Digital Foundry: Switch Ports, FSR 2.0 Mods, and Sony Monitors

Portal 1 & 2 on Nintendo Switch and Modding

The episode kicks off with a discussion on the surprising quality of the Portal and Portal 2 ports on the Nintendo Switch. Running at 1080p and 60 FPS, these ports are highly praised for their execution.

• An early proof-of-concept mod demonstrates that Half-Life 2 can run on Switch hardware, suggesting that Valve should consider an official port.
• The panel discusses how staying conservative with technology and focusing on clean image quality often yields better results than forcing heavy modern rendering on limited hardware.

Nier Automata Port

The team evaluates the upcoming Nier Automata port for Switch. While skeptical of the 1080p native target mentioned in trailers, they highlight the brilliance of the game and express relief that it is a native port rather than a cloud version.

Cyberpunk 2077 and FSR 2.0

A major focus is the fan-made mod for Cyberpunk 2077 that replaces DLSS with FSR 2.0.

• The mod shows that the inputs for DLSS 2.0 and FSR 2.0 are remarkably similar, which could simplify future game development.
• While the mod still suffers from minor issues like ghost trailing, it is a significant achievement that enables upscaling on a wider range of hardware, including AMD GPUs.

Sony's New Hardware Lineup

Sony is releasing a new range of monitors and headsets explicitly targeting the PC market.

• The panel notes that the $999 FALD monitor offers impactful HDR, though they question the value proposition compared to popular OLED alternatives.
• They express frustration that the PlayStation 5 still does not support native 1440p output, a resolution considered the sweet spot for many PC players.

Steam Deck Production Updates

Valve has opted to double production of the Steam Deck. The discussion highlights the device's incredible configurability, particularly the ability to adjust refresh rates for better battery management in titles like Control.

Retro Perspectives and Future Titles

• Star Ocean: The Divine Force: The team sees a return to form for the series, moving away from low-budget constraints to a more classic Star Ocean feel.
• Classic Shooters: Looking back at Crysis, the team defends it as one of the best PC shooters ever, arguing that it rewards players for utilizing their full nanosuit toolset rather than just brute-forcing combat.