Digital Foundry Weekly: Concord, Indiana Jones, and Switch Performance
The End of Concord and Firewalk Studios
Sony has made the major decision to permanently sunset Concord and shut down Firewalk Studios. Despite the game being mechanically solid and featuring high-end technical production, it failed to find a sustainable audience.
• The panel highlights that the $40 entry price point was a significant barrier in a market saturated with free-to-play alternatives.
• There is deep concern regarding the "corporate-driven" nature of this live-service push, notably the human cost when these projects are prematurely cancelled after failing to become the next massive hit.
• The group discusses the bleak reality that modern online-only games cannot be preserved or accessed like single-player titles once servers are shut down.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Hands-On
Tom provides a deep dive into the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
• The game feels like a modern evolution of the classic Riddick titles, emphasizing atmospheric stealth and puzzle-solving over pure action.
• MachineGames has captured the vibe of the 1980s films remarkably well, particularly through dialogue and environmental detail.
• Technical highlights include impressive global illumination and dense geometry without noticeable pop-in, utilizing the latest id Tech advancements.
Performance Troubles: Mario & Luigi and Disaster Remasters
The panel addresses the uneven technical state of current releases:
• Mario & Luigi: Brothership: While the game concept is well-regarded, the title suffers from inconsistent frame pacing and frequent, disruptive loading screens on the Switch.
• Shadows of the Damned: Hallelujah Edition: Described as a "disaster remaster," the PS5 version suffers from frame rate drops in a game that should readily handle its own engine requirements, proving that not all remasters improve the original experience.
• Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition: The discussion touches on memory leaks and shader compilation issues on PC, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for stable ports.
Future Tech and Star Citizen
Alex breaks down the recent CitizenCon 2024 presentations:
• The shift toward true streaming planet tech and sophisticated RTGI (Ray-Traced Global Illumination) aims to remove old limitations regarding environment density and terrain.
• Despite some visual shadow mapping inconsistencies and motion blur issues in the Squadron 42 prologue, the tech powering the game showcases significant technical ambition.