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 👍

[@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

[@DroneCorpse]

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

[@Saif0412]

😂

[@enzog1078]

Nailed it

[@brandon_nope]

you’ve just been Phil'd in

[@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 🤬

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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)

[@Chill_Mode_JD]

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

[@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 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@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.

[@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...

[@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"!

[@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.

[@JoshuaLundberg]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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)..

[@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.

[@playerone8876]

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

[@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.

[@brittonnicolson]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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)

[@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.

[@JacobS5005]

I love having Oliver on. Though I always miss Alex and wish we saw more of Tom too. I love the DF Directs being healthily 2 hours with beginning to end content and discussion but I dream of a day where Rich, John, Alex, Oliver, and Tom all appear on a direct. Like a DF dinner table chat of you will. Great coverage and insight as always guys! ❤

[@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

[@Doggo-frencton]

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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@miguelroman4294]

Oliver's take is spot on always! 🎯💯

[@Roberto_Marx]

Oliver looks like the dude from Full Metal Jacket

[@SamLaney]

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

[@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

[@lm_dccxl4078]

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

[@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

[@techsamurai11]

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

[@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.

[@Marenjii]

Excellent take from John in relation to Tim Sweeney and how he picks his battles!

[@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

[@tdome3000]

1:26:30 I still have several CD DVD ROMs RAMs in the plus/minus variants, burned over 30 years ago and they're still perfect.

[@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 💝

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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. 👍

[@stealfromwork]

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

[@SaigonBrit]

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

[@jarde1989]

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

[@luism8130]

It’s called a Rog Ally.

[@AcidDotDrop]

The longevity/durability of discs is not just heavily relyant on the storage from the user but also the materials and techniques as well as care during their production. We already see loads of cases with disc rot with WiiU discs. Some suspect the rounded edges could further increase the issue by providing a bigger surface being exposed but they were clearly not as well produced by the manufacturer. So in the end, it's a matter of cost savings that causes the biggest risk for the longevity/durability of discs. And cartridges.

[@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.

[@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.

[@youtubevanced4900]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@lancealex382]

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

[@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?

[@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.

[@princenemesis]

Very much appreciate the input from Oliver

[@techsamurai11]

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

[@MrWizardGG]

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]

@@MrWizardGG 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​

[@MrWizardGG]

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

[@synulia]

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

[@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.

[@Alex_Logan22]

Kojima's Xbox game is definitely leveraging the cloud, either as a hybrid console game (next-gen) or cloud entirely (stream-only), there will definitely be at least a few since Xbox upstarted an entire division dedicated to this for Kojima's project, which originally was for Stadia. I'd also keep my eye on Sony with this too, particularly since they acquired the 1st party Google studio that was working on such games leveraging the cloud for additional compute. Fairgrounds had a bad CG reveal but it is likely leveraging the cloud to try to break multiplayer ground, since that was their whole goal at Google.

[@altaafsheik5725]

I forgot today was Monday but this reminded me 😆

[@RudeGerbil]

I am glad to have got my weekly "Phil" of DF Direct!

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@nonnygb]

The Xbox as a PC proposition in an interesting one because as a heavy Xbox user and Steam Deck user I can see how good SteamOS is right now and how much Valve puts into compatibility and that "console experience" sitting on top of an open platform. The difference with Xbox is they literally own both operating systems... the cut down console OS and Windows. They are in full control of the OS on both sides of the coin. If they were to venture into a handheld as rumoured then they would want to support PC use on it much like the competition does, but equally they would want to offer the console experience like SteamOS as well. If they are going through that effort for a handheld then equally why not do it for the home console as well? I can see a scenario where their consoles ship with XboxOS on it as standard but equally can support full Windows if a user wants to do that... and when they do that the built-in Xbox functionality in Windows lets boot the Xbox app so it looks exactly the same as in the console OS... (big picture mode) and supports everything you expect it to. If they make that experience so that it supports other stores as well and unifies them under the one location then even better.

[@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

[@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

[@enjoi0555]

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

[@MeMyselfAndKgore]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@rockyshoresstudios4987]

Just letting you guys know here in BC CAN, physical media is disappearing from every store. Blue Ray movies, Xbox games, even PS5 games are slim picking at the Walmarts and Best Buy’s. Most stores don’t even sell blue ray players, online only.

[@BurritoKingdom]

Sadly, that's happening in the US also. Target and Best Buy got rid of all movies. Walmart is the only major department store that still sells Blu-rays and DVDs.

[@manny2684]

Let’s not forget about the ps5 removing the ability to save to USB.

[@steel5897]

Cross buy and cross play with Steam would be one way to get me to consider an Xbox.

[@dysphunc]

Speaking of Outcast being sponsored - you guys NEVER talked about Immortals of Aveum and the PC performance. I think if you guys had have given feedback and put together a guide on optimizing the experience it would have done so much more for the game than your fluff piece did.

[@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%...

[@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.

[@LevanderDavis]

22:56 Hey, my question got read out! Thanks for the engaging discussion everyone. To clarify, I do think Microsoft is anticipating putting GamePass or an Xbox store on other platforms. Also, thanks for saying my name correctly!

[@jamesquinn4678]

DF do you have any opinion on how revenue share might be worked out? I think the accepted share right now is 70/30 (publisher/platform) How might that work with a third party store front? How do MS convince a publisher to take a reduced revenue share or will it solely eat into their 30% and leave the 70% untouched. Alternatively would MS forego any revenue share if purchased from a third party store?

[@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!

[@ekolteenarp]

If MS can make Xbox an affordable gaming PC that is purpose-built for gaming running a limited OS, essentially what Steam Deck is but in a larger form factor, I think they'd have a really good winning formula. I've always wondered why Microsoft wouldn't just make the Xbox an affordable gaming PC. When you utter the words "gaming PC" these days, you have to be ready to shell out well north of $500 to have a machine that has good graphical fidelity if you want to use your TV as output -- the main difference between how "gaming PC" and console gamers play today. My impression is that "gaming PC" owners rarely hook it up to a TV.

[@o-parts]

I wouldn't say Phil is the CEO for PC gaming. That would be Gabe.

[@Jev55]

Laser Discs are more like vinyl than a CD/DVD. They are actually "printed" so it makes sense they won't last as long.

[@SteelSkin667]

Microsoft opening Xbox to more storefronts doesn't automatically mean opening the console to regular ordinary Windows games. More likely the strategy would be to make the entire SDK and documentation publicly available (ie extend the app developer program they already have for Xbox to the full capability of the machine), but still have games built specifically for Xbox consoles. And then of course open the device to alternate stores and the side-loading apps and games.

[@GhostGamer799]

So are we gonna launch our games on steam on Xbox console or what

[@xJinRaGna]

Steam Deck runs games on Linux. Pretty sure steam will have compatibility if it means they have the chance to capitalize on selling games on the Xbox platform. It's potentially 50M+ users.

[@GhostGamer799]

@@xJinRaGna so if we have games on steam can we launch it on Xbox or not

[@xJinRaGna]

@@GhostGamer799 Yeah but some games will either be incompatible, it will probably require always online, shader cache will probably dig into your storage.

[@GhostGamer799]

@@xJinRaGna we can use steam compatibility hope everything work then

[@OraOraOra]

Great Episode! 26:59 this was also one of my concerns, I'm a PC/Steam Deck Gamer and I would hate, if Sony doesn't release for EGS/Steam, just to exclude Xbox players.. I even heard, that Sony blocked Game Streaming via the Edge Browser on Xbox ...