's a good way to get like a perfect version of that asset."

Supporter Q&A

Generation Concerns: The hosts debate whether the current console generation is "boring," highlighting that while leaps in fidelity are smaller, 60fps has become a much more standard performance target.
Physical Media: The discussion touches on the frustration regarding incomplete disc releases and the lack of support for 100GB discs on Xbox.