Day Zero Podcast

About Day Zero Podcast

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 (https://dayzeromedia.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Day Zero

Category

business · leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Nov 2025

Latest episode

5 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

38 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Sept 2026

   Why GTA 6’s Anti-Consumer Strategy Threatens the Future of Video Games

   This episode was recorded a day or two prior to the big GTA 6 reveal on Netflix. While we were in two minds to take it live, re-listening to it shows a lot of what we discussed is still relevant despite what Rockstar and Take-Two would have you believe of its latest open-world crime simulator. From business strategy to leaks to pre-order forecasts and even developer comments from those at Rockstar India , we lay every element of the GTA 6 situation bare. Along with this we also discuss what to expect from the game itself, why it might not be all its hyped up to be, and how it would eventually fuel an industry that may just consume itself whole. Finally, we discuss the ongoing PlayStation blackout being organised by our friends over at Does It Play (https://www.doesitplay.org), what we’re playing this week, highlight some awesome Indies worth wish listing (Shutter Story (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3798860/Shutter_Story/) and The Detective’s Apprentice (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3618570/The_Detectives_Apprentice/)), and a deep-dive into PlayStation’s India gift fiasco worth reading (https://storymode.info/features/the-great-indian-playstation-psn-gift-card-shortage-a-tale-of-sales-caps-grey-markets-and-more/). Episode Timeline & Highlights 00:00:03 | Welcome & The PlayStation Blackout Week * 00:00:03 – Intro & Warm-up: Hosts Rishi Alwani and Rahul Majumdar welcome listeners to Episode 37. * 00:00:18 – The PlayStation Blackout: A brief update on the week-long boycott movement organized by the game preservationist group “Does It Play?”, where gamers globally are avoiding turning on or using PlayStation services and products. 00:00:33 | The GTA 6 Mega-Leak & Industry Fallout * 00:00:33 – Entering GTA Territory: Transitioning to the major topic of the week: the massive GTA 6 security leak. * 00:01:09 – Meet the Leaker: Introducing “Cyberleek”, the online persona behind the security breach. * 00:01:24 – 2022 vs. 2026 Leaks: Recalling the September 2022 Sunday afternoon leak that originated from Rockstar’s India office due to Slack-based social engineering. * 00:01:39 – Leaked Mechanics Breakdown: Analyzing the gameplay elements shown in the current leak, including gunplay, driving, a city tour, strip clubs, and a shooting-hoops focus-leveling mechanic. * 00:02:21 – Take-Two Silence & Xbox Support: Discussing the official silence from Take-Two and Rockstar, and reports that Xbox is actively assisting Rockstar in tracking the breach. * 00:02:51 – The Netflix Paywall Dilemma: Discussing the upcoming official 6-hour extended gameplay look paywalled behind Netflix. * 00:03:04 – Rahul’s Build Analysis: Contrasting the crude mesh maps of the 2022 build with this leaked developer build, which appears to be a polished, year-old dev kit closer to the final game. * 00:05:11 – Narrative Safeguards: Why major story details are still safe despite a few minor cutscene leaks (such as a character joking about avoiding the Feds with a VPN). * 00:05:53 – The Return-to-Office Irony: The hosts point out the irony of Rockstar ending remote work a year or two back and forcing employees back to offices to avoid leaks, only for this to occur anyway. * 00:06:36 – Pricing & Paywall Backlash: Discussing user frustration over rumoured $100 price points and locked marketing beats. * 00:07:13 – Watermarks & “Full Joker” Mode: Discussing the leaker’s crypto watermark and wallet details, including reports of him burning his own crypto coins “to send a message”. * 00:08:52 – OSINT Hunting & Toxic Discourse: Condemning internet sleuths who falsely blamed Rockstar India developers without proof, forcing many employees to lock down their personal social media. * 00:09:37 – Physical vs. Digital Breach: Comparing the Slack social engineering of 2022 with the potential of a physical security breach (such as a pen drive theft). * 00:11:43 – RDR2 Legacy in GTA 6: Spotting Red Dead Redemption 2’s design DNA in the leaks, specifically greeting and antagonizing NPCs. * 00:12:18 – Gradual WANTED Escalation: Exploring the non-binary, gradual escalation of wanted levels rather than a simple gamified response. * 00:12:37 – Manual Refueling Mechanics: Inspecting the leaked refueling mechanics and noting that they feel more “arcade-like” and less slow/self-indulgent than RDR2’s 1,500-year cabinet animations. * 00:14:10 – Developer Frustration & Schedule Realities: Referencing Jason Schreier’s reports that Rockstar devs are livid, alongside the revelation that the game was still in active development in August ahead of its planned November launch. * 00:15:03 – Crunch & Pre-Orders: Discussing the inevitable heavy crunch to hit release and the massive wave of pre-orders selling out physical “code in box” editions in regions like India. * 00:15:59 – Retail Strain & Gift Card Markups: Why Indian players are rushing to secure physical box copies due to PlayStation gift card scarcity and heavy retail markups. * 00:17:17 – Historical Leaker Tactics: Comparing this scenario to Valve’s classic “fake job trap” to capture the Half-Life 2 hacker, Assassin’s Creed Origins magazine leaks, and Titanfall 2 dress rehearsal slips. * 00:18:28 – The Great Community Split: Discussing the divisive community reactions—some being extremely vocal against Take-Two’s business practices, others showing support and empathy for the developers. * 00:19:36 – Empathy in an Artistic Medium: Rahul explains why players should show empathy to the individual artists, character designers, and environment designers who spend a decade of their lives on a game. * 00:21:21 – Targeting the Right People: Rishi stresses that player anger should not be directed at the developers, but at management and corporate greed (e.g., Strauss Zelnick and Andrew Wilson). * 00:21:28 – Outsourced India Crunch: Shading light on how major Western studios outsource their intensive crunch periods to offices like Rockstar India. * 00:22:45 – The Dev Toll: Rishi shares insights from speaking with Rockstar India staff after the 2022 leaks, recalling how depressed and disgusted they felt about their unready art being displayed publicly. * 00:23:49 – Pre-Order Projections: The hosts project that pre-orders will hit a billion dollars before official release, driven by marketing snowball effects. 00:25:23 | Indies to Wishlist This Week * 00:25:23 – Supporting Indian Devs: Introducing two promising indie titles currently on Steam. * 00:25:29 – Shutter Story: A paranormal horror experience where players examine realistic photo albums for clues while supernatural occurrences happen around them. * 00:25:54 – Detective’s Apprentice: A deduction-based adventure following Ace, an apprentice solving complex cases that local police cannot crack. 00:26:31 | What We’ve Been Playing * 00:26:31 – Weekly Gameplay Round-up: The hosts jump into their gameplay logs. * 00:26:43 – Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls: Rahul shares first impressions of Arc System Works’ new tag-team fighting game playing on a base PS5. * 00:27:50 – Striking Visuals & Campaign Presentation: Reviewing the manga-inspired character designs, right-to-left comic panel story mode, and highly polished 2D traditional anime cutscenes. * 00:29:00 – Tag-Team System & Combos: Evaluating the deep character combat mechanics, unified control setups (reminiscent of Marvel’s Avengers), and high skill ceilings of active character-switching combos. * 00:32:11 – Performance & DRM Woes: Detailing why the PS5 version runs smoothly while the official PC Steam release suffers from DRM performance issues. * 00:33:14 – Chibi Hub & Arcade Brawler Mode: Discussing the unique, interactive 3D lobby where players control chibi characters to gather resources and passive bonuses between matches. * 00:34:35 – Creative Team-Ups: Detailing the comic universe dynamics, such as Shuri stepping in as Black Panther, and unique squads like the Midnight Suns featuring Ghost Rider, Deadpool, Blade, and Loki. * 00:35:27 – Resonance First Impressions: Rahul reviews Asobo Studio’s third-person prequel/spin-off to A Plague Tale following the character Sophia 15 years prior. * 00:35:44 – Stealth to Action-Adventure: Detailing the shift from stealth to parry-heavy combat inspired by God of War, alongside environmental puzzles. * 00:36:44 – Greek Mythology & Setting: Navigating the Minotaur’s Island setting and its heavy mythological narrative beats. * 00:37:01 – AAA Polish & Venice Carnival: High praise for the cinematography, immaculate character models, and a gorgeous early mission set during the Venice Mask Carnival. * 00:38:03 – Dodging, Kicking & Momentum Skills: Spotting unique skill-tree traits like Sophia redirecting enemy momentum into other targets, shield-breaking kicks, and picking up throwables. * 00:40:07 – Asobo’s Polish Achievement: Expressing surprise at how clean the action combat feels from a studio primarily known for stealth games and flight simulators. * 00:41:16 – Rishi’s Xbox Gameplay Logs: Progressing through Control and Alan Wake 2 on the Xbox Series X. 00:41:44 | Shoutouts & Recommended Readings * 00:41:44 – India’s PlayStation Gift Card Crisis: Shoutout to Karan Pradhan’s in-depth story for Story Mode (https://storymode.info/features/the-great-indian-playstation-psn-gift-card-shortage-a-tale-of-sales-caps-grey-markets-and-more/) detailing the retail scarcity of PlayStation vouchers in India. * 00:42:13 – GTA Leak Recommendations: Directing listeners to check out reporting from Jason Schreier (https://www.youtube.com/@jason-schreier) and Kotaku (https://kotaku.com/a-bunch-of-old-gta-6-leaks-turned-out-to-be-true-2000730608). * 00:42:32 – Sign-Off & Outro: The hosts wrap up Episode 37. 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 (https://x.com/RishiAlwani) - @rishialwani * Threads (https://www.threads.com/@rishi.alwani) - @rishi.alwani * Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/rishi.alwani/)- @rishi.alwani * Twitter/X (https://x.com/darthrahul) - @darthrahul * Threads (https://www.threads.com/@darthrahul) - @darthrahul * Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/darthrahul/) - @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 (https://dayzeromedia.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   15 Aug 2026

   Sony Kills Discs, GTA 6 Paywalls & Ghost Recon’s Surprise 4K Update

   This week’s Day Zero episode focusses on GTA 6’s marketing (or lack thereof) which includes locking up specific marketing assets like its gameplay trailer behind the paywall that is Netflix (for about six hours) as well as Sony’s ongoing attempts to kill video game culture by killing physical media. Along with this we also discuss Ubisoft’s surprise update to Ghost Recon Wildlands which adds 60fps and 4K for current generation consoles, new story missions, and the return of fan favourites like the Predator mission. While Ubisoft’s preservation practices are dodgy at best what with recent games not shipping in their entirety on disc, we really can’t grudge the support it gives to some of its IPs like Ghost Recon, making us wish some other publishers would follow suit. Such as Xbox. Yes, we dive deep into the Frankensteined remake that is Halo Campaign Evolved and come back believing there’s more than just a little AI used to bring some of it to life, particularly its newer elements like the prequel mission cut-scenes. Finally we talk about what we’re playing and what you should wishlist this week, namely Ringwyrm (https://store.steampowered.com/app/4982940/Ringwyrm/) and Thimbleweed Park 2 (https://store.steampowered.com/app/4932120/Thimbleweed_Park_2/). Timestamps as follows: * 00:00:03: Introduction to episode 36 and the hosts, Rishi Alwani and Rahul Majumdar. * 00:00:33: Sony’s “war on disc” and updates from the latest PlayStation investor call regarding digital-only trends. * 00:01:11: Local news regarding the difficulty of purchasing PlayStation gift cards in India. * 00:01:51: Ongoing PS5 hardware shortages in India and significant price hikes for both disc and digital editions,. * 00:02:36: Deep dive into the Ghost Recon Wildlands surprise update, including its 4K/60fps support for current-gen consoles,. * 00:05:27: Discussion of specific restored content in the update, such as the Predator mission. * 00:07:32: Analysis of how different publishers, like Ubisoft and Square Enix, handle post-launch support and live service models,,. * 00:11:43: Analysis of the Take-Two earnings call and CEO Strauss Zelnick’s recent comments. * 00:12:13: Critique of the decision to paywall GTA 6 marketing assets on Netflix for six hours before their YouTube release,. * 00:13:36: Strauss Zelnick’s predictions on the future of streaming and claims of low-latency “commercial streaming” arriving in three years,. * 00:15:53: The push for cloud gaming from various companies, including Netflix’s new mobile controller app,. * 00:17:36: Discussion on GTA Online’s massive revenue and expectations for the GTA 6 marketing playbook,. * 00:20:56: Rumours of a “one and done” limited physical release for GTA 6. * 00:22:31: The realities of game streaming, noting that GeForce Now is the only service currently seen as getting it right. * 00:25:22: “What to wishlist this week” segment, featuring Thimbleweed Park 2 and Ringwyrm. * 00:26:54: “What have you been playing this week” segment begins. * 00:26:56: Extensive critique of Halo Campaign Evolved, specifically regarding its art direction and “uncanny” cutscenes. * 00:35:48: Discussion of reported development troubles at Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) and their reliance on contract workers. * 00:40:42: Brief impressions of Genshin Impact and its combat system,. * 00:41:09: First impressions of Beast of Reincarnation, described as a mechanically fine but “soulless” title. * 00:45:34: Outro, social media handles, and sign-off. Welcome to Day Zero, the podcast that 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 (https://x.com/RishiAlwani) - @rishialwani * Threads (https://www.threads.com/@rishi.alwani) - @rishi.alwani * Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/rishi.alwani/)- @rishi.alwani * Twitter/X (https://x.com/darthrahul) - @darthrahul * Threads (https://www.threads.com/@darthrahul) - @darthrahul * Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/darthrahul/) - @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 (https://dayzeromedia.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   3 Aug 2026

   Beyond Vanity Metrics: How to Scale Influencer Operations for Real Gaming ROI

   With gaming audiences increasingly sceptical of anything that looks remotely like a paid plug, game makers have to consider other options to get their message across. And this has resulted in influencers and content creators being a critical part of any modern video game’s launch campaign (or resurgence). For this special episode we roped in Rohin Bhaumik, co-founder of Aftermath to make sense of it all. Known as the Indian games industry’s Ari Gold, he explains what works and what doesn’t when it comes to influencers being a part of a video game’s marketing plan. From success stories to manufactured consent and why a degree of transparency matters more than you think, we got you covered. Aside from this, we also talk about what to expect from Gears of War: E-Day when it hits Xbox Series consoles and PC later this year. Time stamps as follows. Podcast Introduction and PlayStation’s War on Gaming * 00:00:03: Introduction to episode 35 and the guests. * 00:00:52: Housekeeping: PlayStation’s “War on Physical Discs” and the #PSBlackout community movement scheduled for the last week of August. * 00:01:23: Discussion on recent PSN and Xbox Live downtime and the industry’s readiness for a digital future. Guest Background: Rohin Bhaumik * 00:01:53: Rohin explains his history, starting as a first-generation Indian PC gaming creator in 2015-16. * 00:02:41: His tenure at Garena, where he managed the live-streaming platform Booyah and worked with 200–300 influencers. * 00:03:19: The transition to co-founding Aftermath and his current role in business development and partnerships. Influencer Operations and Marketing Strategy * 00:03:43: The challenges of scaling influencer management from a few individuals to hundreds on a platform level. * 00:05:40: Why brands integrate influencer marketing for specific target audience recall. * 00:07:54: Success stories in PC and indie publishing and the importance of due diligence. * 00:10:03: Measuring tangible sales and ROI versus “vanity metrics” like views. * 00:13:39: Identifying and managing the problem of bots and manufactured consent in influencer data. * 00:14:55: The strategy of nurturing micro-influencers as they grow into larger creators. * 00:16:08: The algorithmic and operational difficulties creators face when switching genres (e.g., mobile to PC or Battle Royale to RPGs). * 00:20:14: Discussion on transparency and ethics, including the use of #ad and following ASCI guidelines. * 00:23:15: Examples of effective ad integration from creators like Big Boss and SkillUp. Game Wishlists and Recent Plays * 00:23:45: Recommendation for Sketchy Fables (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1472430/Sketchy_Fables/), described as “hand-drawn Skyrim”. * 00:24:41: Recommendation for the classic stealth game Thief Gold (https://www.gog.com/en/game/thief_gold) on GOG. * 00:25:11: Ruwin discusses playing the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign and the high cost of modern games. Deep Dive: Gears of War: E-Day * 00:26:21: Rahul’s impressions of the Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer preview. * 00:27:02: Details on the map (Kelowna) and the Horde Siege extraction-style mode. * 00:28:40: Significant movement changes, including a manual jump button, sliding, and increased fluidity compared to previous titles. * 00:30:45: Technical performance on PC (RTX 5070) and optimization observations. * 00:32:31: Discussion on weapons, specifically the origin of the chainsaw lancer. * 00:41:21: Flexible weapon mechanics, such as the ability to cancel reloads for shotguns. * 00:43:24: The history of the Gears of War franchise in India, including past celebrity launch events. Ubisoft and Immortals Fenyx Rising * 00:34:12: Rahul discusses Immortals Fenyx Rising (formerly Gods and Monsters). * 00:35:16: Comparing Immortals to Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and discussing its quirky, fourth-wall-breaking tone. * 00:36:28: Gameplay mechanics, including stamina meters and world structure. * 00:38:38: A debate on whether Odyssey should have been branded as an Assassin’s Creed title. The Future of Halo * 00:45:32: Rishi’s experience with the Halo: Combat Evolved “remix,” including thoughts on the sprint toggle and broken checkpoint system. * 00:47:25: Critique of the writing quality in the new prequel missions. * 00:48:32: Rumours and “ping-ponging” reports regarding Halo 7, remakes of 2 and 3, and the status of Project Ekur. Closing * 00:50:42: Final thoughts on physical media 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 (https://in.linkedin.com/in/rohinbhaumik) - Rohin Bhaumik * Twitter/X (https://x.com/RishiAlwani) - @RishiAlwani * Threads (https://www.threads.com/@rishi.alwani) - @rishi.alwani * Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/rishi.alwani/)- @rishi.alwani * Twitter/X (https://x.com/darthrahul) - @darthrahul * Threads (https://www.threads.com/@darthrahul) - @darthrahul * Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/darthrahul/) - @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 (https://dayzeromedia.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)