DF Direct Weekly: Switch 2 Hype, Windows Handhelds & F1 25
The Imminent Nintendo Switch 2 Launch
The Digital Foundry team discusses the upcoming Switch 2 release, highlighting the mix of excitement and frustration surrounding the lack of early review units. Key technical points include:
• Hardware Expectations: The system seems to align with the T239 silicon leaks, with a suspected focus on power efficiency.
• VRR and Display: The inclusion of a 120Hz VRR screen in handheld mode is a massive, standardized win for performance consistency, though concerns persist about docked-only experiences.
• The Cartridge Conundrum: A confusing array of cartridge formats (LB, LP, LN, and vanilla Switch 1) has caused community frustration. The prevalence of "game keys" in physical boxes is viewed as a worrying trend that undermines the goal of physical media.
• Performance Hopes: John and Alex are eager to test backward compatibility to see if the hardware can brute-force performance on existing titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Zelda games that historically suffered from framerate drops.
Microsoft, Windows, and the Handheld Market
Discussion shifted to the state of Windows on handheld devices following reports that Microsoft has "sidelined" its bespoke Xbox handheld project.
• Windows vs. SteamOS: The panel notes the stark performance and battery life disparity between Windows 11 and SteamOS. Tools like Fossilize shader caching continue to make the Steam Deck the superior handheld experience.
• Call for OS Optimization: The lack of a lightweight, "Game Mode" version of Windows is highlighted as a missed opportunity for Microsoft, which has left third-party OEMs struggling to provide a polished experience out of the box.
Path Tracing in F1 25
Alex provided a deep dive into the new Path Tracing update for F1 25.
"One of the biggest things you'll see... is the bounce lighting from the inside of the cockpit. There's a ton of nuance here."
• Visual Gains: The implementation drastically improves lighting accuracy under bridge structures, within cockpits, and through volumetric fog compared to traditional Raster or RT approaches.
• Performance Costs: These improvements are extremely resource-intensive, requiring high-end hardware (like the RTX 5090) and DLSS upscaling to maintain stable frames.
NVIDIA on Steam Deck
Natively bringing the GeForce Now app to Steam Deck is a game-changer for those who want high-fidelity gaming on the go.
• Despite some clunky menu navigation in a non-optimized interface and the need to jump to desktop mode for installation, the overall experience—including HDR and console-like latency—is described as near-native quality.