This week, John and Niki are joined by the one and only Merritt K, one of the brilliant minds behind Fledgling Manor. The show starts, of course, with the most important news of the week: how much the Nintendo Tip Line cost per minute. Also:

• NetEase laying off the Seattle Marvel Rivals team
• Microsoft's new Muse generative AI initiative
• Niantic in talks to be purchased by Scopely for $3.5b
• Hades II gets a big update (and into some interesting territory with SAG-AFTRA)

Also, we talk about Avowed and 1994's hottest game, Stone Protectors.

We answer your HIVE QUESTIONS, including who we would cast in this year's star-studded Call of Duty ad.