Xbox Future, PSSR 2.0, and Death Stranding 2 News
The Future of Xbox
The discussion centers on the uncertainty surrounding Microsoft's future after the departure of Phil Spencer.
• Leadership Transition: With Asha Sharma as the new EVP/CEO, there is no clear evidence of a significant strategy pivot. The "Return to Xbox" messaging is viewed as disconnected from the reality of the multi-platform strategy.
• Strategic Dilemma: The panel discusses whether Microsoft can or should revert to a console-exclusive model. The consensus is that the shift to multi-platform and PC-alignment is difficult to unwind, and that reliance on Game Pass has fundamentally altered their business model.
• Brand Identity: There is a recognized issue with the "Xbox" brand identity, particularly following the alienation of its hardcore user base. The challenge for new leadership is to differentiate hardware without reverting to strategies that failed in the past.
Technical Innovations: PSSR 2.0 and Upscaling
Death Stranding 2 and Nixis Ports
The team analyzes the technical specs for the upcoming PC release of Death Stranding 2.
• Pico Upscaler: A standout feature is the inclusion of the Progressive Image Compositor (Pico), a GPU-agnostic upscaler previously seen on the PS5 Pro. Its implementation across diverse hardware is a key point of interest.
• Port Quality: There is ongoing concern with Nixis ports, but expectations are high given Kojima Productions' likely oversight, which often ensures superior performance standards.
AI Upscaling Patents
Sony's recent patent regarding ML-based upscaling points to a future where upscaler precision is dynamically adjusted based on frame budget.
"I think it's weird because I see the framing... as if it's some God's gift to console image quality... It's like you're playing with two milliseconds of frame time." — Oliver McKenzie
Resident Evil 9: Requiem Performance
The group reviews Resident Evil 9: Requiem, highlighting the impressive performance of PSSR 2.0 on PS5 Pro.
• Visual Fidelity: The consensus is that the implementation of the new PSSR version offers market-leading clarity and stability on consoles.
• Switch 2 Capabilities: The game's performance on Switch 2 is praised, with DLSS acting as a transformative tool that allows high-fidelity presentation on portable hardware, often outperforming expectations.