The VGBees Podcast

This week, Lotus and John (complete with the worst sinus infection you've ever heard, sorry) dove right into the biggest news stories of the week, including the closure of BioWare, 350 additional layoffs across EA, and Steam Next Fest demos being removed out of fear of AI cloning (which we have questions about)00:00:00 Intro & yes, he knows he sounds like Andre the Giant00:04:32 Steam Next Fest demos removed citing fear of AI cloning00:14:05 BioWare shut down among many other layoffs at EA00:24:05 Lost & Found Co. gets new fun updates00:26:58 Mon Laferte knows how to engage with the drama of stage performance00:30:50 RADIOSOL creates an unforgettable sense of scale00:37:20 Lotus went to Spooky Little Craft Fest!00:46:09 Have you ever been successfully scammed?00:48:48 Any advice for personal essay writing?00:51:40 What's the ideal number of pillows on a bed?00:52:40 Is a remix just music fanfiction?00:54:18 What's the best thing about Halloween?00:55:22 How do you pronounce "Whataburger?"00:59:06 Review & OutroThanks for listening!Please leave us a review! We'll read it on the show and it helps us out a lot.VGBees is ad-free, AI-free, and completely supported by you! https://vgbees.com/joinVGBees is a weekly games media podcast hosted by Niki, John, and Lotus.

This week, John, Niki, and (for about an hour, at least) Lotus ponder what makes a good games outlet name. Also, perhaps more importantly, Epic's full-throttle commitment to AI game production, Grand Theft Auto VI's potential PC release in Q1 2027, and more Ubisoft studio closures.00:00:00 Intro & The Pepsi Challenge00:11:00 Chris Kerr's Vertical Slice launches (and a very, very silly detour about race)00:25:30 Epic goes all-in on AI; delays Marvel/Star Wars game00:34:46 Grand Theft Auto VI reported to get Q1 2027 PC release00:46:43 ESA requests Anbernic to be listed as "superfake;" for some reason tells everyone about FitGirl00:50:56 More Ubisoft layoffs and studio closures00:58:22 Why Big Walk isn't on Xbox01:00:22 Nidhogg, yes Nidhogg, got a big new update this week01:02:44 How do you deal with feeling deeply responsible for your direct reports at work?01:09:20 How Fortnite has finally become the parody of itself casual observers have long said it to be01:36:14 Star Wars Galactic Racer is the perfect size in the perfect form02:10:50 Why do discussions of systemic issues sometimes get in the way of laying clear individual blame on bad actors?02:12:42 Why do basketball players seem to be happier than football players?02:25:45 What would cause this podcast to balloon to four hours?02:27:28 How would you deal with a sudden shift to the metric system?02:29:10 Is Biddy Blas a breakout star or an overplayed meme?02:31:43 How do we feel about little tomatoes?02:33:35 New review & outroThanks for listening!Please leave us a review! We'll read it on the show and it helps us out a lot.VGBees is ad-free, AI-free, and completely supported by you! https://vgbees.com/joinVGBees is a weekly games media podcast hosted by Niki, John, and Lotus.

This week, Lotus, Niki, and John dove very deep into the surprisingly busy week of games news, including Kotaku's fascinating report about Double Fine's union misfire, Bobby Kotick joining the Skydance Board, and Star Wars Zero Company dev returning more than have their previously furloughed workers.00:00:00 Intro & vaccine misinformation00:12:30 Skydance's new games division00:20:25 Skydance's new Board includes Bobby Kotick00:26:59 Kotaku's explosive report about Double Fine's failed unionization attempt00:58:05 NBA 2K25 to be delisted and servers shut down01:18:38 Gamestop inflating price of pre-owned PlayStation 5 Pros01:28:50 Wizards of the Coast union is expanding01:30:07 Bit Reactor returns more than half of furloughed workers to company01:33:15 Xbox creates new transmedia division XP01:40:30 Lego Party is the best one of these around01:43:40 Skate is even weirder than it was when it launched01:51:50 Halloween costume plans or ideas this year?01:53:55 Parking is $2 but validated parking is free...are you getting validated?01:58:20 What would you change about your kitchen?02:04:35 Gods With Badges is Strange Scaffold's latest...and it's got an interesting backstory02:23:45 New AI-powered game demo is running $1000/day token bill02:30:30 Capcom's new AI initiative deserves some clarification02:51:37 Onimusha: Way of the Sword isn't that hard...yet02:56:11 The Witcher 3 Remaster reminds us that being down bad for a beautiful woman is a great plot device03:00:18 Doggy Don't Care puts you in the paws of a destructive pug03:02:40 Highlights from Falling Block Jam 202603:06:37 Which Final Fantasy wardrobe are you copping?03:12:10 Which fighting game archetype do you gravitate toward?03:17:07 Crunchy Cheetos or Cheetos Puffs?03:19:52 New five star review and OutroThanks for listening!Please leave us a review! We'll read it on the show and it helps us out a lot.VGBees is ad-free, AI-free, and completely supported by you! https://vgbees.com/joinVGBees is a weekly games media podcast hosted by Niki, John, and Lotus.

On this week's episode, the crew handle a slow news week by going very, very deep on Mike Tomlin's Minecraft city, 2XKO's missed concurrent player target, and impressions of cozy-yet-hardcore Dressmaker.00:00:00 Intro, John's bad day, pallbearers for hire00:26:45 2XKO's wild swing and miss for concurrent players00:41:09 Mike Tomlin's Minecraft city inspired some big, big opinions from the crew01:25:50 Control Resonant's open world features frustrating barriers01:29:47 Dressmaker might be "cozy," but it's for the sickos01:37:50 Niki made a photo zine!01:43:57 HIVE QUESTIONS BEGIN; which person of the VGBees Zord is the bee's knees?01:47:18 What were you proud of this week?01:49:00 Which day is worse for being online: April 1 or May 4?01:52:34 How long do you have to play a game to say you have played it?01:55:52 How clean are your floors?02:00:42 Which bread makes the best toast?02:08:00 What was the last thing you did that you would consider to be whimsical?02:10:32 Would you eat a hot dog with nothing else on it?; How big is too big for a Metroidvania?02:12:00 What's your favorite PAC match?02:15:20 What's the most centrist RPG?02:17:40 What switches games journalism to games eschatology?02:23:57 Is taking a pill that was on the floor safe?02:26:30 Asha Sharma gives you her personal cell number, what are you doing with it?02:29:00 Why does VGBees not concern itself with playing every new major release?02:34:11 Is there a button in your house that is satisfying to push?02:36:25 Mario and Sonic split; how are they splitting the Olympics games?02:38:38 What's the dumbest media you've enjoyed lately?02:39:45 How can someone be redeemed and reenter a community after true harm is done?; HIVE QUESTIONS END02:51:20 Show Reviews & OutroThanks for listening!Please leave us a review! We'll read it on the show and it helps us out a lot.VGBees is ad-free, AI-free, and completely supported by you! https://vgbees.com/joinVGBees is a weekly games media podcast hosted by Niki, John, and Lotus.

This week, Lotus, John, and Niki tackle a very busy week of games news, including a new round of Xbox layoffs, Xbox studio consolidation, Activision making the next Halo game, and Bungie's unvaulting of Destiny 2 content.00:00:00 Intro & Niki's big trip00:14:30 Xbox's latest layoffs and consolidations00:50:42 Undead Labs goes independent; State of Decay 3 still aiming for 2027 release00:56:55 World's Edge loses half staff and one upcoming project00:58:34 King union wins their collective bargaining agreement; will avoid strike01:01:11 A sudden discussion about cigarettes and food waste01:09:25 The People Make Games Bobby Kotick story01:17:30 Tim Schafer opens up a bit about Microsoft turmoil01:21:35 Bungie isn't done with Desinty after all01:41:40 Lotus finished Roman Sands RE:Build01:47:47 How Niki made their Annie's Mac n Cheese01:50:32 Niki played Control Resonant and loves that it is divisive02:05:45 The Travis Scott track on the GTA6 soundtrack is pretty good02:07:00 HIVE QUESTIONS02:46:30 OutroThanks for listening!Please leave us a review! We'll read it on the show and it helps us out a lot.VGBees is ad-free, AI-free, and completely supported by you! https://vgbees.com/joinVGBees is a weekly games media podcast hosted by Niki, John, and Lotus.