Phantom Blade Zero, Apple Hardware and FSR 4

Phantom Blade Zero on PC

Rich discusses the PC version’s performance on an RTX 4060 and RTX 5070. The game runs well in the tested scenes, often above 60 frames per second on the 4060, but shader compilation takes a long time and ray tracing can cause stuttering. The panel also examines frame generation, latency and the game’s resolution-scaling options.

Oliver compares PC ray-tracing settings with the console versions, noting differences in shadows and reflections and questioning whether the PC options change more than the Lumen mode. John says he plans to play the game on PC and describes it as a straightforward action game rather than a Souls-like.

Apple’s new hardware

The panel discusses Apple’s new OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro, alongside the M6 iMac, M6 14-inch MacBook Pro and iPad mini. They consider the OLED display an update to the existing MacBook Pro screen rather than a complete redesign, and discuss the added touch input, price and possible thermal implications of a lighter laptop.

The iPad mini’s OLED display and processor are also discussed, with the panel questioning its 60 Hz refresh rate. They also consider which Apple products may be updated next.

Samsung process-node rumor and Switch 2

The panel examines speculation that Samsung’s 8LPU+ process could be used for a future Switch 2 revision or a Lite model. Oliver stresses that the story does not include a specific Nintendo hardware rumor, and questions whether the existing chip design could be moved to the process with limited engineering work. The discussion also covers hopes for better battery life and a better display, plus a European Switch model with a replaceable battery.

FSR 4 on handhelds

Rich tests AMD’s handheld-focused FSR 4 model on the ROG Ally X, reporting performance gains in Resident Evil Requiem and Crimson Desert. Comparisons with FSR 3 show improved image reconstruction, especially in fine detail and motion, even when FSR 4 is set to performance mode. The panel also notes that there is no driver update for Z1 Extreme devices in the discussion, and considers the range of FSR 4 variants.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse on PS5 Pro

John reports that the game appears to render at 4K on the base PS5 and Xbox demo, but at 1080p on PS5 Pro, where the image looks less sharp. He considers this a likely bug rather than an intentional choice and calls for it to be addressed. The panel notes that patches had not changed the behavior at the time of recording.

PS4 Pro and ten years of Digital Foundry support

The final discussion looks back at the PS4 Pro, including its 4K and HDR features, checkerboard rendering, performance limitations and comparison with the Xbox One X. The panel also reflects on launching Digital Foundry’s Patreon supporter program and its role in funding high-quality video downloads and building a community. Rich thanks the supporters as the episode closes.