The VGBees Podcast

Epizodai

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  Ep 115: Saber CEO's Outburst, Netflix Closes Studios, Star Wars Zero Company Impressions 16.08.2026 2val 26min

  This week, John and Niki are joined by Jesse Vitelli, fresh off a five day subathon on his Twitch channel after being laid off at Restart.Run. Together, they take a hard look at Matt Karch's history of odd behavior, Netflix's most recent studio closures, and Star Wars Zero Company.00:00:00 Intro & Raising Cane's talk00:11:25 Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch did something very weird and has done many weird things previously to this new weird thing00:34:14 Netflix closes Night School, Moonloot, and lays off others00:41:35 Restart.Run's remaining leadership releases a bizarre statement00:48:23 Pokémon Pokopia sold five million copies00:54:00 Take-Two looks to be getting deeper into simulation sports00:56:00 Wolverine & Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave previews dropped01:11:20 South of Midnight now listed as self-published, but is that the whole story?01:12:55 Esoteric Ebb serves the best of Disco Elysium without some of the baggage01:20:30 Knytt Classic is a faithful update of a 2006 freeware standout01:23:27 Niki's in the Splatoon Raiders endgame now01:26:55 Star Wars Zero Company is a lot more than a new XCOM01:47:00 HIVE QUESTIONS02:20:55 OutroThanks for listening!Please leave us a review! We'll read it on the show and it helps us out a lot.
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  Ep 114: Big Walk Impressions, Devolver Digital Going Private, GTA6 Exclusive Look at Netflix 09.08.2026 3val 15min

  This week, Lotus, Niki, and John discuss their very enjoyable time together with Big Walk, Devolver Digital's move off of the London Stock Exchange, and Netflix's incredibly bizarre six hour rental of Grand Theft Auto VI's deeper dive trailer later this month.00:00:00 Intro & laundry hamper talk00:14:30 Netflix's Grand Theft Auto VI "exclusive" look00:47:26 EA's big deal with the Saudis and Jared Kushner closed01:12:30 Halo Studios parts ways with contractors01:20:32 Devolver Digital moves to unlist from London Stock Exchange to go private01:33:30 Square Enix is collaborating with Google Gemini for AI-based QA01:40:43 PlayStation by far the most played console in the US01:41:53 Restart Run staff laid off01:44:43 Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the best the MCU has been in a very long time01:51:40 Splatoon Raiders continues to delight us01:57:37 AYN Thor is probably the best one of these emulation handhelds02:02:10 The VGBees Crew is having a blast with Big Walk02:37:25 HIVE QUESTIONS03:10:57 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.
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  Ep 113: Xbox Down $1.7b, Tencent's Latest Misfire, Splatoon Raiders Impressions 02.08.2026 2val 44min

  This week, Lotus, Niki, and John discuss Xbox's 7% revenue decrease year over year, Tencent's alleged "Grand Theft Auto killer" Last Sentinel facing major problems, and impressions of one of 2026's most pleasant surprises, Splatoon Raiders.00:00:00 Intro & drug testing00:08:35 Double Fine lays off 23 after going independent00:13:07 Xbox reports $1.7b loss due to critical business failures00:17:07 Tencent's Last Sentinel quietly lays off staff, possibly canceled00:32:50 Super Mario Sunshine coming to Nintendo Switch Online00:38:55 Splatoon Raiders is what Splatoon probably should've always been00:54:25 Endacopia is a surrealist point-and-click jaunt00:58:18 Midnight Moments is a pleasant, but perhaps shallow, cyberpunk diorama-builder01:01:52 Niki's Apple TV came!01:08:53 VGBees Baseball Talk01:20:35 HIVE QUESTIONS02:40:35 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.
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  Ep 112: Marvel Tokon Open Beta Impressions, Unity 7 Announced, EU Approves EA Sale 26.07.2026 2val 18min

  This week, John, Lotus, and Niki discuss the Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls open beta, Unity 7's announcement and features, EA's approved sale to the PIF, and Deltarune Chapter 5.00:00:00 Intro & some strong Splatoon opinions00:21:35 Hasbro cancels projects slated for 2028 and beyond00:26:58 EU approves EA sale to the PIF00:33:30 Unity 7 announced with some interesting new features in tow00:42:35 Poinpy is free now and is still great00:45:08 Hey, Left 4 Dead 2 is still really great, too00:52:20 Paragnosia is like Five Nights at Freddy's but in a house with demons00:55:45 Deltarune is stretching its welcome with Niki00:58:50 Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls balances simplified inputs with nuanced complexity undearneath01:04:30 Niki tearfully admits they're excited about Wolverine01:12:06 A detour to Love Island and Ariana Madix's whole deal01:16:10 HIVE QUESTIONS02:11:05 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.
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  Ep 111: Xbox Jingles Fallout Keys, LATAM ID@Xbox Team Dismantled, God of War Recasts Kratos 19.07.2026 2val 38min

  This week, Niki, Lotus, and John discuss the extremely convenient news dump regarding beloved games in the Fallout franchise, other Xbox teams facing decimation in the initial layoffs, and the God of War show's choice to recast its Kratos.00:00:00 Intro, new dog, blood stuff, & kidneys00:22:53 Latin America ID@Xbox teams decimated by layoffs00:32:48 Inside look at Xbox layoffs from people experiencing it00:33:48 Fallout deluge of information to distract people from the layoffs00:46:18 CWA files lawsuits alleging Xbox mishandling of layoffs00:49:50 College Football 27 removes microtransactions from single player mode01:03:40 ZA/UM to lay off 32 after slow sales of ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies01:05:00 God of War show to recast Kratos after injury to Ryan Hurst01:15:15 Update on Niki's NAS01:30:40 Update on Niki & NBA 2K261:40:40 HIVE QUESTIONS02:32:30 Outro & Interview Shows!Thanks 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.
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  The VGBees Interview: Joe Is Hungry 15.07.2026 1val 20min

  Last year, we chatted with Joe from hit YouTube channel Joe Is Hungry. Now that we have this fun new interview format show officially on the feed, I decided it was time to have him back on!00:00:00 Intro00:01:33 Joe's wife still plays games00:02:50 Why do gaming communities seem to gravitate toward Joe?00:08:10 Does Joe keep tabs on other food reviewers?00:11:50 What does attention from other channels do for Joe?00:13:18 How does Joe keep up with the algorithm and how does he engage with AI?00:17:20 TikTok monetization00:22:00 How does Joe deal with criticism online?00:25:00 A quick Georgia geography lesson & lamenting Whataburger going corporate00:28:35 Detour to talk about Cook Out & crowd control00:32:25 Joe's car setup and new technology00:35:10 Joe developing his stop motion animation skills00:41:15 Adopting new elements to avoid stagnation00:45:30 Joe's relationship with Shadow Joe00:47:20 Joe's spicy food tolerance00:50:10 Joe's relationship to aging and existing online00:51:20 Back to the TikTok algorithm & pricing00:54:18 Balancing creativity and growth metrics00:57:15 The brief shelf life of food reviews01:00:18 Is YouTube Joe's most physically taxing job yet?01:00:25 How Joe's local celebrity has impacted the work01:04:15 What is Joe eating when he's not eating fast food?01:06:25 Joe rails against Amazon; an ode to Micro Center01:13:10 Where does Joe see the channel in one year?01:18:05 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.
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  Ep 110: Mass Xbox Layoffs Begin, Id Software Decimated, Obsidian Focusing on Fallout 12.07.2026 2val 9min

  This week, Niki, Lotus, and John address the sweeping, disastrous layoffs and closures stemming from the "reset" Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has started.00:00:00 Intro & Cup Talk00:11:40 Xbox layoffs by the numbers00:14:55 Id Software decimated by the moves00:18:52 Obsidian loses staff and shifts focus to Fallout (a previous report that Avowed 2 has been canceled has been refuted by the developer since this recording)00:25:32 Zenimax loses over 350 employees00:29:11 350 others are left without jobs from divested and sold studios00:32:47 IOI closes Istanbul studio after Xbox divestment00:41:18 Hardship fund created for laid off developers00:47:35 Bethesda union holding protests at different cities July 1500:55:00 Niki proposes an analogy to the US Men's Soccer Team01:02:08 Do average gamers know or care that this is all happening?01:14:45 Niki has returned to NBA 2K26 and is having fun now01:24:55 HIVE QUESTIONS02:05:00 Outro & Interview ShowsThanks 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.
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  The VGBees Interview: Phil Salvador, Library Director at Video Game History Foundation 10.07.2026 1val 28min

  Hey! It's a brand new show here on The VGBees Podcast feed. We'll be taking the time every once in a while to sit down and go deep with interesting figures around the games industry and beyond. Our very first guest is Phil Salvador, Library Director of the Video Game History Foundation.00:00:00 Intro00:02:05 What is the Video Game History Foundation?00:03:45 What has surprised Phil the most about the work of games preservation since joining?00:05:37 What in Phil's life created this fascination with historical preservation?00:08:11 What's the last thing Phil pulled out of the archive that surprised or delighted him?00:11:20 How does Phil feel about the end of physical game discs?00:20:32 Do major games corporations show signs of meeting preservationists halfway?00:23:04 Notes about the 2023 study Phil wrote about pre-2010 game availability00:28:50 Is there a notable distinction between preservation and accessibility?00:32:27 What is piracy's role in game preservation?00:39:44 What kind of legal team does VGHF engage?00:42:53 Phil digs into one of his favorite collections added since the 2025 launch of the digital archive00:49:55 Does the VGHF and its digital archive care about growing its audience?00:54:58 What is the path from collection acquisition to availability online in the digital archive?00:59:45 What kind of backend does the digital archive use to organize the collection?01:02:15 What's the most technically harrowing preservation project VGHF has taken on?01:09:00 How does the archive decide what is worthy of inclusion?01:13:15 How is the archive's magazine collection shaping up?01:17:24 Where does Phil see the foundation and the archive in five years?01:20:10 John looks up Shenmue in the digital archive01:22:14 How can you help the Video Game History Foundation and its mission?01:25:10 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.
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  Ep 109: Sony Discontinuing Physical Discs, Closing PS3/Vita Stores, IOI Laying Off Staff After Xbox Shakeup 05.07.2026 2val 51min

  This week, Lotus, Niki, and John dive deep into the end of physical discs for Sony (and likely Xbox), the impending closures of the PS3/Vita digital stores, and the potential for Arkane to be on the Xbox reset chopping block.00:00:00 Intro & everything you need to know about donuts00:18:50 Sony stopping disc support in 2028; the gang goes long on the loss of physical games media01:06:30 Sony is also closing the PS3/Vita stores01:15:05 IOI to lay off staff on Project Fantasy, which was backed by Xbox01:21:07 Arkane may be part of the upcoming closures at Xbox01:25:55 Memory manufacturers the target of a class action lawsuit alleging price fixing01:29:55 Summer Games Done Quick 2026 Preview01:31:35 Star Wars Galactic Racer is the VGBees Game of Show at Summer Game Fest 202601:40:20 Anode Heart: Layer Null strips away the mess from card battling RPGs01:51:54 A very quick note about the AYN THOR01:56:20 Niki is dipping back into Slay the Spire 201:58:07 Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage adds a welcome single player mode to the game02:02:30 HIVE QUESTIONS02:50:12 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.
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  Ep 108: GTA6 Pricing, Xbox Price Hike, Steam Machine Details 28.06.2026 2val 2min

  This week, John and Niki discuss the biggest news of the gaming week, including Grand Theft Auto VI edition details, Steam Machine details, and more price hikes for Xbox consoles.00:00:00 Intro & when it became Turkiye00:12:30 Steam Machine is in the wild and available for waitlisting00:28:13 Xbox consoles increase in price again00:33:08 Grand Theft Auto VI isn't on disc and somehow people were shocked00:46:38 Bungie lays off Destiny 2 team; Hermen Hulst writes bad blog post01:04:00 Tim Sweeney thinks you owe it to yourself to play his games01:07:07 LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight looks great, feels great, and deftly balances multiple tones01:10:50 Niki bought NBA 2K26 for cheap and still regretted it01:20:05 Beatdown City Survivors successfully riffs on a familiar formula, but is it enough?01:23:42 Niki talks about Carly Rae Jepsen's new album while agonizing over whether to buy a new television01:27:55 Outlier is a great new online word game you're going to get sucked into01:33:45 Niki updates us on their NAS system (and hating Linux)01:39:07 HIVE QUESTIONS02:00:45 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.
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  Ep 107: Xbox Studios Facing Closure, EA's New Ad Platform, UK Teen Social Ban 21.06.2026 2val 19min

  This week, John, Niki, and Lotus go very long on this week's seismic Xbox news, including the numerous studio closures on the table, key departures, and Microsoft CEO's Satya Nadella's curious take on why their gaming arm is struggling.00:00:00 Intro & Lotus' Big Saturday00:11:10 South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games is the unsurprising yet disappointing first studio to confirm possible closure or spinoff00:17:00 A long, great conversation about the games media's role in reporting on these layoffs and closures00:28:00 How Xbox got here (mostly)00:48:52 Satya Nadella seems to be confused about how Xbox got into this jam00:54:00 That Senua sequel was only announced to help fuel a possible sale of Ninja Theory01:02:14 The weight of working in corporate-owned game development right now01:06:34 Key personnel leaving Xbox01:07:56 What's the plan moving forward for Xbox?01:16:10 EA introducing new in-game advertising platform01:25:57 UK government is banning teens from social media; plan will not work01:33:10 Fuck's Quest 2 lacks consistent humor and mechanical clarity01:37:07 Niki played the first two Sonic games on Genesis (skip this part, Sonic fans!!!)01:45:10 John decided to give Ocarina of Time another try01:49:10 Our latest (possibly final) thoughts on 007 First Light02:02:47 Hive Questions02:18:12 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.
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  Ep 106: Xbox Preparing Layoffs, Nintendo Direct, Pokemon Go Military Defense Data 14.06.2026 2val 47min

  Lotus, Niki, and John recovered from Summer Game Fest 2026 and reconvened (in home studios, not John's car) to discuss an extremely busy news week, including Xbox preparing major layoffs, Nintendo Direct revealing the Ocarina of Time remake, and more information dropping about Pokemon Go and its role in data gathering for defense purposes.00:00:00 Intro & how waffle fries are madeGo to nogamesforgenocide.com to learn more about the BDS movement and Microsoft's continued role in the ongoing atrocities in Gaza.00:08:20 Asha Sharma writes memo to Xbox staff; heavy layoffs reported00:25:00 Xbox console exclusives are returning00:37:30 Lotus' 50 most anticipated indies from the week's showcases00:40:10 Nintendo Direct reveals Ocarina of Time remake; is Nintendo bored?00:47:10 Kingdom Hearts IV is here and looks like it looks00:49:00 Final Fantasy Resonance strips the gacha out of mobile game inspiration00:52:00 God of War Laufey creates an interesting branch for the series00:55:37 How do waffle fries work? (part 2)00:56:38 RGG wants to explore what Tupac's life could've been in Stranger Than Heaven01:01:17 PlayerUnknown facing layoffs01:03:56 RPG Maker forums shuttering and migrating01:11:20 Team17 eliminating marketing department01:13:24 Crazy Taxi reboot working with generative AI art flow01:16:45 GOG sends out email with Nazi symbols in subject line01:25:06 Ubisoft shutting down two studios01:28:05 Pokemon Go likely being used to collect data for defense contracts01:31:15 Blood Dungeon is Vampire Survivors in platformer mode01:35:10 Onimusha: Way of the Sword is perfectly competent action combat from Capcom01:40:18 John (almost) corrects the record on last week's Code Veronica misadventure01:43:55 NBA The Run is a shallow facsimile of better arcade basketball games01:46:20 Niki opens a Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes pack01:50:45 Lotus went to Distant Worlds (the Final Fantasy concert) and did not have a great time02:19:25 We answer your burning Hive Questions02:44:06 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.
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  VGBees SGF 2026 Post-Show Debrief 13.06.2026 23min

  Join Niki and John from Los Angeles as they debrief from a lively Summer Game Fest 2026.At this point, most embargoes were still in effect, but we hope you enjoy discussion regarding:Blood Dungeon, Messhof's latest gameSonic Pico ParkThe Games Business interview with Matthew Ballbad hotel fish tacosThanks 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.
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  Ep 105: Summer Game Fest 2026 Showcase, Tupac, Final Fantasy VII Revelation 07.06.2026 1val 38min

  Folks, our schedules were so packed that John & Niki had to join Lotus from the car again. Sorry! This week, it's all about Summer Game Fest 2026 Showcase, which featured reveals of Resident Evil Veronica, Final Fantasy VII Revelation, and Tupac appearing in Stranger Than Heaven.Time stamps and more SGF bonus episodes coming soon!Thanks 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.
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  Ep 104: Witcher 3 DLC, Steam Deck Price Hikes, & 007 First Light w/ Jeff Gerstmann 31.05.2026 3val 8min

  John and Lotus are joined this week by Jeff Gerstmann to discuss the week's biggest games news, including: The Witcher 3's surprising expansion coming in 2027, Steam Deck's massive price hikes, and what we thought of 007 First Light.00:00:00 Intro & podcasting at yourself00:08:56 The Witcher 3 is getting new DLC in 202700:13:10 A moment for Unreal Engine 600:15:57 Ikaruga creator's next game has been canceledGo to nogamesforgenocide.com to learn more about the BDS movement and Microsoft's continued role in the ongoing atrocities in Gaza.00:19:14 Microsoft must pay $250m to settle class action lawsuit00:23:30 Modern Warfare 4 and the great Call of Duty fall-off00:29:18 Fable delayed from fall 2026 to February 202700:38:30 Hoyoverse is investing $14.6b in AI initiatives in the next three years00:42:20 Roblox and how to navigate its ubiquity as a parent00:49:15 Steam Deck price hikes and the rare appreciation of gaming setups00:57:13 Steam updates tags and Workshop features01:14:44 TheGamer shifts to pay-per-click for its writers01:24:32 The PlayStation 5 Pro is tall01:27:01 007 First Light is a great Bond game even for people who aren't Bond superfans01:38:32 Carrot Kingdom--not the Atari shareware--is a fun and very short puzzler01:39:58 Panthalassa features a gorgeous underwater alien world01:41:57 Phonopolis is the latest from Amanita Design01:45:06 Mina the Hollower is Yacht Club's most interesting game01:52:12 Pictonico is WarioWare for your phone...without the Wario01:59:36 We answer your burning HIVE QUESTIONS from our Discord03:01:23 SGF 2026 plans & 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.
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  Ep 103: Embracer Restructures Again, Destiny 2 Development Ending, PS Plus Price Hikes 24.05.2026 3val 9min

  John, Lotus, and Niki discuss the biggest news of the week, including Embracer's head-scratching restructure, Destiny 2's final update, and PlayStation Plus price hikes.00:00:00 Intro & Niki Buys a Porsche00:09:50 Terraria celebrates 15 years of absolutely bonkers player counts00:25:15 Tom Kane passes away at 6400:26:41 PlayStation Plus gets price hikes00:35:47 US National Recording Registry adds DOOM soundtrack to its library00:44:28 Stig Asmussen Dungeons & Dragons game canceled by Wizards of the Coast00:55:20 Embracer restructures their game organizations again01:04:20 Quantic Dream's MOBA is shutting down01:06:14 Bungie ending Destiny 2 development and facing layoffs01:27:30 Everyone roasts John for buying a PS5 Pro01:39:00 Niki continues to build a NAS for their home01:51:28 The crew answers your burning HIVE QUESTIONS from Discord03:04:15 Outro & SGF PlansThanks 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.
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  The Pittcast Season Two w/ Danielle Riendeau 23.05.2026 1val 43min

  Content Warning for graphic medical procedures, assault, sexual assault, suicide, and death in this episode. The Pitt is a show with a lot of tough ingredients thrown into a stew--we try to navigate these with tact and care but be forewarned the entire episode has a lot of potentially triggering discussion.GameDeveloper.com Editor-in-Chief (and Polygon, Waypoint, and Fanbyte alum) Danielle Riendeau joins John Warren for a recap of season two of The Pitt, one of VGBees' favorite television shows.Danielle lends her experience as a volunteer EMT in New York City to the duo's analysis and critique of the HBO Max medical drama. Included topics:The role of AI in healthcareThe role of compassion in emergency medicineUsing the show to demystify difficult subjects regarding sexual assault and deathICE and their miserable role in American healthcare in 2026and much, much more!Thanks 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.
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  Ep 102: Subnautica 2 Smashes Sales Expectations, Leaked Xbox Controllers, More Game Unions 17.05.2026 2val 27min

  Lotus and John discuss the biggest games news of the week, including Subnautica 2 creating a big bonus problem for KRAFTON's CEO, leaked Xbox controllers, and Marathon's interesting PVE-focused roadmap.00:00:00 Intro & Buc-ees Fare00:10:05 Subnautica 2's massive sales creates an interesting problem for KRAFTON's CEO00:13:15 Steam Controllers look bad, feel good, and scream when you drop them00:21:43 Sony takes huge loss on Bungie acquisition; Marathon gets new PVE-heavy roadmap00:30:20 Wizards and Hasbro fail to recognize the new MTG: Arena union00:33:25 Double Fine is also unionzing00:35:35 New Xbox controllers were leaked00:38:45 Microsoft fires executive for ties with Israel Ministry of Defense00:41:35 Sony says studios are using AI, but we have questions00:49:10 Tekken producer Harada leads new SNK studio00:53:05 Niki joins the show on locations to run down news so far00:54:45 Sega backs off of live services games00:58:38 GameStop's offer to buy eBay thoroughly, hilariously, decisively rebuffed01:04:12 Nintendo's fiscal report reveals reasons for Switch 2 price hike01:07:40 House Hunters is the best hotel television show01:09:10 The story in Digimon Story: Time Stranger is pretty bad01:18:10 The crew answers your burning HIVE QUESTIONS from our Discord02:21:50 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.
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  Ep 101: Star Fox 64 Remake, LEGO Batman, Mina the Hollower Release Date 10.05.2026 2val 10min

  Niki, Lotus, and John embark on a "no bummers" episode of the show, complete with discussions about the new Star Fox game, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight's endless charm, and Mina the Hollower's long-awaited release date.00:00:00 Intro & John's parking lot predicament00:12:15 Star Fox 64 Remake00:17:15 Mina the Hollower gets a release date at long last00:19:16 Copilot removed from Xbox plans (please go to nogamesforgenocide.com to learn about the ongoing boycott of Microsoft and Xbox products)00:23:53 LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight looks great00:28:27 More "no bummers" news round-up00:31:42 Niki's new Logitech MX Master 4 mouse00:43:37 Niki continues loving Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream00:46:07 Echo Chaser is a slick PICO-8 free game00:47:28 Family is a great music-centric game you can play for free right now00:50:20 mini pharma is a charming PICO-8 puzzler00:57:59 We answer your burning Hive Questions straight from our Discord02:07:58 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.
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  The Pittcast Season One w/ Danielle Riendeau 07.05.2026 1val 19min

  NOTE: This bonus episode contains discussions of medical trauma, sexual assault, addiction, child abuse, mass shootings, and generally some sad stories about real life emergencies. It’s hard to avoid those topics when discussing this television show, so if you need to duck out and catch the next regular bonus, we totally get it.Additional note! This is a bonus episode of the show from 2025--we're freeing it from the confines of the bonus feed to prepare you for The Pittcast Season 2, which will be available for the public and not just in the bonus feed.The Pitt is one of this year’s best TV shows and such a delightful surprise for folks who might have been missing a truly great medical drama in their lives. John treated himself to over an hour chatting about the show with full-time games media legend (Polygon, Waypoint, Fanbyte, and current EIC at Game Developer) and part-time volunteer EMS Danielle Riendeau.They cover a lot of ground in a relatively short time, including:Michael Crighton’s estate and the battle for the ER revivalNoah Wylie aging like fine wineThis wonderful cast (even the nepo babies are great)Advanced medical procedures and practical effectsHow Covid changed things for many medical professionalsManaging PTSD & addiction in the medical fieldIf you liked this bonus episode, consider telling a friend to JOIN THE HIVE. You get bonuses like these and access to special areas of our Discord.