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Day Zero Podcast

Day Zero Podcast

By: Day Zero
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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.

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

    Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Review: A Pirate Classic Reborn
    Jul 14 2026
    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 ...
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    47 mins
  • PlayStation to Stop Making Discs by 2028: The End of Game Ownership?

    PlayStation to Stop Making Discs by 2028: The End of Game Ownership?
    Jul 7 2026
    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 ...
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    48 mins
  • No, GTA 6 Will Not Save the Games Industry

    No, GTA 6 Will Not Save the Games Industry
    Jun 30 2026
    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: ...
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    50 mins
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