Digital Foundry Direct Weekly Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

DF Direct Weekly #282: 007 First Light Path Tracing, Kingmakers Gameplay, New GPUs Delayed To 2028?

Sep 21, 2026 · 59m

Summary

This episode analyzes the demanding path tracing update for 007 First Light, noting its stunning visuals but severe performance issues on mid-range GPUs like the RTX 5070. The hosts also examine 12 minutes of gameplay from Kingmakers, praising its unique blend of RTS and shooter mechanics with extensive physics-based destruction. Additionally, Tom shares positive impressions of Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave on Switch 2, while Oliver reviews Diablo 4’s Switch 2 port, highlighting its visual modes and performance targets.

Topics discussed

Sponsors: Perk and Noom Show intro and episode overview Guest introduction and segment planning 007 First Light: Path Tracing performance issues 007 First Light: Visual quality comparisons 007 First Light: GPU requirements and frame gen 007 First Light: NVIDIA exclusivity and console upscaling Sponsors: Perk and Wayfair Kingmakers: Gameplay reveal and concept discussion Kingmakers: Technical analysis and visual fidelity Kingmakers: Final thoughts and transition Fire Emblem: Engage vs. Fortunes overview Fire Emblem: Fortunes performance and controls Fire Emblem: Fortunes image quality and lighting Fire Emblem: Fortunes recommendation and summary Diablo 4 on Switch 2: Modes and resolution Diablo 4 on Switch 2: Comparisons and dynamic res Diablo 4 on Switch 2: Final verdict Sponsors: Perk and Verizon News: Rumors of delayed next-gen GPUs News: GPU market supply and pricing issues News: Personal anecdote on 5090 purchase News: Industry outlook and hardware longevity Outro and sponsor reads Sponsor: Verizon NFL Sunday Ticket
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