Day Zero Podcast

Day Zero
  • 4.5 (4)
  • Video Games
  • Updated weekly

Day Zero is a podcast on video games featuring Rahul Majumdar and Rishi Alwani breaking down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world's greatest entertainment industry. dayzeromedia.substack.com

  1. 4 days ago

    Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Smashes Sales: What's Next for Ubisoft?

    Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced sold over three million units in a week. In this episode of the Day Zero podcast, we discuss what this means for Ubisoft and how it could signal a resurgence of the historical murder ‘em up franchise. From what to expect from upcoming games like Assassin’s Creed Hexe, Invictus, and Jade to how the power fantasy-fuelled gameplay of Black Flag Resynced could be the new playbook for the franchise that’s celebrating 20 years next year. Along with this, we also bring attention to PlayStation’s war on physical media which resulted in indie game developers being caught in the crossfire. With that in mind do wishlist Teeto and The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu. Time stamps and show notes as follows. Introduction * 00:00:03: Podcast Introduction: Rishi Alwani introduces episode 34 with co-host Rahul Majumdar along with what to expect. * 00:00:27: PlayStation’s “War on Discs”: Discussion on the petition (over 300K signatures) against Sony’s move away from physical media and the resulting “collateral damage” for indie developers. * 00:01:53: Xbox Rumours: Mentions of “Project Helix” potentially shipping with a disc drive and Asha Sharma’s leadership at Xbox. * 00:02:44: Indie Spotlights: Brief mentions of The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu and the 3D action platformer Teeto. Deep Dive: Assassin’s Creed Franchise * 00:03:36: Black Flag Resynced Reception: Rahul discusses the positive critical and fan reception, patches, and how it is outpacing previous entries. * 00:04:13: Sales Comparisons: Comparing Resynced to Shadows (5.7 million by July) and Mirage (5 million players). * 00:04:41: Players vs. Sales: A breakdown of how Ubisoft reports numbers across platforms versus subscription services like Ubisoft Plus. * 00:05:30: Success Factors: Why Resynced is working—lower price point, nostalgia for the PS3/PS4 transition era, and a “pairing back” of the “bloated” scale seen in Valhalla. * 00:06:58: Franchise History: A retrospective on the yearly release cadence from 2007 to 2015. * 00:07:53: The Shift to RPGs: How Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla changed the series and the division of work between Ubisoft Montreal, Quebec, and Bordeaux. * 00:09:52: Ubisoft Business Realities: Discussion on plummeting stock prices, the partnership with Tencent, and the creation of Vantage Studios to handle the franchise. * 00:12:54: Future Titles (Hexe and Jade): Speculation on Codename Hexe (set in Germany) and the silence surrounding the mobile title Assassin’s Creed Jade. * 00:13:55: 20th Anniversary Rumours: Potential for a remaster of the original Assassin’s Creed Codename Stardust in 2027. * 00:15:02: Assassin’s Creed Hexe Details: Discussion on the new creative director, Jean Guesdon, and rumours of a more focused, linear story with supernatural elements. * 00:18:11: Modern Day Narrative: How the Animus platform might handle the present-day story, including potential links to Ezio and the 2090s time period. * 00:21:27: Assassin’s Creed Invictus: Discussion on the upcoming multiplayer title and its departure from the social stealth of Brotherhood. * 00:23:40: AAA Strategy Trends: Comparing Ubisoft’s “remake and mainline” strategy to Capcom (Resident Evil), Konami (Metal Gear Solid), and EA (Dead Space). “What Are You Playing?” Segment and Outro * 00:25:33: Rahul’s Pick: The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante, a narrative-driven hardcore RPG. * 00:26:14: Rishi’s Review: Final thoughts on Black Flag Resynced—praising the lack of bloat but criticizing the “procedural cutscenes”. * 00:27:19: Anticipated Titles: Rishi discusses his personal connection to the Halo franchise and his preparation for Halo: Campaign Evolved. * 00:28:07: Closing: Social media handles and sign-off This is Day Zero. The podcast breaks down the bits and bytes behind the decisions that shape the world’s greatest entertainment medium — video games. Have a request? Hot take? Insider tip? Reach us at the handles mentioned below: * Twitter/X - @rishialwani * Threads - @rishi.alwani * Instagram - @rishi.alwani * Twitter/X - @darthrahul * Threads - @darthrahul * Instagram - @darthrahul This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dayzeromedia.substack.com

    Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Smashes Sales: What's Next for Ubisoft?

  2. 14 Jul

    Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Review: A Pirate Classic Reborn

    With two million copies sold since it hit the shelves last week, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced will likely end up one of the biggest-selling games of the year. And after spending quality time with the game it’s easy to see why. From a modern-day glow up to empowering gameplay and a dose of (somewhat dubious) portable play, it’s quite obvious that Ubisoft put in a lot of love into the remake of one of the series’ best ever entries. To guide you through what’s new, awesome, and somewhat butt ugly (i.e. not putting the entire game on disc), we’re joined by video games critic and all-round nice guy Vincent Peter of IGN and PC Mag Middle East fame who has a lot to say about what makes Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced worth your time. Before that though, there’s a quick segue to bring your attention to the current and warranted backlash regarding Sony killing off physical games and a petition well-worth signing if you care about owning the games you buy like the aforementioned Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Finally, we round off the podcast with a couple of games worth wish listing —Winds Of Arcana: Ruination (also on Xbox Game Pass) and Trailblazers: Into the March. Intro and Housekeeping * 00:00:03: Introduction of hosts Rishi Alwani and Rahul Majumdar, and guest Vincent Peter. * 00:00:21: Brief overview of the episode’s agenda: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, current games, and the wishlist segment. * 00:00:33: Request to sign the PlayStation disc petition and concerns regarding Sony’s shift toward digital-only ownership. Main Feature: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced * 00:01:30: Discussion begins on Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. * 00:02:18: Vincent shares his background as a long-time fan of the series and his first-time experience with Edward Kenway’s story. * 00:02:55: Vincent’s impressions of the game’s writing, character arcs, and dialogue compared to the modern “RPG era” entries. * 00:04:10: Rahul discusses his initial skepticism regarding the remake’s move to the new Anvil engine. * 00:05:01: A deep dive into the evolution of parkour mechanics throughout the franchise, from the “puppeteering system” to automated movement. * 00:05:57: Analysis of the improved combat system and community-discovered button remappings to emulate older games. * 00:06:24: Overview of new content, including recruitable naval officers, alternate fire modes for the Jackdaw, and new recorded dialogue from original voice actors. * 00:08:32: Comparison of moment-to-moment gameplay to AC Origins and the “binary” nature of automated parkour. * 00:10:55: Detailed critique of the combat’s expressiveness and the limitations of only having dual swords. * 00:13:23: Technical performance on PC, including comparisons between the RTX 5070 and 3060 Ti. * 00:14:19: Discussion on modern features like ray tracing (including software-based RT for older GPUs), DLSS, and HDR support. * 00:16:36: Mention of the Advanced Parkour settings that allow for manual jumping and back ejects. * 00:17:43: Performance impressions on the PS5 Pro, Xbox Ally X, and the base PS5’s 30 FPS fidelity mode. * 00:18:06: DRM and Steam Deck issues, specifically the inability to play or save progress while offline. * 00:19:33: Backlash regarding microtransactions, the “Animus Hub,” and the “egregious” in-game storefront skins. * 00:20:52: Discussion on the Modern Day segment, its shift to a 2090s setting, and the lack of playable content compared to the original game. * 00:23:48: Recap of the original Black Flag modern-day ending involving the Sage and Abstergo headquarters. * 00:24:45: Mention of new endgame missions and narrative context for Edward’s crew. * 00:27:09: Sales update (2 million copies sold) and retail momentum. * 00:28:02: Frustration over the game not being entirely on the physical disc. * 00:28:49: Graphical critiques regarding character models and low-resolution flashback sequences. What to Wishlist * 00:29:19: Winds of Arcana: Ruination (an Indian-made Metroidvania). * 00:29:33: Trailblazers: Into the March (a roguelike colony sim inspired by Nausicaa). What We’re Playing This Week * 00:29:59: Vincent on Moss: The Forgotten Wreck, the flat-screen combined version of the VR titles. * 00:31:48: Vincent’s surprising recommendation of Echoes of Aincrad, a Sword Art Online game with “light Souls-like” combat and wholesome writing about MMO players. * 00:35:35: Vincent revisits Horizon Forbidden West, discussing “strategic expectation realignment” and gameplay changes from the first entry. * 00:37:17: Analysis of Aloy’s character arc and the Burning Shores DLC boss fight. * 00:38:57: Collective disappointment regarding the “off-screen” fate of Ted Faro. * 00:40:20: Rahul on Lego Batman and troubleshooting PC power supply issues. * 00:40:54: Rahul notes significant parkour updates recently added to Assassin’s Creed Shadows. * 00:43:13: Speculation on future Assassin’s Creed projects, including rumors of an AC1 remake and the narrative direction of AC Hexe. * 00:45:14: Rishi’s difficulties moving an Alan Wake 2 save file from PS5 to PC. Outro * 00:46:13: Sign off and social media handles for Vincent (halfbloodvince), Rahul (darthrahul), and Rishi (rishialwani). Welcome to Day Zero. This podcast breaks down the bits and bytes behind the decisions that shape the world’s greatest entertainment medium — video games. Have a request? Hot take? Insider tip? Reach us at the handles mentioned below: * Twitter/X - @rishialwani * Threads - @rishi.alwani * Instagram - @rishi.alwani * Twitter/X - @darthrahul * Threads - @darthrahul * Instagram - @darthrahul This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dayzeromedia.substack.com

    Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Review: A Pirate Classic Reborn

  3. 7 Jul

    PlayStation to Stop Making Discs by 2028: The End of Game Ownership?

    PlayStation announced the end of physical discs by 2028 nearly a week ago which implies the end of owning games you buy on its consoles. The response from the community has been vociferous to say the least. Naturally we had to dissect what this means for the industry and more importantly, you. Along with this explore how the company manipulated sales data to make it seem like physical sales are in decline, how it has been manipulating communities and potentially the media from masking this, and how its own end-user agreements are fraught with concerns such as treating customers like criminals because it can’t get its own payment gateways running correctly (shout to friend of the podcast Vinayak Soni for tipping us off). We also dig deep into how ready PlayStation really is for such a move, using the Indian market as an indicator. Between PS5 stock remaining scarce, distributors artificially capping the amount of PlayStation wallet top-ups and gift cards sold in a week, and exceedingly high prices, the console giant has its work cut out for it. Finally, we round off the podcast with a couple of games worth wish listing — I’m Your Host and Dungeon Bodega Simulator. Time stamps as follows. PlayStation’s Shift to Digital (2028 Cutoff) * (00:00:03): Introduction to the podcast and the main topic: PlayStation’s perceived “disdain” for physical media. * (00:01:17): The primary news update: PlayStation is ending support for printing physical discs starting January 2028. * (00:01:29): Clarification that this policy applies to third-party publishers, not just Sony’s first-party titles. * (00:02:13): Sony’s clarification that games released before January 2028 can still have additional disc print runs. * (00:02:54): Discussion on “code in a box” releases where retailers may sell physical cases without actual discs. * (00:03:17): The loss of consumer benefits, such as the ability to install and play games offline directly from a disc. * (00:03:45): Why PlayStation’s digital shift is different from the PC market, citing the lack of competition compared to storefronts like Steam, Epic, and GOG. Market Data and Industry Backlash * (00:05:10): Analysis of Sony’s claim that only 15% of their audience buys physical discs. * (00:06:02): Counter-evidence from the Insomniac leak, showing much higher physical sales for major titles like God of War Ragnarok (76%) and Spider-Man (54%). * (00:07:25): Reports of the PlayStation subreddit removing mentions of the Insomniac data and “games journalists” avoiding the topic for fear of losing access. * (00:08:24): Anonymous feedback from publishers and business partners who were surprised by the announcement. * (00:09:14): Impact on the Indian market, specifically the conflict between this news and Sony’s mandate to open 100 exclusive retail stores in India by 2028. Future Hardware and Digital Ownership * (00:13:02): How Sony and Microsoft have “trained” audiences to prefer digital through cheaper discless consoles and subscription services like Game Pass. * (00:14:25): Concerns regarding limited internal storage on consoles and how physical discs provided more user control over installations. * (00:16:09): Speculation that the PS6 will be a digital-only console targeting a 2028 launch. * (00:19:15): Recent examples of “purchased” digital content being removed, specifically 500 TV shows/movies from Sony Pictures Core. * (00:20:06): News regarding the shutdown of PSN for PS3 and Vita. * (00:22:03): The role of physical boxes as a “marketing investment” and how their removal affects discoverability. Regional Issues and Final Advice * (00:30:41): Mention that Sony owns DADC, the division that prints the proprietary discs, meaning publishers cannot easily circumvent Sony’s decision. * (00:35:18): Discussion of the PlayStation Terms of Service (TOS) for India, including a clause that allows Sony to cancel accounts that are inactive for three years. * (00:36:00): Mention of Clause 17, where accounts can be suspended if a bank reverses a payment, requiring a gift card to release the account. * (00:37:08): Reports of arbitrary caps on the amount of PlayStation Store credit retailers in India are allowed to sell per week. * (00:40:43): Final recommendation for consumers to build a PC to ensure more user choice and better long-term savings. Gaming Updates and Recommendations * (00:41:43): “What are you playing?” section featuring Lego Batman, Starfox, and Absolum. * (00:46:24): “What to wishlist” section: Dungeon Bodega Simulator and I’m Your Host. Welcome to Day Zero. This podcast breaks down the bits and bytes behind the decisions that shape the world’s greatest entertainment medium — video games. Have a request? Hot take? Insider tip? Reach us at the handles mentioned below: * Twitter/X - @rishialwani * Threads - @rishi.alwani * Instagram - @rishi.alwani * Twitter/X - @darthrahul * Threads - @darthrahul * Instagram - @darthrahul This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dayzeromedia.substack.com

    PlayStation to Stop Making Discs by 2028: The End of Game Ownership?

  4. 30 Jun

    No, GTA 6 Will Not Save the Games Industry

    By now the discourse surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is roiling to say the least. From Rockstar demanding pre-orders without showing much in way of gameplay to a suspiciously pro-corporate slant from consumers justifying the company’s many failings (including crunch and potentially killing an entire retail industry) it’s been a wild week. However is there more to it than just wanton outrage? Yes there is. For all of the internet’s echo chamber-fuelled glory, there’s a very real chance that GTA 6 may not be the messiah the industry hopes it to be. Simply because rising prices thanks to Sam Altman, Microsoft, Hynix, Samsung, Micron, and general stupidity from the AI sector have knee-capped hardware prices yet again, with potential price hikes for new consoles on the horizon. For a game expected to move PS5s and Xbox Series consoles, it could not have launched in a worse season. Time stamps as follows. GTA 6 Pre-Order Details * 00:00:03: Introduction * 00:00:21: Confirmation of the GTA 6 release date as November 19th. * 00:00:31: Rockstar begins digital pre-orders and reveals edition details. * 00:00:41: Standard Edition ($80) and Ultimate Edition ($100) pricing revealed. * 00:00:51: Standard Edition includes one month of GTA Plus and a Vice City pre-order bonus. * 00:01:05: Ultimate Edition details: Includes extra outfits, areas, and vehicles. * 00:01:17: Digital-only announcement: The physical version will only contain a game code in the box, not a disc. * 00:01:40: Discussion on the lack of a new gameplay video vs. existing in-engine trailers and screenshots. GTA 6 Market Performance and Community Reaction * 00:02:10: GTA 6 reaches number one on the PlayStation Store pre-order charts. * 00:02:24: IGN reports an 8:1 pre-order ratio of PlayStation to Xbox based on affiliate links. * 00:02:37: Comparison of PlayStation vs. Xbox market share in India. * 00:03:22: Discussion of rumors regarding a potential disc version arriving one month after launch. * 00:03:54: Precedent for delayed physical releases, citing Red Dead Redemption on current-gen consoles. * 00:04:09: Historical context of Rockstar’s pricing adjustments in India. * 00:04:36: Critique of reporting from IGN and Hollywood Reporter regarding disc release rumors. Rockstar Games’ Industry Impact and Ethics * 00:05:04: Rockstar’s historical opposition to the used game market. * 00:05:34: Story of Rockstar shutting down a pre-owned game trade-in initiative in India. * 00:06:36: Discussion on consumer ownership legislation and the “Stop Killing Games” initiative in the EU. * 00:07:44: Retailer frustration over the lack of a physical disc. * 00:08:21: Speculation that the game is barely meeting its release date and may lack polish at launch. * 00:09:50: Prediction that a physical copy may appear a few months later once the game is fully complete. * 00:11:45: Discussion on “manufactured consent” and social media discourse regarding pricing. Console Hardware and Pricing Concerns * 00:12:44: Impact of GTA 6 on console hardware sales and marketing deals. * 00:13:17: Rising component and memory prices affecting console hardware costs. * 00:13:53: PS5 R&D costs and the lack of price drops compared to previous generations. * 00:14:58: Critique of Ultimate Edition “gated” content, such as specific locations and missions. * 00:16:18: India-specific pricing: Standard Edition at ₹5,999 and Ultimate Edition at ₹7,499. * 00:17:04: The cultural loss of midnight launches due to the shift to digital. * 00:18:44: Estimated revenue loss from physical sales in emerging markets ($150M–$200M). * 00:20:19: Comparison of hardware costs to monthly salaries in India. * 00:21:43: The importance of content creators to GTA’s longevity. * 00:23:36: The barrier for mobile gamers (BGMI, Free Fire) moving to console hardware. * 00:24:29: Financial advice: Do not use EMI or “Buy Now Pay Later” for games/hardware. What After GTA 6? * 00:25:53: Discussion on the rising costs of game development in the US. * 00:27:03: Rockstar’s use of Indian developers (1,000+ devs). * 00:27:46: Speculation on a separate marketing beat for GTA Online and a future PC launch. * 00:29:38: Next-gen console (PS6/Next Xbox) R&D and the risk of delaying launches. * 00:30:23: Critique of the Steam Machine’s performance and marketing material changes. * 00:31:23: Rockstar makes the GTA 5 Next-Gen upgrade free for those pre-ordering GTA 6. * 00:35:54: Critique of the “Live Service” model using Concord and Destiny as examples. * 00:38:41: Consumer advice: Buying hardware at MRP and the long-term savings of physical media. What We’re Playing * 00:40:41: Rahul talks about Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. * 00:41:43: Details on Lego Batman’s story amalgamation and Arkham-style gameplay. * 00:43:51: Performance of Lego Batman on PC (RTX 5070) versus Steam Deck. * 00:46:27: Rishi talks about his time with Alan Wake 2 and experimenting with Amiibos in Breath of the Wild. What to Wishlist and Outro * 00:47:48: Recommendation for Joy Malignant (dice-based RPG). * 00:48:26: Recommendation for Odd Town (mini-imm sim). * 00:49:09: Podcast wrap-up. Every week we break down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world’s greatest entertainment industry on the Day Zero Podcast. Have a request? Hot take? Insider tip? Reach us at the handles mentioned below: * Twitter/X - @rishialwani * Threads - @rishi.alwani * Instagram - @rishi.alwani * Twitter/X - @darthrahul * Threads - @darthrahul * Instagram - @darthrahul This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dayzeromedia.substack.com

    No, GTA 6 Will Not Save the Games Industry

  5. 23 Jun

    Steam Update: How Indie Devs Survive the New Algorithm & Wishlist Velocity

    While Summer Game Fest brought with it a stellar line up of games reminiscent of the best days of E3, Valve dropped what’s likely the most consequential update for game developers in recent memory. After being in beta for a few months, the Company that Can’t Count to Three revealed a Steam store refresh that changes how industry conducts business on the biggest storefront for PC games. For this special episode of Day Zero, we have Lokesh Joshi, marketing lead at Tathvamasi Studios, the developers behind Suri: The Seventh Note, an upcoming PlayStation India Hero Project game for PS5 and PC. Disclosure: Day Zero podcast host Rishi Alwani has consulted with the studio in the past. From the personal calendar coming in clutch closer to release date for some publishers (such as Loopr Partners who were generous enough to let us talk about Zombutcher as a current case study) to harnessing wishlist velocity and timing the right release date, we got you covered. Time stamps as follows. Introduction and Guest Welcome * 00:00:03: Host Rishi Alwani introduces the episode and guests: Rahul and Lokesh Joshi (marketing lead of Tathvamasi Studios). * 00:00:52: Introduction to the main topic: Big changes and updates to Steam. The Steam Client Refresh (June 5th Update) * 00:01:32: Overview of the June 5th update, including UI changes and backend management for developers. * 00:01:54: Details on the new homepage, featured section, and general usability improvements. * 00:01:59: Introduction of the personal calendar feature for players to track release dates and wishlist games directly. * 00:03:07: Changes to the “Popular Upcoming” algorithm, requiring higher wishlist counts to appear on the list. Impact on Wishlists and Discovery * 00:04:12: How the personal calendar affects niche genres by recommending games based on user taste. * 00:04:30: Speculation on whether wishlists are still the primary metric for success. * 00:05:21: Discussion on how the calendar might help developers acquire “meaningful wishlists” with higher conversion rates. * 00:07:12: The concept of “Wishlist Velocity”—the importance of recent wishlists over older ones. * 00:08:05: Setting context on the “previous meta” where wishlists were the sole driver of visibility and funding. * 00:10:53: Identifying the bottleneck for developers: the requirement of a hard release date to appear on the personal calendar. Platforms and Visibility Case Studies * 00:14:25: Case study of the game Zombutcher and how the Steam update affected its launch visibility. * 00:15:58: The role of Steam Next Fest as a source of free visibility for indie developers. * 00:18:04: Comparison of developer support between Steam and PlayStation, highlighting Sony’s YouTube slots and blog posts. * 00:23:24: Discussion on Steam’s algorithmic nature compared to PlayStation’s storefront. Marketing Strategies for Indie Developers * 00:24:18: The importance of community building and organic content. * 00:24:32: Leveraging Instagram Reels for wide reach and using Reddit for organic feedback. * 00:27:53: Utilising Twitter for the indie community, specifically “Screenshot Saturday”. * 00:29:18: Advice on paid advertising: Don’t do it until you have a playable demo. * 00:31:46: Examples of “gold standard” social media accounts, including No Man’s Sky and Among Us. * 00:32:50: Using Steamworks data to track impressions, conversion rates, and “wishlist deletions”. * 00:35:14: Tips for standing out during Next Fest, including working with content creators and using the Tagging Wizard. * 00:40:40: A reminder that product quality and QA are more important than marketing efforts. What We’re Playing This Week * 00:41:08: Lokesh discusses playing Space Marine 2. * 00:41:44: Rahul discusses the demo for 1666 Amsterdam and the backstory of creator Patrice Desilets and Ubisoft. * 00:44:16: Rahul discusses Echoes of Aincrad (a Sword Art Online title). * 00:46:15: Rahul discusses Valor Mortis, a first-person French “souls-like” set in the Napoleonic era. * 00:49:16: Rishi discusses playing Dishonored 2 and his frustrations with the pacing of Alan Wake 2. Closing and Recommendations * 00:50:31: Final recommendations for games to wishlist: Suri: The Seventh Note, Zombutcher, and Arms Dealer. * 00:51:25: Outro and where to find the hosts and guests on social media. Welcome to Day Zero. This is a podcast about video games breaking down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world’s greatest entertainment industry. Have a request? Hot take? Insider tip? Reach us at the handles mentioned below: * Linkedin - Lokesh Joshi * Instagram - @Lokesh Joshi * Twitter/X - @RishiAlwani * Threads - @rishi.alwani * Instagram - @rishi.alwani * Twitter/X - @darthrahul * Threads - @darthrahul * Instagram - @darthrahul This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dayzeromedia.substack.com

    Steam Update: How Indie Devs Survive the New Algorithm & Wishlist Velocity

  6. 17 Jun

    The Xbox Reset: Analysing Asha Sharma and Satya Nadella’s Strategic Turnaround

    At this point we might as well call this the Xbox Podcast rather than Day Zero what with the sheer number of times we’ve had to discuss the platform’s ups and downs on the podcast. After a successful Summer Game Fest showcase, it appears that Microsoft realises that a paltry three percent margin isn’t enough to run the Xbox business and cuts are afoot. To the point where not only did Xbox CEO Asha Sharma surface the business margins publicly, but Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella called out that Xbox makes more money from YouTube than games. Yikes. In this episode we discuss what to expect from the House of Halo. As well as highlight one of the cooler indie games out of India, Malhaar. It’s a slice-of-life RPG that warrants a wishlist or 20. Time stamps as follows. Xbox Leadership and Initial Reset (February – May 2026) * 00:01:04: Introduction to Asha Sharma’s timeline starting from her joining as Xbox CEO in February 2026. * 00:01:18: Asha Sharma’s first internal memo prioritising human art over “AI slop”. * 00:01:33: Leadership overhaul, including Matt Booty’s promotion to Chief Content Officer. * 00:01:43: Strategic realignment with the hiring of Matt Ball as Chief Strategy Officer. * 00:01:49: Shift in success metrics from Game Pass subscriber counts to Daily Active Users (DAU). * 00:02:03: Rebrand of “Microsoft Gaming” to “XBOX” in all caps. * 00:02:18: Internal discussions regarding the return of console exclusivity. Major Announcements and Fiscal Transparency (June 2026) * 00:02:34: Asha Sharma’s major Bloomberg interview discussing an internal reset and reaching players across all platforms. * 00:02:48: Global price decrease for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. * 00:02:53: Leaks regarding the next-gen hardware codename, Project Helix. * 00:03:05: Xbox Fan Fest highlights, including the translucent green Xbox and announcements for Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution. * 00:04:04: Detailed breakdown of Asha Sharma’s memo regarding a three percent accountability margin and a half-billion-dollar revenue decline over five years. * 00:05:20: Critique of the “toxic positivity” of previous management (Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond) compared to Sharma’s transparency. * 00:06:11: Analysis of the unsustainability of the Game Pass model and the difficulties of keeping publishers happy in a subscription service. Strategic Challenges and Future Revenue Models * 00:09:40: Matt Ball’s comments to The Game Business regarding the challenges facing the company. * 00:10:27: Discussion on the failed “This is an Xbox” campaign and the lack of a clear reason to buy a $500–$650 console. * 00:12:10: Exploration of potential revenue streams, including ad-supported tiers similar to Netflix and Prime Video. * 00:14:07: Identification of the target audience for these executive statements: investors and VCs rather than gamers. * 00:16:10: The expansion of the Xbox Game Studio Store and physical merchandise (e.g. Halo: Campaign Evolved and Fable Collector’s Editions),. Satya Nadella’s “Hard Fork” Interview and Structural Changes * 00:18:27: Detailed look at Satya Nadella’s interview with the Hard Fork podcast. * 00:19:02: Nadella’s “nuke”: Asserting that Xbox must become a sustainable business after 25 years of investment. * 00:19:34: Nadella’s admission that Microsoft has been subsidising entertainment, noting that monetisation is happening more on YouTube than on Microsoft platforms,. * 00:21:00: Rumours from The Information regarding spinning off the Halo franchise to external studios. * 00:21:32: Criticism of Microsoft’s failure to capitalise on the success of the Fallout and Halo TV shows with timely game releases. * 00:24:52: Concerns over the loss of institutional knowledge following the closures of studios like Arkane Austin. Hardware Future and Developer Impact * 00:25:46: Disclosure of A-B testing showing that pushing individual games sometimes performs better than pushing Game Pass. * 00:27:42: Potential risks to the Developer Acceleration Program (XDAP) and funding for developers in regions like India and Southeast Asia,. * 00:29:03: Discussion on rising component prices (up to 5x–7x). * 00:29:56: Estimated timeline for Project Helix hardware (late 2027 or early 2028). * 00:30:18: The possibility of Xbox moving to a reference design model, allowing third-party OEMs (like ASUS or HP) to build Xbox consoles. * 00:32:02: Rumours of over 1,000 layoffs planned for July 2026, specifically targeting marketing and regional teams. * 00:33:30: Mention of the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X20 announcement. * 00:34:55: Final thoughts on Xbox entering its “Dreamcast era”. * 00:35:21: Wishlist callout for Indian indie game, Malhaar and wrap-up. Welcome to the Day Zero Podcast. Every week we break down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world’s greatest entertainment industry. Have a request? Hot take? Insider tip? Reach us at the handles mentioned below: * Twitter/X - @rishialwani * Threads - @rishi.alwani * Instagram - @rishi.alwani * Twitter/X - @darthrahul * Threads - @darthrahul * Instagram - @darthrahul This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dayzeromedia.substack.com

    The Xbox Reset: Analysing Asha Sharma and Satya Nadella’s Strategic Turnaround

  7. 11 Jun

    Why FF7 Revelation, GoW Laufey, & Xbox Exclusives Won Summer Game Fest

    E3 is dead only in name. The Summer Game Fest has embodied the spirit of what used to be the convergence of the video games industry. And while everyone and their grandma’s cat has given a blow-by-blow account of what was, this episode of Day Zero takes a slightly different approach. We discuss what we believe are the biggest announcements from the week that was the Summer Game Fest. From Sony’s State of Play to Xbox’s exercise in exclusivity and even a sterling third-party showing from the likes of Capcom, Square Enix, and Sega, there’s a lot to unpack. And despite rising hardware prices and dubious decision-making, there’s some gaming goodness yet to be had this year. Bear in mind this was recorded before the Nintendo Direct or Microsoft’s ongoing public relations disaster that is its Xbox leadership. We’ll probably touch on those next week. Oh and if you were expecting us to opine on the India Game Showcase, we explain why we don’t in the first minute or so. Time stamps as follows: Introduction and Overview * (00:00:03): Welcome and introduction by hosts Rishi Alwani and Rahul Majumdar. * (00:01:04): Analysis of Sony’s State of Play (or what the hosts argue should be called a “PlayStation Showcase”). * (00:01:55): Discussion of major Sony first-party showings: Wolverine, Until Dawn 2, and God of War: Laufey. * (00:02:40): Commentary on missing Sony announcements like Fairgames (potentially renamed Break In) and the focus on Marathon Season 2. * (00:03:05): Analysis of the slump in exclusive sales and the unsustainable cost of game development. * (00:04:31): Frustration over the high pricing of PS5 consoles in India, which have reached 80k–90k INR ($800–$900) at exclusive stores in 2026. Xbox Strategy & Messaging * (00:06:03): Transition to Xbox’s “exclusive pivots” and confusing messaging. * (00:06:35): Comparison of exclusivity stances: Gears of War: E-Day remaining exclusive while Halo Campaign Evolved is announced for PS5. * (00:10:12): A historical look at Xbox’s 25-year relationship with exclusivity, noting that major IPs like Halo and Fable have historically been ported to PC. * (00:12:28): Discussion on the difficulty of buying Xbox hardware in India and the reliance on the used market. * (00:13:10): Reaction to strategist Matthew Ball’s admission that Game Pass lost millions of subscribers after price hikes. * (00:13:25): Critique of new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and the narrative surrounding her “first 100 days”. * (00:15:24): Surprise announcement of Senua coming to PS5. * (00:20:55): Announcement of 25th Anniversary Xbox Series X and controller in translucent green. Summer Game Fest Highlights * (00:22:52): Deep dive into Final Fantasy VII Revelation, including its use of Unreal Engine 4 and its simultaneous multi-platform release. * (00:24:50): Note on Travis Willingham replacing Tyler Hoechlin as the voice of Sephiroth. * (00:27:47): Technical discussion of Gears of War: E-Day, highlighting new movement mechanics (manual jump, prone cover) and ray-traced global illumination. * (00:32:52): Highlight of the Thief Remaster from Night Dive Studios, expected at the end of 2026. * (00:34:09): Discussion of God of War: Laufey, confirming it is a side-narrative taking place concurrently with the 2018 and Ragnarok titles. Final Segment: What We’re Playing * (00:42:43): Rahul’s impressions of Mouse: PI for Hire, noting its serious narrative balance and noir inspirations. * (00:45:29): Rishi’s experience with the rhythm strategy game War Drum and a “high chaos” run of Dishonored 2. * (00:46:40): Closing remarks and social media handles for Rahul Majumdar and Rishi Alwani. Day Zero is a video games podcast from Rahul Majumdar and Rishi Alwani. We break down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world’s greatest entertainment industry. Comments? Opinions? Good takes or bad? Find us with yours at the handles below: * Twitter/X - @RishiAlwani * Threads - @rishi.alwani * Instagram - @rishi.alwani * Twitter/X - @darthrahul * Threads - @darthrahul * Instagram - @darthrahul This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dayzeromedia.substack.com

    Why FF7 Revelation, GoW Laufey, & Xbox Exclusives Won Summer Game Fest

  8. 31 May

    The State of PlayStation 2026: Few PS5 Exclusives, Many PSN Hacks

    This episode of the Day Zero Podcast is out earlier than expected simply because we wanted to discuss all things PlayStation before the big PS5 State of Play later in the week. In this episode, we dissect ongoing security concerns that plague PlayStation users which can essentially have your entire digital library taken away from you. Along with this we also talk about the ungodly pricing for PS5 hardware (which doesn’t need be given how much money the megacorp makes), the PlayStation retreat from PC which makes exclusives the norm at the cost of accessibility, and high PS Plus Subscription costs to name a few. It’s not all doom and gloom though, we also highlight some of the good the company is doing through its India Hero Project programme, which is, in our opinion, the gold standard in how indie game devs should be treated. Time stamps as follows: Introduction and Overview * 00:00:03: An overview of the “State of PlayStation” discussion. * 00:00:25: Summary of topics to be covered: PSN security, the state of exclusives, anti-consumer hardware pricing, and indie studio support. PlayStation Network (PSN) Security * 00:00:59: Discussion on reported PSN security vulnerabilities and account theft. * 00:01:21: Detailed account of games media personality Colin Moriarty’s account hack, including how hackers spoofed official support numbers. * 00:04:37: Insights into how easily hackers can gain access using rudimentary information, such as credit card receipts from restaurants. * 00:05:52: Discussion on the high value of early PSN accounts and Sony’s lack of public acknowledgement regarding these security issues. * 00:06:58: Recommended security measures for users, such as using 2FA authenticators and removing payment information from the store. Future Hardware and Digital Strategy * 00:13:29: Discussion on evidence of Sony’s next-gen plans, including two versions of the PS6 and a PS6 handheld. * 00:13:51: Analysis of the shift toward a digital-only ecosystem and the push for PS Plus and cloud streaming. * 00:15:32: Comparison with Nintendo’s handheld success and Valve’s Steam Deck. PlayStation Exclusives and PC Strategy * 00:17:52: News regarding major exclusives like Wolverine and Saros potentially no longer coming to PC. * 00:18:35: Critique of Sony’s “territorial” move regarding accessibility and the mixed success of previous PC ports like The Last of Us Part 1. * 00:26:52: Discussion of the ballooning budgets and labor costs of AAA development in North America. Sony Studio Management and Live Services * 00:28:12: Analysis of studio mismanagement, such as using Bluepoint for live service pitches and the cancellation of The Last of Us online project. * 00:31:04: Critique of the “Jim Ryan era” focus on live services and the waste of specialized single-player talent. * 00:31:31: Discussion of the Bungie acquisition, the end of support for Destiny 2, and the failure of Concord. Hardware Pricing and Indie Support * 00:36:43: Discussion on why PS5 hardware prices have remained high years after launch and the increase in PS Plus subscription costs. * 00:39:57: Overview of Sony’s positive work with the India Hero Project and other regional indie initiatives. * 00:41:14: Recognition of Shuhei Yoshida’s influence on the indie division and second-party deals for games like Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Favorite Games of First Half 2026 * 00:44:05: Segment on the best games worth playing from the first half of 2026. * 00:44:11: Rahul’s highlights: Resident Evil 9 Requiem, Nioh 3, and Pragmata. * 00:47:37: Rishi’s highlights: Fishbowl, Dosa Divas, and War Drum. * 00:49:14: Discussion of other notable titles: Esoteric Ebb, Romeo as a Dead Man, and Forza Horizon 6. Conclusion * 00:50:36: A look ahead to upcoming releases like Phantom Blade Zero and Gears of War: E-Day. * 00:51:27: Final wrap-up and social media handles. Welcome to the Day Zero podcast. We break down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world’s greatest entertainment industry. Have a request? Hot take? Insider tip? Reach us at the handles mentioned below: * Twitter/X - @rishialwani * Threads - @rishi.alwani * Instagram - @rishi.alwani * Twitter/X - @darthrahul * Threads - @darthrahul * Instagram - @darthrahul This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dayzeromedia.substack.com

    The State of PlayStation 2026: Few PS5 Exclusives, Many PSN Hacks
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About

Day Zero is a podcast on video games featuring Rahul Majumdar and Rishi Alwani breaking down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world's greatest entertainment industry. dayzeromedia.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Day Zero
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Day Zero
  • Show Website
    Day Zero Podcast

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