DF Direct Weekly #131: Jim Ryan Retires, Mass Epic Layoffs, Alan Wake 2, Arkham Knight... Patched?

A big DF Direct Weekly hoves into view in the wake of another week of BIG news in the gaming/technology space. Rich, Alex and Oliver discuss Jim Ryan’s upcoming retirement from Sony and the legacy he leaves behind, and there’s a sombre tone as the scale of Epic Games’ staff layoffs becomes clear. In happier news, Alex shares more of his thoughts and hopes for Alan Wake 2, while the possibilities of the PC port of Horizon Forbidden West are talked through. Meanwhile... are we reading too much into the fact a new patch for the PC version of Batman: Arkham Knight is in development? Find DF Direct Weekly as a podcast on your favourite podcast streaming service. Join the DF Supporter Program for pristine video downloads, behind the scenes content, early access to DF Retro, early access to DF Direct Weekly and much, much more: Subscribe for more Digital Foundry: Want some DF-branded tee-shirts, mugs, hoodies or pullovers? Check out our store: 0:00:00 Introduction 0:00:53 News 01: Jim Ryan to retire as head of Sony Interactive Entertainment 0:19:59 News 02: Epic Games lays off 830 staff 0:39:51 News 03: New Alan Wake 2 footage released 0:50:01 News 04: Horizon Forbidden West getting PC release 0:58:59 News 05: Resident Evil 4 remake to cost $60 on iPhone 1:07:09 News 06: Arkham Knight Steam update sparks remaster hopes 1:16:01 Supporter Q1: How will CD Projekt Red fare with Unreal Engine 5? Will they be able to implement a path-traced renderer? 1:23:36 Supporter Q2: How do the console versions of Cyberpunk 2077 stack up in terms of PC settings? 1:29:07 Supporter Q3: Could Intel be in a position to deliver a next-gen console chip? 1:34:03 Supporter Q4: Could Microsoft ship a next-gen Xbox handheld? 1:37:00 Supporter Q5: What do you think of the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally? Will they last long? 1:42:42 Supporter Q6: Is it better to buy a high-end GPU now, or wait until more AI features are implemented in hardware? 1:48:11 Supporter Q7: Given how poorly Elon Musk’s tenure as Twitter owner has gone, are you considering switching to other social media sites? 1:53:14 Supporter Q8: If Oliver’s TV died, would he switch to an OLED? And can he please grow his hair out longer?