Day Zero Podcast

It’s been a hot minute since the last episode of Day Zero, which we’ve been told, broke certain parts of the internet due to our reporting on all things Nintendo in India. For those of you that tuned in, subscribed, and reached out — thank you for supporting independent media. And for those of you that shamelessly stole our work without crediting it us for clout — may you be blessed with the sound of nails on chalkboards between your ears for all eternity.With that out of the way, this episode has us answering all your questions regarding Nintendo’s India entry. Along with this we also break down the company’s recent history of attempts to enter the country, its relationship with Indian developers, and discuss the surprisingly vibrant and vocal Nintendo India community. We also examine the subscription numbers for PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass in India too.Furthermore, Subnautica 2 finds itself in the spotlight. Amidst a decline in the battle royale genre that Krafton itself pioneered and a CEO that’s more clanker than human — to the point of disregarding human legal advice in favour of ChatGPT leading to an embarrassing lawsuit with Subnautica 2’s developers — there’s joy to be had in the Korean megacorp’s comeuppance.Finally we discuss Xbox’s critical and commercial masterpiece that is Forza Horizon 6 in addition to what we played this week, including Dead As Disco. Time stamps as follows:Welcome to the Show, Here’s Why You Should Listen* (00:00:03): Introduction to episode 25 of the DayZero Podcast with hosts Rishi Alwani and Rahul Majumdar.* (00:00:13): Rishi’s career history, including his time as a games journalist at NDTV, IGN India, and his current work with games business newsletter and consulting.* (00:01:43): Rahul’s career history, including running the site TechQuila, working at IGN India and GLHF, his experience in the Indian film industry, and his current site, The Screen Zone.Nintendo’s Arrival in India* (00:03:45): Initial discussion on Nintendo officially entering the Indian market.* (00:04:32): History of Nintendo in India, specifically how consoles like the Wii and Switch have been available for years through the grey and parallel markets.* (00:06:30): Piracy vs. Spending Power, addressing the audience that chooses to spend on entertainment and the convenience of digital subscriptions like Nintendo Switch Online.* (00:07:34): The Indian Nintendo Community, highlighting the Super Smash Bros. scene and international representation.* (00:08:03): Comparisons to Sony’s PS2 strategy, discussing why Nintendo might launch the Switch 1 late in India.* (00:10:51): Logistics of the launch, including potential partnerships (Redington), the importance of the eShop, and after-sales service/warranties.* (00:12:30): Nintendo’s relationship with Indian developers, mentioning their support for games like Raji and interactions at the India Game Show.* (00:14:23): Manufacturing and BIS certification, discussing the possibility of local assembly and the hurdles of the Bureau of Indian Standards process.* (00:15:25): Broader state of the Indian gaming market, covering the dominance of PlayStation, PC gaming trends (laptops with 3050/4050 cards), and the small Xbox user base.* (00:17:09): Spending habits and the second-hand market, explaining the popularity of physical games due to resale value.* (00:18:49): Nintendo’s transmedia push, discussing how movies like Super Mario Bros. and the upcoming Zelda film factor into their expansion.* (00:20:26): Subscription numbers in India, estimating 100K-110K Game Pass subs and roughly 500K PlayStation Plus subscribers.Subnautica 2 and Krafton Controversy* (00:22:27): Overview of Subnautica 2’s successful early release and the drama involving studio Unknown Worlds and its parent company, Krafton.* (00:22:57): Hostile takeover attempt, detailing how the Krafton CEO allegedly used ChatGPT to consult on business decisions and tried to “kneecap” the studio to avoid paying a $250 million bonus.* (00:27:32): The state of the Battle Royale genre, noting its decline outside of mobile-heavy markets like India and China.Forza Horizon 6* (00:31:07): Impressions of Forza Horizon 6, including performance on gaming laptops and the Xbox handheld (ROG Xbox Ally X), plus a weird launch bug requiring an “Alt-Tab”.* (00:31:34): Indian pricing concerns, comparing the high cost of Forza Horizon 6 (₹5,499) to Forza Horizon 5 (₹3,299) and the lack of a physical Xbox release.* (00:32:59): The “Fable Engine” debate, debunking the idea that Forza’s high optimisation automatically means the upcoming Fable game will run well on mid-range hardware.Games Played This Week* (00:37:00): Game of Thrones: King’s Road, an action RPG from Netmarble currently unavailable in India on certain platforms.* (00:38:13): Dead As Disco, with impressions of its “Arkham-style” combat and Suda 51-esque vibe.* (00:40:17): Replaced, a brief mention of picking up the game.Closing* (00:40:23): Social media handles and sign-off.Every week we break down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world’s greatest entertainment industry in 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

Another week, another reason for GTA 6 to be in the news cycle. And like every generational pairing, be it peanut butter and chocolate, America and oil, or AI and circular funding, a Rockstar-developed game and crunch is one you can definitely count on. In this episode of the Day Zero podcast we discuss rumours of Rockstar’s India team crunching to meet the GTA 6 release date along with taking an “insider” to task for confusing a company with a long history of mismanagement as an “Indian work culture issue”.Along with this we talk about Nintendo’s imminent India arrival. Potential timelines, release dates, prices, and what to expect (spoiler: not the Nintendo Switch 2 it seems) are all laid bare complete with our thoughts on the company’s belated India return.Also, we weigh in on the controversy surrounding Mixtape, the latest game from indie publishing powerhouse Annapurna Interactive. Like most things in life, this too seems exaggerated by a set of grifters.Finally we round things off with what we’ve been playing this week, namely: Forza Horizon 6, Pragmata, Saros, and Mixtape. Time stamps as follows:Introduction and Overview* 00:00:11 – Overview of the episode’s main topics: GTA crunch, Nintendo’s India plans, and the Mixtape indie game controversy.GTA 6, Rockstar India, and Industry Crunch* 00:00:36 – Discussion begins regarding Glassdoor reviews of Rockstar Bengaluru alleging intense crunch (3am work hours).* 00:01:00 – Reaction to claims by “insider” Kiwi Talkz that crunch is simply “normal day-to-day work in India”.* 00:01:33 – Refutes the claim that extreme crunch is the standard across the Indian games industry.* 00:02:16 – Contextualising Rockstar’s history of crunch, specifically during the development of Red Dead Redemption 2.* 00:03:19 – Confirming that crunch is happening on GTA 6 and discussing how Rockstar has “exported” the problem to countries with less games journalism oversight.GTA 6 Release and PS5 Bundles* 00:04:37 – Discussion on the projected November release and a potential PS5 bundle.* 00:05:10 – Updates on PS5 supply issues in India and expected price hikes for the disc and digital versions.* 00:06:50 – Analyzing the “worst of both worlds” where US crunch culture meets Indian entertainment industry work habits.* 00:07:57 – Personal anecdotes about crunch in gaming journalism and the impact of the lack of specialized talent in India.Nintendo’s Official India Entry Plans* 00:10:02 – Introduction of the rumor regarding Nintendo officially launching in India.* 00:10:20 – Details on the planned launch: early next year at a price point of approximately 20,000 rupees.* 00:10:33 – Clarification that this launch is for the Switch 1, likely the base model, not the Switch 2.* 00:11:14 – Discussion on distribution, with Redington named as the likely partner.* 00:12:12 – Targeted launch window of February or March and details on the Nintendo India team.* 00:13:06 – Discussion on the “weird decision” to launch a 10-year-old console and how it compares to current grey market prices.* 00:15:44 – The challenge of brand awareness in India and how consumers want to be treated as “first-class citizens” regarding global release dates.* 00:17:38 – The hurdle of piracy and the potential “big win” for Nintendo’s IP like Pokemon and Zelda.The Mixtape “Controversy” and Online Discourse* 00:18:16 – Transition to discussing the indie game Mixtape.* 00:18:50 – Contrasting the game’s critical acclaim (including 10/10 scores) with the “culture war” attacks it has faced online.* 00:19:59 – Evidence of review bombing on Steam and the debate over “games as art” vs. traditional gameplay.* 00:22:33 – Personal impressions of the game.* 00:24:43 – Addressing the controversy surrounding Annapurna’s ownership and their connection to AI and surveillance.* 00:27:52 – Analysing the backlash to the IGN 10/10 review and the general misunderstanding of how media outlets review games.* 00:30:09 – Discussion on the harassment of journalists, such as Gene Park, following positive coverage of the game.What We’re Playing This Week* 00:31:04 – Rahul discusses finishing Pragmata, noting its short length and Resident Evil-style progression.* 00:32:25 – Rahul shares his experience with Saros, comparing its difficulty and accessibility to Returnal.* 00:34:41 – Rishi discusses playing Forza Horizon 6 on PC and checking out Mixtape and Saros.Outro* 00:35:22 – Social media handles and sign-off.This is 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

Another week, another episode. This time we’re focusing on Valve’s latest hardware drop: the new Steam Controller. It’s been a hot minute since the House Gaben built released its first-generation Steam Controller, only to be discontinued four years later. Fast-forward to now and the company’s second stab at it might be its most promising yet. We also discuss how you could get your hands on it if you aren’t living in a market Valve is selling the new Steam Controller in like India.Along with this, we discuss PS5 exclusive Saros’ gameplay chops and the early commercial response to it thus far, May Madness — our term for the veritable deluge of gaming goodness hitting shelves digital and physical this month such as 007 First Light, Dead as Disco, Thick as Thieves, and Forza Horizon 6, and Xbox’s revenue from games making it to the PS5 courtesy Alinea Analytics.Finally, we round off the episode with what we’ve been playing this week. Namely Crimson Desert, Pragmata, and Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred. Time stamps as follows:Introduction and Overview* (00:00:00): High-level overview of topics: Steam Controller, Saros, and the May Madness of game releases.Valve’s New Steam Controller* (00:00:31): Initial impressions and discussion of the $100 price tag.* (00:01:21): Hardware features, including dual trackpads and new TMR analog sticks to reduce stick drift.* (00:01:46): Discussion on software limitations, specifically that it only works natively through Steam without workarounds.* (00:03:34): Challenges of buying Valve hardware to India, including grey market imports and lack of official distribution.* (00:09:03): Speculation on future “Steam Machines” from third-party manufacturers like Asus and HP.Saros Deep Dive* (00:11:01): Introduction to Saros, the spiritual successor to Returnal by Housemarque.* (00:11:53): Impressions of the Saros haptic feedback and sound design on the DualSense controller.* (00:12:40): Comparison to other roguelikes like Hades regarding permanent progression and difficulty.* (00:13:30): Breakdown of new gameplay mechanics: shields, movement speed, and the Eclipse risk/reward loop.* (00:18:10): Analysis of the game’s sales performance and marketing in India,.Every Video Game You Should Care About in May 2026* (00:19:21): Overview of the major titles releasing in May.* (00:20:22): Forza Horizon 6: Discussion on its Day 1 release on PS5.* (00:20:44): Lego Batman: How it differs from the Arkham series with a populated open-world Gotham.* (00:22:16): Thick as Thieves: Excitement for the new game from immersive sim veteran Warren Spector.* (00:23:06): Dead as Disco: A viral rhythm-based brawler entering early access.* (00:23:38): Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Discussion on the upcoming Switch port.* (00:25:11): Other notable mentions: Zero Parades for Dead Spies, Paralives, and Romestead.Xbox Game Sales on PS5* (00:25:40): Breakdown of sales data from Alinea Analytics, highlighting that Forza Horizon 5 has sold 5.8 million units on PlayStation.* (00:26:49): The total gross revenue for the 13 analyzed titles reaching $667 million.What We’re Playing This Week* (00:28:01): Rahul’s progress in Pragmata via GeForce Now.* (00:28:20): Updates on Crimson Desert and its frequent patching.* (00:29:55): Rishi’s thoughts on Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and its “MCU-style” story.Closing and Giveaway* (00:31:21): Housekeeping and announcement of the Marathon Controller winner.* (00:31:41): Social media handles and sign-off.This is Day Zero, a podcast is 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:* 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

Xbox promises a return to form with a chatty new memo while PlayStation’s silence suggests a heel turn no one wanted or asked for. All while Pragmata and Saros have us feeling that video games, unlike the industry that makes them, are alright actually.It’s been a loaded week in the games business and we’re here to break it all down. Unlike most of our usual episodes that focus on a single topic, there’s a lot to unpack this time around so we got timestamps for your perusal.Xbox Strategy — or Lack Thereof* 00:01:00 – The Xbox memo: We break down Asha Sharma’s leaked-and-then-revealed memo on the future of Xbox.* 00:02:08 – The “Northstar” metric: Xbox identifies daily active players as their primary metric for success. Not the first time engagement became a cornerstone metric. Some of us are old enough to remember it first introduced in 2015.* 00:03:08 – Hardware priorities: Xbox Series X|S plans ahead of a Project Helix launch.* 00:04:37 – Game Pass price drops: Apparent efforts to lower the cost of Xbox Game Pass and why it’s a bizarre idea at this point.* 00:06:09 – Global distribution critique: We berate the Xbox’s lack of hardware availability in India, Asia, and the Middle East amidst a memo that calls for more console hardware focus.* 00:08:52 – Feature Deprecation: Criticism over the removal of Xbox social features like Clubs.* 00:10:00 – Mobile storefront rumours: Discussion on potential plans for a mobile APK storefront.* 00:10:53 – State of Halo: Analysis of the management and current status of the Halo franchise.* 00:12:31 – Personal Xbox Series X experiences: Rishi explains why he has owned three different Xbox Series X consoles this generation.* 00:14:50 – Next-Gen OEM partnerships: Rumours regarding third-party partners like ASUS manufacturing Helix-based hardware.* 00:17:22 – Corporate culture: It’s wild how much heavy-lifting the memo does in terms of making Xbox cosplay as a startup rather than a subsidiary of a megacorp.* 00:19:39 – Call of Duty profitability: We parse through the strategic decision to remove Call of Duty from Game Pass to protect retail sales.PS5 DRM and What Could Happen Next* 00:31:52 – PS5 DRM: Details on the 30-day login requirement for digital purchases on PS4 and PS5.* 00:36:34 – The Crew 2 offline mode: Ubisoft’s response to the Stop Killing Games community initiative via the EU regarding live service games.Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: Everything We Know So Far* 00:37:39 – Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag Resynced: Official announcement and details of the remake.* 00:40:54 – Assassin’s Creed roadmap: Discussion on Shadows, Hexe, and the rumored AC1 remake.* 00:43:16 – Gameplay overhaul: Improvements to stealth, tailing missions, and ship customisation.* 00:45:38 – Pricing & Indian retail: Details on the 4,999 INR price point and the legitimacy of the steelbook offer at Games The Shop.Pragmata, Saros, and the End* 00:47:37 – Pragmata: Rahul discusses playing Capcom’s Pragmata via GeForce Now.* 00:50:15 – Saros: Rishi reviews Housemarque’s spiritual successor to Returnal, featuring actor Rahul Kohli.* 00:52:48 – Saros mechanics: A look at the laser-focused gameplay and DualSense haptic feedback.* 00:57:05 – Outro & Giveaway: Information on the Marathon controller giveaway and closing out the podcast.Welcome to Day Zero. This podcast is 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:* 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

After a solid press event a few months ago, Nvidia finally lifted the lid on its GeForce Now streaming service India release. Following a couple of weeks of media previews, players can check it out from April 16 onwards in early access.In this episode of the Day Zero Podcast, we discuss our thoughts on GeForce Now after trying it out pre-release across a host of devices ranging from TVs to Steam Decks and a smartphone or two. We also discuss the state of the games business in India what with resurgent PS5 and Nintendo Switch (yes, Switch, not Switch 2) sales.Furthermore, we also address the RTX 5090-sized elephant in the room — if renting high-speed, performant servers to stream video games is all GeForce Now is, and if you still have to buy your own games — who is it really for in a market that’s dominated by free-to-play mobile games and value-conscious spenders?Finally, we discuss what we’ve been playing this week, including Pragmata, Dosa Divas, and to no one’s surprise, Starfield.This is Day Zero. It is a podcast on video games breaking down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world’s greatest entertainment industry. Day Zero is hosted by Rahul Majumdar and Rishi Alwani.We’d love to hear your objectively good takes — they surely can’t be worse than some of ours. 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

Episode 20 of the Day Zero podcast is out. As the title suggests, we break down what to expect from the ShinyHunters hack of GTA 6 developer Rockstar. Keep in mind that this was recorded on April 12, a day before the hackers leaked details early. That said we parse what you can expect in the aftermath of this reveal and ponder how a company with more money than god can’t get its cybersecurity in order (what with this being the second known major hack since 2022).Along with this we also discuss friend of the podcast Kirk McKeand’s awesome interview with industry legend and Bethesda game deliverer of sick day notes Pete Hines, which pretty much confirms what we already know when mega-corps try to make sense of video games.Apart from this, we get into the weeds of one of the more ridiculous pricing moves for a video game in India — 007 First Light courtesy of IO — and make the argument for not buying anything from the publisher given its focus on live services.Finally, we also talk about what we’ve been playing this week, namely the excellent Dosa Divas and the not so excellent Starfield to name a few.The Day Zero podcast breaks down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world’s greatest entertainment industry. It’s run by Rahul Majumdar and Rishi Alwani.Comments? Criticisms? Industry tips? Leather jackets? You can find us at the following handles to discuss all of that and then some:* 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

With the PS5 getting a much-maligned price hike this week, we discuss what to expect from PlayStation in terms of its impact on a potential PS5 Pro India launch and more importantly, how much more you could pay for a PS5 if you haven’t got one already. Along with this, we also discuss the company’s legacy of making games for India from India (or in the case of Singstar Bollywood, London). Before that though, we dig deep into Fishbowl. Developed by Goa-based imissmyfriends.studio, it’s a cosy slice-of-life game that has a surprising focus on details, a deceptively hypnotic gameplay loop, and an interesting story to boot. However there’s more to it, as the first game of the PlayStation India Hero Project — Sony’s latest attempt at curating the best Indian game developers have to offer — it’ll likely set a standard by which others will be judged. Without spoiling much, Fishbowl sets the bar high enough.Oh and, if you’re reading this the day it goes live and you want to win a limited edition Marathon DualSense controller, subscribe to us on Substack if you haven’t already. Winner to be announced on the next podcast.Finally, we discuss what we’ve playing this week and to no one’s surprise it involves a lot of crimson — in terms of deserts and demon blood.This is the Day Zero podcast. 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:* 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

AI slop and its proponents can’t stop clinging to an already hollowed-out games industry and this time it’s courtesy of Nvidia. By now the megacorp’s AI piss filter reveal or “DLSS 5”as its officially known has been universally panned to the point where our favourite leather clad CEO Jensen had to claim to hate AI slop after calling his audience wrong, all while the company has admitted that the level of control developers have isn’t as granular as it could be.In this episode of Day Zero we discuss everything wrong with Nvidia’s DLSS 5 reveal. From the games chosen to how it was framed and even the amusingly hilarious attempts at astroturfing to boot. Suffice to say, we had opinions aplenty.And for game developers, publishers, and industry execs listening, we also discuss if you should disclose if AI was used in making your game — or not. Spoiler alert: you should to understand why and how: we got you covered from 32:54 onwards.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:* 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

Halo and Destiny hitmaker Bungie released Marathon earlier this month. It’s the legendary studio’s first game following Sony splurging $3.6 billion to acquire it. While there’s a lot of things in this extraction shooter that make it compelling to play, there’s also a lot of friction that make it impenetrable for some. And while certain sections of the internet might croon that it’s Concord 2.0 (probably the same lot fetishising Nvidia’s DLSS 5), Marathon’s actually a pretty solid game. We explain why in the first half of the Day Zero Podcast. Oh, and if you want to win a limited edition Marathon DualSense controller, subscribe to us on Substack if you haven’t already. Winner to be announced in two weeks.After that we talk about Microsoft’s new Xbox moves or lack thereof. At GDC 2026 Xbox revealed more details on Project Helix, the next iteration of its consoles. While a slew of technical information was made public, there was little in the way of innovation spoken and even less in terms of Xbox Game Pass, likely lending credence to the deprioritisation of a service some have referred to as ‘Welfare Pass’.Furthermore, the way forward seems to indicate lip service in terms of video games preservation rather than an earnest attempt at it.Finally we discuss Xbox’s duality in terms of keeping AI away from game development but still shoehorning it into Xbox Series X|S with Copilot coming in an update to the consoles.This is Day Zero. It 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:* 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

After a recent Shark Tank India episode featuring a father and son duo making $221,000 in Roblox, we’ve been inundated with requests from our listeners — mainly those working in the video games industry — to break down what user generated content is for platforms like Roblox and Fortnite, and how that differs from (or complements) existing live service pipelines for such games. For what it’s worth, Roblox’s leadership is still cringe and can do better with its safety standards, our position on this has not changed and we’ve discussed this on a previous episode.That said, to break down the nuance behind user generated content on Roblox and Fortnite, we got special guest Rishabh Sabarwal to break down everything you need to know. Currently a gaming editor at Beebom India, focussing on live service games, he’s previously consulted studios making games in Fortnite. He sheds light on how game developers are making the switch and what are the common pitfalls of doing so.We also dive into how creators are earning millions by developing brain rot games that prioritise instant gratification and viral trends over complex design. This includes a deep dive into revenue which is primarily driven by engagement metrics and the sale of virtual items using in-game currencies like Robux.Finally, we also discuss how these kind of games/experiences built on Fortnite and Roblox live or die on basis of their update cadence and mobile accessibility rather than traditional gameplay loops. Time stamps as follows:Market Scenario* 0:00 – Introduction to the UGC Ecosystem* 1:30 – The Billion-Dollar Scale: we discuss how top UGC games on both platforms have already exceeded $1 billion in revenue, often outperforming traditional high-budget titles that are being shelved.* 2:45 – Monetisation: revenue streams breakdown including those where creators can keep up to 100% of the in-game currency spent.Case Studies: Brain Rot Performance Metrics* 5:00 – High-Performance Experiences: we look at Steal a Brain Rot the top-performing game driving 6 million concurrent users (CCU) daily on Roblox.* 7:30 – The Fortnite Inflection Point: how UGC experiences in Fortnite broke records with 6.5 million CCU, surpassing the player count of Fortnite’s own core Battle Royale mode.* 8:45 – Platform Marketing Shifts: insight into Fortnite’s decision to rebrand its App Store presence to feature UGC characters, highlighting a creator who earned $50 million in five months.User Psychology and Retention* 10:15 – Demographics and the “iPad Kid” Economy: why 15-minute dopamine loops are more effective for younger audiences than 30-minute battle royale matches.* 11:45 – Advanced Retention Tactics: discussion on “offline progression” (e.g., Grow a Garden) and live events, such as the Bruno Mars concert, used to drive exclusive cosmetic sales.Where Studios Fail and India Insights* 13:30 – Common Studio Failures: why traditional studios fail by over-investing in “perfect” game design documents rather than chasing viral TikTok trends and memes.* 15:00 – The “Live Ops” Mandate: the requirement for daily updates to maintain UGC momentum, contrasting with the multi-week cycles typical of mobile or PC gaming.* 16:30 – Regional Market Insights (India): analysis of the gap in the Indian market where local studios are failing to target the primary 7-year-old demographic already playing brain rot games.What Next?* 18:45 – Why Creators Don’t Go Solo: Roblox and Fortnite handle all server infrastructure, publishing, and marketing, making it risky for successful creators to build independent games.* 20:00 – The Disney Play: early indicators of how Disney is licensing official IP to creators within Fortnite’s Unreal Editor (UEFN), signalling a new era of corporate-UGC collaboration.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:* 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

Capcom’s on a generational run with its survival horror series Resident Evil. The ninth mainline entry, Resident Evil Requiem is out now for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. In this episode of the Day Zero Podcast we discuss our thoughts on the game (spoiler-free) along with how it’s sold in the Indian market (spoiler: good) and how the likes of Games The Shop — the country’s biggest retailer as well as Nvidia, did their bit to hype up the game. We also talk about how Resident Evil Requiem fits into the greater context of AAA game development and how games like this are few and far between due to what the industry at large optimises for (i.e. economics, not AI and lay-offs or so we hope). Mad props to David Goldfarb for the tweets that sparked this part of the conversation (and the title of this podcast) to begin with.Furthermore, we talk about Marathon, Bungie’s first game since Sony’s acquisition of the Halo and Destiny maker. From font choices (bad) to its visual direction (good) every aspect of this extraction shooter is laid bare. Along with some choice for words for those pushing out “reviews” for a live service game that isn’t out in a wide enough fashion to warrant the exuberance (or gloom).Day Zero 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.We’d love to hear your objectively bad takes. Let’s start a dialogue, preferably with enough branching paths favouring us.* 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

Industry staple Phil Spencer is moving on from Xbox. Megacorp Microsoft announced the Xbox CEO’s departure late last week. Heir apparent Sarah Bond revealed she would be moving on too. In their place is Asha Sharma is the new CEO of Xbox. She was previously the head of coreAI at Microsoft. In this episode of Day Zero, we discuss the ramifications of this move along with some community wisdom that’s probably done a better job of reading the room versus most (or even the official narrative). One of the points of discussion is deprioritising PC Game Pass and potentially Xbox Game Pass in itself given. Despite a strong slate of games and a rumoured new Xbox hardware next year, we may actually see Xbox being sold for parts or gutted completely.Before this, we discuss Sony’s scuppering of Bluepoint and how that it appears like an unwarranted move given that the company recently revealed its remaster plans for the God of War trilogy. And speaking of God of War, we also break down what we liked — and did not like — about God of War Sons of Sparta that was shadow dropped during the excellent State of Play earlier in the month.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.We’d love to hear your objectively bad takes. Let’s start a dialogue, preferably with enough branching paths favouring us.* 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 PlayStation State of Play for February 2026 was perhaps the strongest showing from any console maker in recent times. From the likes of John Wick to Kena: Scars of Kosmora, there’s something for everyone. It harkened back to the time of the original PlayStation’s (and arguably PlayStation 2’s) peak — so many games to choose from for any kind of gamer.In this episode of Day Zero, we discuss why this matters. With the state of the games business in flux courtesy of AI, a weak Xbox, and Nintendo yet to find its footing with the Switch 2, we talk about why the State of Play for February 2026 was a show of strength and how it could shape expectations for the year to come. More so when you consider that GeForce Now’s launch event is done and dusted and we still don’t have an actual launch date, and Xbox appears to be content doing absolutely nothing of value.Along with this we discuss some of PlayStation India’s marketing snafus, complete with select comments from Twitter on how the company could change it for the better. From marketing professionals to editors (and friends of the podcast) and even streamers, it appears that PlayStation’s vocal and loyal fan base has a lot to say. And some of it is even worth surfacing. In addition with how to save some money on PS5 games that fans of the podcast would be familiar with.Finally, we tell you what we’ve been playing this week, including a certain mystery game that Rahul can’t tell you about (just yet) and Rishi’s adventures with the latest Suda51 title, Romeo Is a Dead Man.Day Zero is a podcast that breaks down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world’s greatest entertainment industry. It’s run by Rahul Majumdar and Rishi Alwani.Comments? Criticisms? Industry tips? Leather jackets? You can find us at the following handles to discuss all of that and then some:* 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

In this episode of Day Zero, we talk about Nvidia’s GeForce Now India media briefing which we were invited to ahead of its soon to be revealed release date. While the company valued at around $4.6 Trillion (at the time of writing this post) didn’t give us a concrete launch date or a price, it said enough and more importantly, showed just about enough to give us a modicum of confidence regarding its rollout. Considering the current competition from Xbox and Jio, the standard wasn’t really that high to begin with, but just enough that being pragmatic is the best way forward. For once, it was nice to see the business people in the room intensely aware of the market realities and more importantly — audience expectations.The silver lining aside from Team Green’s prudence, is that the Nvidia GeForce Now India launch is being helmed by the company itself, no local partners. This means Indian users should get the latest and greatest features the same time as those in regions like the US. Along with this, the company waxed eloquent at a host of features that go beyond just latency as well as highlighted a few key titles including Crimson Desert and Resident Evil Requiem, both which will make it to the service day one.Finally, we discuss what this means for gamers in the country, particularly those without access to high-end hardware and how the cost of GeForce Now’s accessibility may be thanks to AI companies, data centres, and perhaps even those of us buying GPUs — which Nvidia has reportedly dropped plans of shipping new ones this year. Welcome to Day Zero and thank you for stopping by. This is a podcast that breaks down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world’s greatest entertainment industry. It’s run by Rahul Majumdar and Rishi Alwani.Comments? Criticisms? Industry tips? Leather jackets? You can find us at the following handles to discuss all of that and then some:* 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

In this episode of Day Zero, we discuss GTA 6, yet again. This time to parse through and make sense of a particularly spicy rumour doing the rounds about the lack of a physical copy on disc at launch. We go into the origin of this GTA 6 rumour, why it has traction, what it means for you as a consumer, and why if Take Two decides on such an approach, it nukes accessibility for markets that aren’t the United States as well as takes away from one of the core aspects of video games culture (in markets that aren’t the US) — midnight launches. Furthermore, given the tools at the disposal of megacorps like this, leaks can be squashed with ease if it so chooses. Well, unless your team skipped the day they were told about how to spot social engineering before being partly responsible for the greatest leak of all time.Along with this we discuss recently released multiplayer shooter Highguard, the team behind it, why it’s getting a negative reception, and why having access to the affection and following of Geoff Keighley has probably done more harm than good for a shooter that we do hope gets better.Finally, Rahul reveals what to expect from Nioh 3, which seems to be shaping up to be something quite special from Team Ninja given how it expands on the series’ well-worn souls like inspirations.Thank you for stopping by. Day Zero is a podcast that breaks down the bytes and bits behind the decisions that make and break the world’s greatest entertainment industry. It’s run by Rahul Majumdar and Rishi Alwani. Comments? Criticisms? Industry tips? You can find us at the following handles to discuss all of that and then some:* 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

New year, new bad news. This time, Ubisoft announced the end of its attempt to bring Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake to fruition along with a restructuring plan that is billed at a pricey € 200 million. We discuss the cultural relevance and importance of the Prince of Persia games, particularly touching on how an entire generation of gamers in India grew up playing Sands of Time on the PS2 and PC. Along with this, we dish out details on the first time the game was cancelled and taken out of the hands of Ubisoft’s Indian operations in Pune and Mumbai, which reek of corporate mismanagement.Furthermore, we also talk about Ubisoft’s new restructuring plans which doesn’t have us convinced that this has been done entirely for the right reasons. We also go through its recent financial performance (courtesy the fine people at GameMakers). All of it suggests a potentially elaborate system to ensure family control at the cost of the games and their fans.Finally we also talk about what to expect from Ubisoft’s future projects including Assassin’s Creed and Beyond Good and Evil 2.Welcome to Day Zero! This is a video games podcast where 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

Xbox woke up and realised India is a market it actually where it sells controllers and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions (consoles have been unavailable here for quite a long while now) and in order to jumpstart that it did a marketing campaign focussing on the latest addition to its offerings — Xbox Cloud Gaming. In this episode of Day Zero we discuss what it did, what the outcome was, what’s next, and why we’re extremely skeptical of the future of Xbox in India, even if in the short term, Xbox has been able to win developer mindshare and interest with its Xbox Developer Accelerator Programme.Along with this we also discuss on-ground realities in terms of sales, user feedback, and why being at retail matters in markets that are not the US. In addition to this we dig into how Xbox Cloud Gaming’s infrastructure in India has impacted the overall experience, which seems to be a cause for concern.Furthermore, we also talk about what to expect from Xbox with its upcoming developer showcase later this month.Also, we zoom out on the bigger picture concerns plaguing Xbox, namely its parent company going all in on all things slop and how it ties into the tech billionaire delusion of ending consumer ownership of computers, consoles, and any kind of hardware, gaming or otherwise. To round off the warranted doomerism, we also muse on the possibility of Xbox pulling a Meta and gutting its studios wholesale to chase Microsoft’s AI ambitions.Oh and in one bright note: we also reveal the winner of the limited edition Ghost of Yotei controller — Darren Rodrigues. Congratulations, we’ll be sending it across soon.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

Of all the things to capture the headlines at the beginning of 2026, The Witcher 3 getting new content was not one we had on our bingo cards. And yet, here we are. Courtesy of some stellar reporting from Eurogamer’s Robert Purchese as well as welcome comments from Polish games industry insider Borys Nieśpielak and Noble Securities analyst Mateusz Chrzanowski, it’s quite likely that CD Projekt RED might usher in a new expansion/DLC to a nearly 11-year-old game that still holds up extremely well to this day.Along with this we discuss what we could expect from such an endeavour. Be it a potential release date, price point, impact on value-focussed markets like India, and of course, what to expect from an expansion/DLC to The Witcher 3 in 2026.Furthermore we also speculate on its potential creator — Fool’s Theory as well as the tech that’s being used given that CD Projekt RED has gone all in on Unreal Engine for its future games with The Witcher 3 being built on the in-house RED Engine.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.We’d love to hear your objectively good takes — they surely can’t be worse than some of ours. 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

2025 was an incredible year for video games.And while it was an even better year for self-inflicted industry drama with lay-offs, genAI (and lack of disclosure for such), platforms playing fast and loose with indie devs, and megacorps imploding, the games, were impeccable. With that in mind, we discuss the best of what the year had to offer. From the obvious such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to the obtuse like Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, we’re joined by special guest (our first!) editor-in-chief of Story Mode, Karan Pradhan to let you know what you should have played. Be it indies like Herdling or jilted-at-The-Game-Awards-but-not-here games like Death Stranding 2, we got you covered.In addition to each of us listing our top five games of 2025, we also point out some honourable mentions to round things off. Eagle-eyed viewers would probably find the nearly hourlong length a concern as we’re usually a lot shorter for most episodes. With that in mind, we’ve kept timestamps for all sections for you to peruse through.00:00 Introduction02:15 Karan’s favourite games of 202511:33 Rahul’s favourite games of 202530:04 Why Dispatch surprised us all32:17 Who did you pick in Dispatch?32:39 Rishi’s favourite games of 202539:47 Karan’s honourable mentions42:15 Rahul’s honourable mentions46:47 Rishi’s honourable mentions50:42 OutroDay 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.We’d love to hear your objectively good takes — they surely can’t be worse than some of ours. Find us with yours at the handles below:* Twitter/X - @RishiAlwani* Threads - @rishi.alwani* Instagram - @rishi.alwani* Twitter/X - @darthrahul* Threads - @darthrahul* Instagram - @darthrahulYou can also check out our special guest Karan Pradhan right here:* Twitter/X — @karanpradhan_* Instagram — @right_arm_over_ 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

As the title suggests, we didn’t include GTA 6 in this list of what to look forward to in 2026. The reason is obvious: we don’t know if it will really ship in 2026. Rather than waste your time on a game from a publisher with no concrete date which you’d buy anyway, we figured it would be a better use of our time and yours to highlight everything else that is set to make 2026 one of the bigger years for video games.From heavy hitters like Wolverine and Control Resonant (we at Day Zero stan Remedy — even if Alan Wake 2 PC is stuck on Epic Games Store and Quantum Break may never make it to PlayStation platforms) as well as potential gems like Solasta II, and Crimson Desert, there’s a lot to look forward to.Along with this we also discuss indie efforts like the ambitious Napoleonic Europe-inspired Hunger to contained, emotional adventures like Fishbowl. The latter is of interest. Being the first game from PlayStation’s India Hero Project it could very well set the tone of what to expect. No pressure.In addition to this we also dive into some surprise picks such as Pragmata with its solid demo, Marathon, and Lego Batman. All while dropping some honourable mentions along the way. Which ones you ask? Listen to find out.Finally we discuss what we’ve been playing this week, including the excellent Dispatch and Baldur’s Gate 3.Welcome to Day Zero. It’s 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.We’d love to hear your objectively good takes — they surely can’t be worse than some of ours. 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

In this episode Rahul and Rishi discuss Larian’s interview with Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, what the Baldur’s Gate 3 hitmaker’s statement really means for the future of video game development and why CEO' Sven Vincke’s attempt at damage control just made everything so much worse. So much so that it appears that the company is on a generational speed run of ruining all the good will its garnered over the years.Along with this we also discuss Sandfall Interactive’s AI admissions that have resurfaced after being caught and why disclosures are critical rather than admitting AI was used after the fact. After all, nothing is a bigger betrayal of audience trust than being made aware their game of the year used AI after it hit the shelves.Speaking of which, we also parse through what the industry’s adoption of AI means for game development and more importantly, the impact it has on end-users who are effectively being priced out of buying PCs and consoles due to rising RAM costs courtesy the AI “boom”.Furthermore, we talk about Xbox’s retreat from its $80 price tag and how Microsoft may actually have to start selling games to make up for the money pit that is Xbox Game Pass.Finally, we talk about the hidden and not so hidden gems we’ve been playing this week.Welcome to Day Zero. This is a podcast on video games featuring 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.Naturally, we’d love to hear your objectively good takes — they surely can’t be worse than some of ours. 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

This week, Rahul and Rishi discuss the decline of Xbox in the US, making room for a new contender — the NEX Playground. And while it might seem like just a slap in the face for the gaming division of one of the world’s biggest companies, there’s more to it. The market has decided on value-conscious offerings. We discuss why affordable gaming options are a necessity for the games industry to survive before it can even think about beginning to thrive, even if sections of the community and the business itself may frown on the liberties some of these options take in terms of IP and legitimacy, including the likes of Mitashi and Sameo, some of which exist due to the lack of an official presence from the likes of Nintendo.Along with this, we look into Sony’s cancelled game, Project Draconis and parse why leaks like these see the light of day in a business that’s obsessed with secrecy, touching on some of our personal experiences with leaks in the industry.Finally we talk about what we’ve been playing this week including the likes of The Outer Worlds 2, Dispatch, the Fishbowl demo, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, and a whole lot more.If you’re new here, 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.We’d love to hear your objectively good takes — they surely can’t be worse than some of ours. 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

The PS5 is the de facto winner of this generation’s console war if you even want to call it that. And despite its relative ubiquity in part due to Microsoft’s own bad decision-making and Nintendo’s lack of ambition in expanding beyond the confines of US and Europe (we still don’t have its consoles available officially in markets like India), it’s pretty obvious Sony hasn’t put its foot off the gas. In this episode of Day Zero we look at what seems to be a big year for the PS5 with games such as:* Saros* Wolverine* Intergalactic* Phantom Blade 0* Marathon* Marvel Tokon Fighting SoulsGranted 2026 should also see GTA 6 make an appearance and while we do discuss that at length too, it’s definitely not the most interesting game to hit the console. In addition to this we also parse through what to expect from some of Sony’s quieter studios like Dark Outlaw Games, Firesprite, and of course, speculate on whatever Santa Monica is cooking next. Along with this we also discuss when to buy a PS5, if the PS5 Pro ends up making it to markets like India, all while wondering what to expect from Team Green whose big tech overlords have landed it squarely on a boycott list for good reason.Finally we also parse through Epic’s bout of epic hypocrisy on de-platforming indie game Horses after soaking in the positive publicity while fighting other platforms like Google and Apple for Fortnite to have a place in the sun.If you’re new here, 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.We’d love to hear your objectively good takes — they surely can’t be worse than some of ours. 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

During the third episode of the Day Zero podcast, we tackle PC monopolist storefront Steam’s foray into censorship by striking down the release of indie studio Santa Ragione’s upcoming game Horses, and what it means for the platform. Given the chokehold Steam parent company Valve has on the digital distribution of video games, it isn’t just a retailer, but a kingmaker to boot. One that’s increasingly flaunting its strength on the most vulnerable kind of game developers — Indies.In addition to this we talk about how every Indian game company’s potential meal ticket, the PIF is reportedly falling short of funds after its (yet to be approved) buyout of EA, and why this perceived paucity of money in the games business is a good thing.Along with this we talk about how AI (yes, that again) is ruining video games by driving up DRAM prices that will make a potential PC or console purchase more expensive than it should be as well as the Roblox CEO’s generational cringe-inducing interview as well as the firm’s entry into India.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.We’d love to hear your objectively bad takes. Let’s start a dialogue, preferably with enough branching paths favouring us.* 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

Another year another Call of Duty. This year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is reviled for a host of reasons, though the one of interest to us is its use of AI.With the biggest games franchise in the world in terms of annual sales using generative AI tools to make its latest entry, we break down what it means for the games industry and consumers at large, along with cameos from Arc Raiders, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Anno 117 Pax Romana.In addition to this, we discuss some of the latest sales data for Ghost of Yotei, Pokémon Z-A, and, of course, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Furthermore, we try parsing Xbox’s strategy post the Xbox Partner Event, which had one big surprise in Raji: Kaliyuga.This is the second episode of Day Zero. 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.We’d love to hear your objectively bad takes. Let’s start a dialogue, preferably with enough branching paths favouring us.* 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

Welcome to the first episode of Day Zero. 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. On our first episode we discuss Valve’s big hardware push with the new Steam Machine, Steam Frame headset, and revamped Steam controller — along with what to expect in terms of price, availability, and why it might not be the cure-all you might think PC games need.Along with this we also talk about Microsoft bringing Xbox Cloud Gaming to India and what that entailed, as well as how it fits (or does not fit) into the tech giant’s grand plan for gaming. We’re extremely grateful to journalist Aroon Deep’s reporting at The Hindu which helped inform this part of the podcast. We’d love to hear your objectively bad takes. Let’s start a dialogue, preferably with enough branching paths favouring us.* 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