Digital Foundry Direct: Cyberpunk PS5 Pro & Switch 2 Tech

Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.3 & PS5 Pro Performance

Direct comparisons indicate Cyberpunk 2077’s 2.3 upgrade provides a substantial performance boost on the PS5 Pro, pushing frame rates into the 80–90 FPS range in specific modes. While VRR support is now available for all consoles, the base PS5 unit sees limited gains, whereas the Pro hardware leverages its extra horsepower effectively.

Challenges in Ray Tracing Modes

• The ray tracing mode remains pegged to 30/40 FPS and feels limited by CPU constraints.
• The team expresses disappointment that we still lack a dedicated PS5 Pro patch to leverage more advanced ray tracing features like reflections.

Space Marine 2: Ambient Occlusion & Stability

Space Marine 2 received an update adding Ray-Traced Ambient Occlusion (RTAO).

"It isn't so much darkening that it looks like it's getting rid of light leak... it still looks kind of floaty."

• The RTAO adds subtle depth to finer details like shell casings, but many environments remain dominated by unshadowed lights, leaving the game with a floaty aesthetic.
• The patch appears to have improved the shader compilation hitches noted during the initial launch, though some issues persist.

Donkey Kong Bonanza & Switch 2 Technicals

The discussion highlights how Donkey Kong Bonanza benefits from the Switch 2's performance, despite its origins as a Switch 1 project. Technical analysis suggests that the game's performance dips, while noticeable, are often within the range where VRR smooths out the experience.

• The team clarifies that the game’s performance is generally stable, but highlights that the developers have opted to drive the display at 60Hz, not 120Hz, limiting the effective VRR range.
• There is skepticism regarding the use of FSR 1.0 on the new platform when more advanced solutions like DLSS could offer superior results given the engine's potential compatibility.

Hitman & GPU Driver Investigations

• Hitman World of Assassination: Discovered to change rendering resolution dynamically based on system menu settings, acting as an "Easter egg" display mode.
• RDNA 4 Issues: Investigations confirmed serious shader compilation stutters in Unreal Engine 4 titles using ray tracing on the RX 970 XT. The issue is confirmed, and the team intends to report it to AMD.