I always thought UHD used a different laser than standard blu-ray, but only just found out it was a trick of h265 encoding and triple layer discs.

Based on the mini-BD format, assuming triple layer, the upper limit would have been around 24GB.

Now you’ve got me curious what capacity a UMD form factor could achieve with a UHD Blu-ray laser.

Yes/No. Both Sony and Microsoft have quality control processes to ensure that whatever is published is going to play on first entry of the disc.

That said, publishers use A LOT of workarounds. Day 1 patches to “finish” the game. Download code inserts. And as of recent, mandatory online server check-ins. As far as I’m aware, Nintendo is the only one who allows publishing half the product with required download.

It’s right there in the link. It sold more than Witcher 3, even though it did the wrong thing by releasing early and buggy.

…and they followed it with Cyberpunk 2077’s disastrous launch but ultimate success. So I wouldn’t hold CDPR as a high standard.