DF Direct Weekly

[@NimbleSnek]

I think the PS5s in Richard's background have started to perform mitosis

[@alandiegovillalobos]

Next week there will be 6.

[@mmarshfairc3]

Soon it won’t be Richard sitting in the chair, it’ll be a ps5 slim

[@radry100]

He got an early PS5 pro

[@alandiegovillalobos]

@@radry100 shhhh he signed an NDA.

[@rafaelraad555]

😂😂😂 that was pretty good 👍

[@DroneCorpse]

My mind bag is now Phil’d with Xbox news.

[@Saif0412]

😂

[@enzog1078]

Nailed it

[@brandon_nope]

you’ve just been Phil'd in

[@Rhahdhdn]

Love when Oliver is part of the panel. Always brings great insight.

[@JFLTX]

Love the fact that he respects all platforms. No PC master race with him.

[@yc_030]

- Oliver

[@phazonlord0098]

Unfortunately with timezone differences and the fact that he also edits the Direct, he doesn't have more appearances. Would love to have all 4 of them as the main cast.

[@Resist_Oppression]

Honestly, I don't. Hmm.

[@hereforthebeans]

wish they could have an episode including alex and oliver

[@seamusobrian9050]

You can add "kettle of worms" to DF's original idioms

[@Chill_Mode_JD]

Bespoke kettle of worms

[@alzzer3414]

Next week: "A whole other can of fish"

[@mjc0961]

*DF's bespoke idioms

[@Ioganstone]

@@Chill_Mode_JD Running FSR and VRR together I presume

[@idakev]

Quite a disgusting image if you actually think about it. haha. I would hope that the kettle is left off

[@purebaldness]

This episode of DF Direct is brought to you by the word: -Concept- -Curious- -Bespoke- *Compelling*

[@ectoplasma5]

Yes it is the repeating theme like Wagner invented it in his music.

[@psdrewgraphics]

The power of -Christ- Phil *compels* -DF- , I mean -you- , I mean DF

[@purebaldness]

@@psdrewgraphics lol

[@timmygilbert4102]

Cromulent

[@formulaic78]

Here's the first paragraph of Steven Poole's article in the guardian from year's back on bureaucratese. It's hilarious. Among the most spirit-sapping indignities of office life is the relentless battering of workers' ears by the strangled vocabulary of management-speak. It might even seem to some innocent souls as though all you need to do to acquire a high-level job is to learn its stultifying jargon. Bureaucratese is a maddeningly viral kind of Unspeak engineered to deflect blame, complicate simple ideas, obscure problems, and perpetuate power relations. Here are some of its most dismaying manifestations.

[@darksunwithin]

Richard greeting Oliver by full name, then Oliver doing the same and Richard's reaction. 😂

[@deepblue8143]

Lol that made me laugh too.

[@horrorjunkie96]

timestamp? I can't find it.

[@christiansimon9182]

​@@horrorjunkie96Right in the introduction :)

[@alexsilva28]

@@horrorjunkie96 0:00

[@horrorjunkie96]

@@christiansimon9182 🤬

[@WayStedYou]

Horrifically all digital.

[@FKA_Skull]

That’s been PC for 20 years, and it’s beloved.

[@ThatVSMBro]

It’s always been a fight between console and PC including the last 20 years

[@AJ-xv7oh]

​@@FKA_SkullNo it's not.

[@user-s8jb3qb6y]

​@@-T--T-if the game's on GOG, i.e. it's buyable DRM-free, then there's no issues whatsoever

[@Swisshost]

No one can "own" games, you only bought the licence to play it. Doesn't matter if digital or physical game. Today it's just stupid to buy a physical game and then you need anyway to download the rest of the game and patches.

[@bleachie]

I bought Halo Infinite on disc and it took a 70GB download to play 😢

[@yomamasohot6411]

I just want to know what was the thinking behind buying physical on Xbox?

[@deepblue8143]

Buy physical on everything.

[@yomamasohot6411]

@@deepblue8143 that's true for Nintendo and Sony. Xbox discs are bogus anyway.

[@shaneosullivan8546]

Buy Masterchief collection that's 100gb.

[@captaincrunch1707]

It still functions perfectly well as your license key. That’s better than nothing(digital only)

[@existentialselkath1264]

If consoles are going all digital, having multiple storefronts competing is a MUST. It's the main reason digital on PC was never an issue. I'd be surprised if Xbox goes through with it tho.

[@ASx2608]

But the multiple storefronts being on pc doesn’t lead to people buying on multiple storefronts. Steam for know is still king on pc no one buys on EGS or uplay

[@existentialselkath1264]

@@ASx2608 steam is king because it offers the best services. It's only as good as it is because they have to best their competition. Steam sales are so well known for a reason. Do you think they'd bother to go overboard if they knew everyone would buy from them regardless? Without physical media, or other storefronts, there'd be even less to keep prices in check. If you can buy a used physical disc for a tenner, it's a hard sell for digital to stick to $70. Not so if that's your only option.

[@mjc0961]

Uplay isn't a storefront. GOG is a better third example. And plenty of people buy games from GOG

[@Tanook]

The smartest commenter right here 😂😂😂

[@BasePuma4007]

Why would you be surprised? Part of their strategy is getting steam users onto a Microsoft produced device.

[@TheGuitarModder]

Glad you guys were able to "Phil" us in on all the xbox news

[@sevbaileyify]

We were filled with Phil until we were full up on Phil

[@goob8945]

I feel fulphilled

[@TheGuitarModder]

@@goob8945 he have been inPhiltrated by xbox news

[@kylerclarke2689]

Another week of Digital Direct Weekly? I thought I was being April Fools'd, but it's real!

[@tricky2917]

The fools were us.

[@DyeHard79]

The best April Fools was the TweakTown Nvidia acquires Xbox brand story classic especially reading it half asleep

[@plume...]

The thumbnail is of Rich's younger brothers walking in on him doing something unsavoury with a CD32.

[@SENATORPAIN1]

Yet still one of Rich's least ridiculous heads.

[@mjc0961]

Rich said it right as I was starting to write a comment: I think people are getting an exaggerated idea of "disc rot" because of DIY disc burners. Properly pressed discs are a lot longer lasting than burned discs.

[@charoleawood]

I have three copies of Tomb Raider 1 on PS1, all have succumbed to disc rot where my other PS1 discs have not --- some publishers really did do a bad job on the manufacturing end back then, the reputation is not all to be blamed on burned media.

[@GM-Shenmue]

Pretty much all my sega saturn games suffer from disc rot, one is in such bad shape that the area that verifies it's an official disc is screw up and makes the disc act as just an audio cd. I have 2 xbox 360 discs that are like new no scratches no nothing and console acts like there's no disc inside at all, all my other xbox 360 games are in same shape and console reads them no problem, go figure, i even remember dreamcast being picky with some discs even when they are brand new it would not read them, we are totally not safe with physical media either...

[@scheeseman486]

It's not it being a CDR or not that's the problem, it's the reflective layer that peels due to the adhesive wearing off. I have CDRs from the 90s that are still working and DVDs from a decade ago that are deteriorating.

[@traxus12]

​@GM-Shenmue Just curious, which 360 games? Lost Odyssey's 4th disc famously goes bad due to the adhesive used in the paper sleeve, or so the legend goes, and dunking the disc in boiling water can get it working again. I ran across another disc that gave me the same "not recognized" error and boiling the disc once again solved the issue. No idea why that works.

[@bab027]

Dear John, Doesn’t seem like you’re 100% yet. Rest well and feel better soon bud! Hydrate hydrate hydrate!

[@timmygilbert4102]

Heil hydrate

[@TheMelMan]

@@timmygilbert4102 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@BrianM78]

If Steam was on Xbox then wouldn't MS make even less money that way on console?

[@tomfromtoonami3269]

Yeah on top of that why would any dev outside of xbox first party ever make an xbox version of their games again when they can just make a pc version and get the sales from the steam store front on the xbox lol.

[@voyddd]

Well, would you buy a game directly from xbox store which is optimized for console or pay to steam and risk a glitched experience? I think this is more towards old games and/or titles not available on xbox anyway.

[@D.S.handle]

@@voydddan alternative way to distribute their games on the console will incentivize more developers optimizing their products specifically for the Xbox.

[@LordBeef]

@@tomfromtoonami3269You’re probably still making an Xbox version, but you can sell it on multiple stores

[@305backup]

​@@tomfromtoonami3269I love how I click your profile and your very first sub is Playstation. Keep grasping straws while Microsoft expands with Windows and Sony has absolutely nothing beyond their console.

[@Chill_Mode_JD]

@2:01:42 “Everybody pulls for David, nobody roots for Goliath” ~Wilt Chamberlain

[@swianr]

The white discless series x would make sense only if it will replace the series s

[@notsmith6158]

Good to see Ollie representing Alex with the "Kettle of worms"!

[@bazzzzz6175]

"Fill our bags with Phil related content", may be the sauciest start to a weekly in some time.

[@infiniterift]

Pockets ain't empty cuh.

[@mo-akif]

@@infiniterift Forget about it, cuh

[@danielcanavan-gosling5118]

I’m glad John is at least entertaining the idea that forcing all the consoles to “open up” has the potential for some pretty big complications and issues. I feel so many people are just looking at the theoretical positives without thinking of some of the ramifications

[@Alcaatraz01]

I hear you, but if the amount of ramifications that John is huffing and puffing about, like this is some kind of asmr, is something normal people considered every time they got up in the morning, I think people would just be better off going the VR incubator pod and never go outside. I'm glad that the people in power are a bit detached from their humanity when shot calling. We'd be back in the stone age in some aspects if we had Mr Retro providing high level consulting services.

[@alexsilva28]

As always

[@alexsilva28]

@@Alcaatraz01I mean this is a game/technology discussion show. I'm not sure what type of content or debate were you expecting when clicking on the video.

[@Alcaatraz01]

@@alexsilva28 I think you misunderstood. I was commenting on the point he was making itself. I don't particularly mind him voicing the opinion. Just saying that he's a little too paranoid. Rich's counter arguments were well spoken. John himself could only counter with a good ol "We'll have to see". These discussions are what I'm here for. Don't mind them. I was just voicing my own opinion on John's take, myself feeling similar to Rich's take.

[@tom_123]

Oliver’s insights always appreciated.

[@formulaic78]

Yep, but he really needs to expand outwards from compelling: interesting, exciting, attractive, desirable, irresistible, great, wonderful, fantastic...

[@tanookilondon]

Xbox's biggest problem is that they are fast becoming irrelevant to the gaming space. And this is down to one thing and one thing only: A huge lack of killer, must-have games. Conversations around how they are changing the industry are completely meaningless. I say this as someone who wants Xbox to thrive, but they are not leading anything, industry-wise. The other big players are pulling so far ahead of them - why would anything Xbox do make ripples across the industry or change or shift how thing are done? If they had just spent their infinite wealth and resources making actual GAMES of a must-have quality, they wouldn't need to be doing all this running around like headless chickens, reacting, putting out vague nonsensical podcasts, "maybe we'll make a handheld" "maybe we'll go fully multiplatform" "maybe we'll go entirely digital" while outlets like DF converse about what this means for the industry. It doesn't mean anything, because Xbox are in last place. I don't say this to be console warrior, I like Nintendo, Sony, PC and Xbox, but we need to just be real here. Xbox aren't leading anything, and it doesn't matter what decisions they make if they are going to continue to stall on the actual games.

[@Lucassecondfreepremiumaccountw]

Thank you. Was surprised by Rich's comment about Phil being the 'CEO of gaming.' Xbox have garnered some great PR, but I don't care about hypothetical storefronts or handhelds. The Series S would've been a great Steam and Xbox hybrid, but it wasn't and won't be. We seem to talk about the future, business models, hardware possibilities - everything except the games!

[@victorn1291]

I do not agree with you sir. A couple of things here 1. DF constantly talks about XBox needing good games first and foremost 2. Sony, although in the lead and profitable, just layed of 900 staff because of shrinking profit margins. The AAA gaming industry is quickly becoming unsustainable 3. If you count them, Sony didnt have THAT many more exclusive games this gen 4. Saying that a Microsoft handheld or a big shift in Microsoft gaming strategy is meaningless is just blatantly untrue. With the proliferation of Windows based ganing handhelds, and the massive amount of Windows PCs out there, as well as Millions of consoles, Gamepass being the #1 gaming subscription, not to mention all the studios Microsoft now owns, anything Microsoft does can have huge impacts to the industry 5. Think about this... next gen all you'll need to play all the games is a Windows PC 😮 (technically true now, with Switch emulation in the mix)

[@Darkdiver28]

Its funny you think games are still driving factor. Even if Xbox amazing 1st party games, they would still be last. Sony is realizing the money is in pc. It is apparent whenever they put games in steam. There is absolutely zero reason to own a console besides convenience. If MS could pull off a “console” that plays pc games and has access to steam, you are looking at a killer package. They have always had innovative ideas, some land some dont, but regardless they have been ahead of the curve. Exclusive games are dying and frankly its not the way forward, big money lies in multi platform and making a device that is easily accessible and can be part of a whole ecosystem. MS is not selling a console anymore, but different ways to play. Want to play hardcore on your pc? Go ahead. Want to lie in the couch? Save files are transferred, game ownership transfers. On the go? Guess what? They can offer that too.

[@Lucassecondfreepremiumaccountw]

@@Darkdiver28 I switched to PS5 for my primary console for exclusive games, so there's that.

[@tanookilondon]

Always happy to have a discussion! And I agree with you on some of those points - Sony have mostly been coasting on good will this gen so far, but I'd still say they have a good selection of exclusive games driving their console sales, though probably Nintendo is a much better example of this. It's certainly not the power of the Switch hardware that's generating console sales for them - it's the games. And the Switch is looking like it might become the biggest selling console of all time; that has to be down largely to the exclusive games, surely? I would love for Xbox for catch up and really thrive in this market, but in comparison to their peers they are way behind. I take your points about the Windows PC market, but with that in mind would it not make more sense for them to pour their focus soley into PC? They can't seem to make a dent in the console space, which is where my comments about irrelevancy stem from. I'm not a PC gamer so I don't know how well they are competing against something like Steam, for instance, but I was under the impression that Valve has had the vast monopoly on the PC gaming space for a long time now@@victorn1291

[@playerone8876]

Really would love to hear from Oliver more. Seems to always lean towards John.

[@Kaztrofy]

This focus on handheld is the second most annoying thing in the industry after the DEI infection. I didn't buy a 4090 to play upscaled GameBoy games.

[@ectoplasma5]

The white series x is like the discless ps5. If they do not make it 100 euro cheaper it will flop.

[@offspringfan89]

PS5 Digital slim costs US$449, not 399 anymore.

[@notlekrut]

@@offspringfan89 Doesn't change his point. It's still a $100 difference from the standard model.

[@thelastofus2872]

​@@notlekrutYes but if they have a 2tb SSD inside, they will make it the same price I would imagine.

[@xtr.7662]

It wont it will have a 2tb ssd though twice the series x and ps5 slim

[@thelastofus2872]

@@xtr.7662 That's what the leaked "brooklyn" prototype had though I think, and it would make sense otherwise it will be a hard sell.

[@JoshuaLundberg]

Enemy Territory Quake Wars was freakin' awesome. Is that going to be Retro content or main DF?

[@neonswift]

John, the difference with the Atari collapse was that those games were in physical stores, they were flooding the space in ALL stores where games could be purchased. If more storefronts open on consoles today they'll have to first be installed. The default store (eShop, Xbox Live, PSN) would be there for everyone who isn't invested or interested in installing new storefronts. Like how Android lets you sideloard or install other storefronts but the one most people see (Google Play) isn't more flooded as a result. The main cause for concern is how verified all these other stores are, and if those games risk technically damaging or crashing your system because they haven't gone through the adequate verification process Microsoft enforce (though that obviously doens't always work)..

[@OneSmallStepWeb]

Happy 3rd birthday DF Direct

[@manny655321]

Are we shifting to a 3DO business model? Panasonic redeemed.

[@townsjim]

Trip Hawkins and EA were the driving force behind the 3DO.

[@signorpaldoni]

3do company redeemed you mean

[@Eyepatchfilms]

@@signorpaldoni We getting a new Road Rash boys

[@mmarshfairc3]

3DO REIGNS SUPREME!!!!!

[@Guwapo77]

I still got my 3DO. Such an underrated system.

[@serbenton]

3 years straight?! Keep it up boys.

[@Roberto_Marx]

Oliver looks like the dude from Full Metal Jacket

[@lancealex382]

Phils answer is to change the hardwarw platform rather than making some system selling games..FFS, this say it all!

[@dav2-094]

I feel like an Xbox handheld is extremely pointless in a market where we have the Steam Deck, ROG Ally or Legion Go where you have and even bigger library than Xbox, have access to Game Pass and are more versatile

[@townsjim]

I would agree, but the amount of money Microsoft would bring to the table for development means that the end product will probably be the most compelling proposition for the consumers.

[@yomamasohot6411]

​@@townsjimas shown by 20 successful years of Xbox in the console market🤣

[@townsjim]

@@yomamasohot6411 All of these top level companies have had bad patches, even Nintendo.

[@yomamasohot6411]

@@townsjim not for 20 years they didn't.

[@townsjim]

@@yomamasohot6411 Neither have Microsoft

[@stuartcollins7616]

Oli constantly makes insightful and balanced comments and it always irks me that John is so bad at hiding how little he respects what Oli has to say.

[@FilledWithChi11]

I think Xbox opening up to become an open source Windows gaming PC for the living room is the best strategy ever. If they could just make a Windows Lite OS with an Xbox style interface that means that we could get that type of OS running on a high end gaming PC of our choice but Xbox would also have their own $500 console for those that just want a simple plug and play prebuilt PC type of experience. Since they can’t compete in the closed space I think this would be a perfect strategy for them, they could also not have to rely on the “box” part of Xbox so much and just worry about the software side.

[@SaigonBrit]

Can we have a DFD with Rich, Ollie and Tom?

[@thanksbetotap]

Xbox not doing well in Europe: I mean, surely Sony discounting PS5s so much for a year in Europe specifically had a big effect?

[@ClaudioAguileraMunoz]

clearly. It was a very good move by Sony. Also this had consequences in the streaming market since near all the console streamers in europe use PS5s

[@ReachTea]

Good

[@jhiggins5476]

Maybe… but the S|X itself has been dirt cheap in the UK/EU for several months.

[@ectoplasma5]

I dont think so,Ps5 was way stronger from the beginning,same with ps4 in europe.

[@Novskyy621]

Xbox is just not considered "cool" in europe. Most people have a playstation since the PS4 era. It's objectively also just not compelling enough. PS has the cooler controller and the exclusives. Xbox doesn't. That's it.

[@luiscantu4968]

The Xbox Series X Digital is really a cool console. Who really uses the disc drive lol?? If anything, the price will be lower.

[@yomamasohot6411]

Can someone explain to me how Xbox will make money if Xbox opens up to all the competing stores? Now, I am Steam user, and if they do allow Steam on Xbox they will get me to buy an Xbox. But how does that help them when I will continue to buy all the games from Steam?

[@mjc0961]

They would get a cut of the sale if you use Steam on your Xbox to buy a game.

[@yomamasohot6411]

@@mjc0961 So now instead of splitting revenue between 2 partners, you will be splitting it between 3? And who would forgo their share and how much? And secondly, for what? When anyone can access Steam/Epic/GOG on a PC and Windows Handhelds where the majority of the market(gamers) is.

[@Tanook]

​@@mjc0961Prices of games on Xbox would be higher?💀 Because Steam take 30% from price of a game.

[@griffgames9538]

​@@mjc0961They wouldn't get a cut if it's just a dual boot Windows mode, though. Then you're just running Windows and using Steam, like any other Windows PC.

[@happyputt9709]

Also adds users and cuts sony and Nintendo

[@Shannon-ul5re]

As cool as it would be for the a Xbox hand held, I think it would be a very hard , to implement for MS that doesn’t make it confusing to the consumer. The Xbox S I believe as held back a lot of the Xbox Series X games as devs have had a hard time getting parry across both platforms. Now to even consider a hand held would be madness. I want bespoke usage of what the top end console can really do, like the good old day!

[@elcourier]

as someone that has been only playing an XSX this gen, I find these possibilities really interesting. Good that MS is willing to try different things (gamepass, handheld console/PC, possible new PC consoles)

[@electrikoptik]

If they build a hybrid handheld they no longer have to compete against Sony (assuming Sony also won't have a hybrid device in the future). Not competing against Sony is one way of no longer getting defeated 🤣🤣🤣

[@G360LIVE]

@@electrikoptik If Microsoft builds a hybrid handheld, they'll be competing against Nintendo, and Nintendo will stomp Microsoft harder than Sony has been stomping them in the home console market space.

[@thelastofus2872]

​@@G360LIVEthere's still a place in the market for all three companies having handheld.

[@FSAPOJake]

I ordered an Alienware AW3225QF (4k 240hz QD-OLED) and it gets here today. Can't wait to try it out!

[@supersardonic1179]

Enjoy champ

[@Melontheyoutuber]

Got mine a month ago and it’s a banger. Enjoy!

[@consolesLOLsuxlol]

It's solid. I wish it was brighter. Honestly great monitor, but cannot tell much difference between it and my neo g7 32 inch. Now when I throw games up on my S95C.........yea that is a bit different. I need monitors to get to that point. I'm sure another year or 2.

[@Dirt33breaks]

And there was 3!! Will we see 4 PS5's in the background next week?

[@NRG_Ghostman]

After his 4th one breaks maybe

[@D.S.handle]

There should be 5 PS5’s for the five in the name of the console.

[@wchiggenbobber]

Wow nerver expected a Casshern live-action film reference. That could ba a bit oif a DF retro itself-- being one of the first three movies filmed almost entirely in green screen (casshern, world of tomorrow, sin city)

[@gopodge]

I just don't hear anything but corporate speak from Phil Spencer. XBox feels rudderless. Tens of billions in acquisitions, mobile, storefronts, handhelds, how many different directions can the fingers point to find relevance? Where are the games? Just can't get excited anymore.

[@twistedtxb]

seeing people all excited for yet another MS platform (or platforms) is rather appaling.

[@techsamurai11]

I agree with John - a digital Series X makes zero sense. That ship has sailed for Microsoft. All it does is limit usage.

[@mattmaas5790]

I don't think we're gonna see something like that mid console. I think Phil is honestly trying to add features to Xbox, not take any away (unless all the companies go fully digital at the same time).

[@techsamurai11]

@@mattmaas5790 Fully digital goes against backwards compatibility as most of the games were on disc. What good is it if Series X offers BC when you can't play RDR2 on disc?

[@consolesLOLsuxlol]

ugh PC doesn't need it and it is the king of backwards compat that consoles only dream of. I hate to break it to you, physical is dying and you better get use to it or just quit gaming. @@techsamurai11​

[@mattmaas5790]

@techsamurai11 that's why I don't think it's going to be fully digital only

[@Anna_Rae]

Would love to see Microsoft take a stab at a "Steam Controller". Having a controller that can play PC games designed for a mouse and keyboard would be awesome. I love my Steam Controller and still use it regularly, but I'd love to see more people try to make a controller like that 💝

[@youtubevanced4900]

Things are very "compelling" in Oliver's life.

[@stealfromwork]

A lot of uncertainty with Xbox, but the potential directions Microsoft could go has me looking forward to seeing what they do.

[@MeMyselfAndKgore]

KZbin really likes to auto play this video despite the fact I've only listened to 5 episodes over the last 4 months

[@baundiesel]

It has to be pointed out that Chris Dring's "reporting" seemed pretty suspect especially when paired with his statement that Xbox is going to be less focused on Game Pass which makes zero sense. It seems likely that SOMEONE told him they weren't excited to release games on Xbox but that doesn't mean it's the actual stance of any publisher.

[@G360LIVE]

Game Pass is failing. Subscriptions are down, and Microsoft is no longer paying indie developers to launch their games on Game Pass, which is making indie devs not want to launch their games on Game Pass. So, I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft tries to focus on something other than Game Pass.

[@SamLaney]

I love that John and Oliver often disagree - very respectfully, and with completely valid positions/perspectives.

[@AJJJ-co2vd]

You know my friends who are pc gamers two reasons come to mind #1 they want control of game settings 2 the like the idea of replacing parts I think Msft can make its Xbox more of a pc

[@existentialselkath1264]

You've got to consider what makes a console cheaper than a pc while still being profitable. If you remove those elements in pursuit of making it a pc, it'll be no more appealing to console gamers than any other PC already is.

[@AJJJ-co2vd]

​@@existentialselkath1264 I think Msft has an advantage bc of economies of scale if Msft sell Xbox PC that cost $1000 but its pre built equivalent would cost twice as much that's a big win especially if you make graphics card upgradable

[@existentialselkath1264]

@@AJJJ-co2vd there are a lot of companies like Dell that have massive economies of scale and still can't do anything close to what you're suggesting. Even if it were possible, Microsoft would end up ruining their relationship with all their partners that make windows PCs because they'd be undercutting them all in a way they simply can't compete with. Not to mention probably anticompetetive lawsuits that would ensue from the US gov

[@GeneralS1mba]

Only thing I can see is an upgradeable graphics card slot. It would probably be weird though, maybe capped to 150w and in a strange form factor like a disc drive.

[@Darkdiver28]

Consoles shouldn’t be upgradable like that. It would be hard to teach the consumer to change parts. Might as well just tell them to build a pc. Think the next xbox as a big steamdeck or ROG Ally that you hook up to the tv and play.

[@denvera1g1]

42:16 FYI he meant greater than 128 bit as this is the standard for desktop/mobile/handheld outside of the rumored APU thats between the 8700G and the AMD Radeon Instinct Mi300. With a 256 bit memory bus it most likely will not use a standard socket(BGA or LGA) and will probably be OEM only for consoles, workstation laptops, and mini-dekstop workstations. There is a small chance it supports CXL and you can sacrifice PCIE lanes to split the 256 bit memory bus across 2 lanes on the motherboard and 2 lames in a 16X PCIe slot Problem is you'd be cutting the 24 usable lanes on AM5 down to 8 lanes, and that assumes its not like the 8700G which is further cut down to 16 lanes and would need to use all 16 lanes for CXL leaving nothing for storage other than SATA running off of the chipset. 8 lames of PCIe would in theory be fine if the APU is powerful enough, but i dont see AM5 having enough room for more than 8 cores and 40CU while maintaining 24 PCIe lanes and adding 2 more channels of RAM. I suspect that even if it does use CXL it would still be OEM only and BGA rather than LGA and maybe include the video accelerators found on the Alvelo MA35D chip, and something FPGA from Xilinx

[@andypro6158]

Third-party stores on Xbox don't mean the OS is being replaced by Windows Lite. Your Xbox games wouldn't work then due to licensing issues as the entitlements are for the Xbox console and not Windows, and vice versa. The closest you can get is dual boot with Windows on the console. Third-party stores on Xbox are just what it is, additional stores that you can download from the Xbox store.

[@joshieecs]

if microsoft really are serious about windows-on-xbox, maybe they plan to release this new digital series x with the full 20GiB (16Gb x 10) of total memory. i think they can do that right? 16GiB shared just feels cramped relative to the raw performance available.

[@vasylenk014]

Remember when Sony allowed installing Linux on PS3?

[@idakev]

Isn't an exploit through Linux what caused the PSN outage?

[@vasylenk014]

@@idakev most probably

[@techsamurai11]

Outcast looks so good - really hope they fix the performance mode.

[@marklarz4399]

The Xbox Series consoles can run PCSX2 and Dolphin pretty much flawlessly, so if they turn Xboxes into "Windows Machines", it would be a great way to expand the "backwards compatibility" program

[@coliander4180]

They aren't turning them into 'Windows Machines', they're turning them into streaming clients a-la Nvidia Shield.

[@markdaga1711]

Microsoft already laid the hammer down on the UWP emulators last year, so it's highly doubtful that they'll just turn back around and allow emulators for other platforms back onto the system again.

[@NRG_Ghostman]

​@coliander4180 nobody wants to stream games

[@coliander4180]

@@NRG_Ghostman Some dude in the early '00s: "Nobody wants to stream TV and Movies".

[@jaredcrane7547]

@@coliander4180movies and video games are entirely different mediums. Movies and shows can run on low quality internet. Games cannot. This also further limits on who can own a console. This is a dumb plan if online only gaming is the future. It’ll destroy Xbox

[@easydayez]

Do people not understand Xbox is Windows? A console is a long time miss wording of what these things are. A Console is a PC always has been its like a Chromebook vs Windows etc

[@consolesLOLsuxlol]

Consoles have no always been a pc. That is both stupid and dishonest to even state.

[@easydayez]

@@consolesLOLsuxlol lmao they have look at how they are made that’s like saying a laptop isn’t a PC

[@enjoi0555]

I went out and got the series x bc it’ll be the last Xbox with a disc drive

[@directorjustin]

Well hello everyone and welcome to what is my comment praising the 156th edition of DF Direct Weekly for their weekly discussion show covering the latest gaming and technology news. 👍

[@jarde1989]

Give me a *Xbox Series S Portable* and I’ll make Xbox my main platform again ❤

[@luism8130]

It’s called a Rog Ally.

[@interferingpuritan]

So many games are no longer available digitally. If you buy an all-digital Xbox you better already have Forza Horizon 1, 2 and 3 in your account, since you can't buy them anymore. Still great games, and easy to pick up physical copies used.

[@tatsumaru12345]

Cds/DVDs kept in a their original cases, used by a good normal operating laser, you're pretty safe. It's blurays that you have to worry about. I've had 4 different copies of 'casino royale.' Multiple copies of enter the dragon, 300, Rambo 4, quantum of solace. Likely others... But! They have two things in common. All early blu-rays. And, they were kept in a disc binder. Not a normal case. A normal case keeps a disc from applying constant pressure to a disc. A binder or a sleeve ala all GameStop games? Always pressure. Even my entire 'bond 50' Blu-ray set, not early blu-rays, has some degree of disc rot. But! Again, constant disc pressure

[@OG-Jakey]

I dont understand the whole ram issue being split up on traditional windows. How does the consoles deal with that now when they're also running a version of Windows? Could they not just do the same thing?

[@altaafsheik5725]

I forgot today was Monday but this reminded me 😆

[@paynelcasey]

I would love if Xbox had epic store, steam store, ability to adjust resolution settings. Handheld like a PSP to the console with same games but on the go. Office suites options, word, excel outlook etc.

[@techsamurai11]

Yeah, John's 100% right about the PS5 cpu being more than powerful enough. Developers will use a 7800x3d the same way a 3700x is used and then wonder why a 3700x doesn't perform like a 7800x3d. Should I not have put all the processing on a single thread? Oops... Do the math, there are 16 of them and you're using 6%...

[@AlexRoivas]

Remember that Nintendo really doesn't make games with super realistic graphics. It is all cartoony or anime style. This will alwaya help them speed up games in development compared to a lot of Sony and MS games.

[@deepblue8143]

I dont want open ended consoles. I want my consoles to be just that, consoles not PCs.

[@LordBeef]

Why not? What’s the problem with the idea?

[@AzaiaMonota]

Consoles stopped being consoles when they started making you install games

[@LordBeef]

@@AzaiaMonota That’s because the loading speed requirements began to exceed the speeds of reading from the disc

[@AzaiaMonota]

@@LordBeef The problem is we are still using discs and not something like a solid state cartridge

[@LordBeef]

@@AzaiaMonota I wish the consoles had moved to SD cards. Large storage capacities, better load times than discs, a standard format, about the size of a switch cartridge…it seems almost ideal, other than flash degradation.

[@karehaqt]

I think the whole "other stores on the Xbox" is basically Phil and his team throwing as much stuff at the wall in the hopes that something will stick, they're in desperation mode.

[@voodoovibes1909]

I would suggest that thinking is not for you.

[@karehaqt]

@@voodoovibes1909 There there little fanboy, ask Phil to kiss it better.

[@voodoovibes1909]

@@karehaqt After that response, clearly I was correct.

[@renereiche]

I've been saying this in the comments of this very show many weeks ago: If Xbox's business model is no longer focused on that 30% cut on buying new games, which they can charge because you're on their platform - if their business is about Game Pass subscriptions, then there is very little reason not to allow Steam on Xbox consoles, which in return would be a big buying incentive for Playstation (and Switch) owners that don't play much on PC, which then again would likely increase their Game Pass subscriber numbers.

[@Tanook]

Microsoft already sell laptops and PCs where you can access Game pass. Why they need to sell another PC box to sell Game pass?

[@renereiche]

No, I just mean their regular Xbox consoles, which basically are PCs of a certain spec (that can run a virtual machine). They just need to allow Steam and Epic and GOG on there if they want. Steam might handle it like they do with their Steam Deck, showing indicators like "works great on Xbox" in their store.@@Tanook

[@Swisshost]

Please never change the "twitter" logo on the UI, will never call it X.

[@brittonnicolson]

Huge fan of the show and patreon but I will NOT tolerate smack talk about the PSP GO. Them’s fighting words, John.

[@berfunkle4588]

I would be interested in an Xbox that can run Steam games locally. There'd have to be a disclaimer from Microsoft that not all games would be guaranteed to run well, but I could live with that. And besides, just like with a lower end PC, perhaps you could be given the option of adjusting graphic settings. Face it, I don't need my Xbox to do spreadsheets, but it would be nice to have a PC in the living room as it were.

[@dejioladejo9263]

Ok, but how is Microsoft making money from this? They currently don't receive a cent from Steam on PC so what's the purpose of allowing for third party stores? Will they charge a cut of all third party sales? This would erode into Steam, EGS, GoG's etc margins. Would Microsoft release an expensive console and instead try to make a profit on hardware? The general public have already shown reluctance to buy gaming consoles above $500 so thats a non starter.

[@edeneal3336]

Why not just sell games cheaper like steam do?I don't get the advantage of new store fronts getting a cut from sales.

[@adamageli]

Is John ever going to comment on the environmental question with regards to physical based media? It's a huge part of the argument for moving away from it and he never seems to pay it much mind. When we have the means to provide media digitally, the environmental impact from physical media from the production to the supply chain to retail all the way to unwanted stock or product ending up being dumped is something that is completely removed with digital media. Legitimate concerns around digital exist but as far as I see it, it's only in as much as those who are supplying the media not having the proper protections in place i.e. do you actually 'own' the digital media, the fact it can be removed at any time etc., but digital media should be the long term goal with respect to environmental concerns.

[@mikem2253]

Agreed however I won’t go full digital unless I get laws saying I own what I buy.

[@Swisshost]

No one can "own" games, you only bought the licence to play it. Doesn't matter if digital or physical game.

[@Messimagician83]

​@@Swisshostthe last time I checked a licence didn't prevent me trading in a game hence why physical wins. If digital wants to win over people they need to change how it works with buyer protection

[@mikem2253]

@@Swisshost Legally- sure. Realistically, I can sell my physical games. I can burn them. Throw them in the microwave. I can play them offline. Digital games... yeah you can't do any of that. And, they can take them away from you.

[@xstatixtribalelectronicmus2787]

Microsoft lost its way in the console arena. Sony has their foot on the gas while Microsoft trying to put Humpty Dumpty back together again…

[@jodieholmes8453]

Here to watch the console warriors duke it out and cry.

[@earlyriser03]

I don’t see DF attracting too many of those types. If it does, I’m missing out on some quality entertainment 😂

[@jodieholmes8453]

@@earlyriser03 There's several round here.

[@jodieholmes8453]

Man stalkers are a real problem on KZbin.

[@jodieholmes8453]

@@earlyriser03 Best to ignore Greene. He used to go by MyPie and Only1, but when he got busted fanboying for PlayStation he changed his name then when he got busted console warring and crying about Sweet Baby Inc, he changed his name yet again. All in the span of 3 months

[@BasePuma4007]

​@@earlyriser03Oh you haven't seen them? There are some seriously unhinged console fanboys and airhead trolls that flock to DF comments from time to time.

[@holgerbahr8961]

Outcast and Days Gone are the only larger Open World Games I know which are utilizing Unreal Engine 4 ... both look gorgeous. Hopefully for console gamers the frame pacing and perf mode will be fixed for Outcast.

[@edulohay956]

FF VII Rebirth is also on UE 4 but its not as open world as days gone I think. And despite that, the game struggles even when its exclusive to ps5. The previous game (FF VII remake integrade) looks better and I assume its because it is more linear.

[@holgerbahr8961]

@@edulohay956yes, it seems Unreal Engine 4 was / is not perfectly suited for Open Worlds at all. The more surprising Days Gone and Outcast are managing to convincingly deliver nevertheless.

[@ChillTrades91]

Its like microsoft is intentionally trying to fail in the gaming space

[@G360LIVE]

I feel like they are. Phil is likely phasing out the Xbox, because that's what investors want. Phil is just doing it in a way that milks Xbox fans for all the money Microsoft can get from them while the Xbox is being phased out.

[@miguelroman4294]

Oliver's take is spot on always! 🎯💯

[@juansmeeth]

I only upgraded from a Xbox One X recently to a Series X because I saw the 'adorably all digital' future and I've got over 200 physical games that play on the thing... All Microsoft did was encourage me to buy the last Microsoft console I'll ever own. I'm sure at some point Sony will do the same and I'll upgrade my PS4 for the last Sony console I'll ever own. I've enough games to last the rest of my lifetime, they can have their digital future, I've no interest in it.

[@GM-Shenmue]

You should had got the PS5 before the PS5 Slim came out, Slim will be bad in the future when you no longer can activate the disc drive online to use your game discs, because those servers will be long gone.

[@juansmeeth]

@@GM-Shenmue Yeah, I totally missed the boat on that one, especially when they were selling them off.

[@consolesLOLsuxlol]

Lol you will continue to buy. You physical guys love to cry foul, but I bet most of you will fold. Digital gaming has been by far the best thing to happen to PC. Like John said, digital is the way forward for game preservation. You wont be able to play that physical game just like the digital if servers ever went off line anyways because games are rarely fully on the disc or not in a broken state just on the disc. You have to download the rest or a massive patch almost everytime which will make that little disc worthless. Hell you don't even get anything worth a shit in physical anymore.@@juansmeeth

[@balaam_7087]

There is beauty in the twisted vines and rampant, unchecked undergrowth of a tropical jungle. But for my money, when I want to spend time in nature I much prefer the carefully curated, well landscaped approach of a walled garden.

[@busterspark4410]

If Xbox is going to allow multiple storefronts on their console, that’s good. But if they do that, you can kiss subsidized console pricing goodbye. People should expect the next gen xbox to be like $900

[@GameChronicles]

In that Outcast segment it was never mentioned what resolutions (dynamic or otherwise) were being used to get those FPS. Seems odd they couldn't lower the resolution to reach a 60fps perf mode.

[@etienne1062]

If the burden is on the CPU side, reducing resolution won't increase dramatically FPS

[@alexisdelangel13]

Because of gamepass being tied xbox and pc, i actually love the idea of an xbox handheld. Imagine all those 360-X1 games on the go.

[@JamesGowan]

We need ALL the men on the panel sometime!

[@carbonfibercarpet4655]

If XBox became a “Windows Gaming Box” type console, I would definitely buy it. I personally don’t like playing on PC since I spend my whole work day on a PC

[@Tanook]

It's called PC. You just want another PC in your living room and paying $120 to play games online.

[@Swisshost]

You know both console controller work on PC.

[@TheJaka221]

Is it even possible to develop a portable Series S with the current hardware? I doubt they want to develop another series alongside the X/S, because then developers would have to target 3 different hardware profiles when releasing on the XBox.

[@michalandrejmolnar3715]

I would totally buy a handheld with both native Steam and Game Pass capability!

[@halocontrol01]

Already playing steam and pc game pass on my rog ally extreme, pretty awesome imo

[@michalandrejmolnar3715]

​@@halocontrol01I was thinking of a price near the Steam Deck and Switch

[@defeqel6537]

@@michalandrejmolnar3715 and who is going to build that without a cut form game / service sales?

[@PlayJasch]

@@defeqel6537 Microsoft?!? Did you watch the video?

[@michalandrejmolnar3715]

@@defeqel6537 The stores will take their share like on Windows.

[@lm_dccxl4078]

good to see oliver and a positive vibe, instead of lineman tantrums as always

[@simioneitor1975]

Phil, the man who spent 70B dollars on studios just to do everything in his power to not release good games.

[@davidrennie8553]

shame pc is so expensive and publishers target playstation first or it would be a no brainer be a pc gamer like i am and have been for as long as i can remember lets hope intel can improve with battle mage

[@G360LIVE]

PC isn't more expensive than consoles; it's just that the cost is upfront. When you buy a $400 console, expect to pay $10 per month (or $120 per year) to play online. Add up the cost of online play over a 7-year console cycle, and you've paid $1240 for your console plus online play. For about that same cost, you can get a great gaming PC and play online for free.

[@davidrennie8553]

@@G360LIVE that’s a good point but for most people they won’t look at it that way be good to get back to pc being the place we’re devs target first

[@davidrennie8553]

And that assumes you won’t upgrade in that 7 year period so I’d say still more expensive but a more flexible and better performing platform prices are better of late but still way to high unfortunately

[@leruty]

@@G360LIVE Who´s paying full price for the game pass lmao? I can have 14 days GPU for 1€ even after the first subscription. If you play a ton of the games offered in GPU then you´re saving a lot of money

[@steel5897]

Neither carts or discs are the best for game preservation, they'll both decay/be destroyed and they're also copy protected. The best is digital data, ironically enough considering the erraneous popular belief that digital media is the enemy of preservation, when the opposite is true and the real enemy is DRM. True preservation = dump media to a digital format, crack any copy protection or DRM, put it on a torrent, copy it everywhere. The final form of game preservation is piracy.

[@synulia]

1:47:58 rich and john's licorice appreciation moment is so wholesome

[@uomoartificiale]

Now I finally get why I keep looking at Oliver trying to remember where I already saw that exact face: he's basically a Crysis character

[@patjc6598]

Can it Psycho!

[@aaroNiGHTS]

The way Rich introduces the show makes him sound like Sgt Wilson from Dad's Army

[@davidrenton]

the forced opening up of consoles to differernce stores, might end killing consoles, as most are subsidized by their 1st party stores

[@MYB2424]

That's mean pc price games in a console, that a win for gamers and growth for console

[@mjc0961]

You really think Microsoft isn't planning to get a cut of things sold on other stores on Xbox, the way Apple and Google get cuts from in app purchases on their phone operating systems?

[@G360LIVE]

@@mjc0961 The problem with that idea is that Microsoft has no leverage in the console space, since their console user base is so low. Why would Valve pay Microsoft to put the Steam app on Xbox. It would have to be the other way around: Microsoft would have to pay Valve to put the Steam app on Xbox.

[@TonyTynebridge]

​​@@mjc0961does iphone have the play store? Dont think u understand what u said

[@davidrenton]

@@MYB2424 the thing is Valve does'nt bear the cost of a PC, Microsoft and Sony do. Xbox and PS5 can only work if people buy from their stores