We have a big confession to make, gamers. John and Niki have watched videos and read articles about a video game called Deadlock, which Valve has sworn us to secrecy never to divulge its very existence. Consider it then, dear gamer, a privilege that we've chosen your ears as the recipient of our knowledge. If we disappear from this earth, you will know our sacrifice. Also:

• 2XKO
• Madden 25
• Fortnite
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard
• The Plucky Squire

We also answer questions from The Hive and continue developing the all-important VGBees Census!

This week, John and Niki are joined by former Video Lead at Game Informer Alex Van Aken to talk about the abrupt, ghoulish closure of the storied publication. It's a great chat that illuminates what the past few months has been like at the magazine as well as a bit of a dive into some history and memories of the brand. Alex also pulls the curtain back on his new supporter-funded project Viewport.

Also discussed:

• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• The Borderlands film
• Wolfeye's Dishonored/Prey-like new RPG
• College Football 25

With Hive questions like:

• When you do consider a game completed?
• What ancient game do you want to see a Balatro for?
• Does a LEGO minifig have fingers or thumbs?

As always, you can join The Hive and ask us questions we'll tackle every single week!

This week, Niki and John discuss a terrible week for Bungie employees, a terrible week for Jon Blow, and a terrible week for AI discourse in video games. All in all, it's a laugh riot for two straight hours! Also discussed:

• Thank Goodness You're Here!
• Steamworld Heist II
• College Football 25
• Madden NFL 25
• NBA 2K25

Also, Hive questions about:

• Richard Garriott
• Peter Molyneux
• Shane McMahon
• Bubsy (essentially)
• Grand Theft Auto (complete with thorough discussion about why the modern political nature of these games is so goofy and outdated)

As always, become a member of The Hive to have your questions answered on the show!

This week, Niki and John got way into it about Evo 2024, the brilliance of fighting games, and the way sports have (and haven't) infiltrated the industry's biggest event for the genre. Also:

• No Man's Sky 5.0
• Flock
• Dungeons of Hinterberg

The crew also (clumsily) dissected the ramifications of Bethesda and World of Warcraft teams forming wall-to-wall unions this week. Seems particularly big in the face of Humble Games shutting down and the weird spin Ziff Davis put on the closure.

Hive questions include:

• What's the gaming equivalent of saying Macbeth in a theater?
• Are curved monitors a scam?
• Who should write the Skibidi Toilet movie?

This episode marked the debut of The VGBees Census, a new segment designed to pull biographical and taste information from our guests. This week's test subject was cohost Niki Grayson. Thanks Niki! Also, happy birthday Barley!

As always, you can join The Hive and ask questions in our Discord and we'll answer them on the show!

This week, Niki and John tackle the most important news of the week, including:

• whether Niki should see Longlegs
• not wearing headphones on video calls
• hanging doors

Oh also video games, including:

• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
• Bioshock Infinite
• Emio - The Smiling Man

In hour two, they're joined by Secret Base's Kofie Yeboah, who is as excited as everyone else about the return of EA Sports' college football...aptly called College Football 25. John also asks about Skip Bayless, in what is likely the only time he will ever come in on this program. Thanks for your patience.

As always, join The Hive and ask questions and we'll answer them on the show!

This week, Niki and John are joined by The Verge's Ash Parrish. On the agenda:

- our favorite jazz musicians

- which wines pair best with human aging

- disgusting Aperol

- Cody Rhodes' appalling chosen aesthetic

OH ALSO video games!

- Zenless Zone Zero

- Supermoves

- Xbox Game Pass tier changes

- Steam Deck

- 2K's rumored FIFA game

- College Football 25

- Riot's canceled platform fighter

As always, you can support VGBees by joining The Hive over at https://vgbees.com/join

This week, John's riding solo due to holiday scheduling apocalypses. Never fear! He's here to chat about the best in games this week, including:

- The new Switch Online slate (it's weird)

- Fragpunk's closed alpha

- M. Bison is live in Street Fighter 6

- The Land Beneath Us puts an interesting spin on roguelites

ALSO, we answer questions directly from The Hive!

- Will AAA development ever find a path to sustainability?

- Which Kingdom Hearts game is the best?

- Have you ever thought about roasting your own coffee beans?

This and more in this week's episode!

Join the Hive at https://vgbess.com/join

John and Niki are back at it again with all the news and analysis in games you need to know. This time, they're joined by Imran Khan, who is totally normal when it comes to heating up leftovers!

Anyway! The crew covered a lot of ground this week including:

• Guy "Dr. Disrespect" Beahm's overdue ouster from the public consciousness in the wake of the revelations of his "inappropriate" correspondence with a minor in 2017
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
• Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble
• Chained Together
• Fortnite

The crew also discusses the best sales at the beginning of the Steam Summer Sale and answers the burning questions directly from The Hive!

John and Niki take a deep dive into a very strong Nintendo Direct, featuring discussion of:

• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Mario & Luigi: Brothership
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
• Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
• The New Denpa Men

Later, they're joined by writer, author, and budding miniature painting YouTuber Merritt K to chat everything Warhammer 40,000, including:

• What's in the heads of the guys from Space Marine 2?
• Do Space Marines have balls?
• Why did the Squats go away?
• and much more!

Don't forget to Join the Hive!

Niki and John are joined this week by Game Informer associate editor and MinnMax contributor Charles Harte. All three were all in Los Angeles to cover Summer Game Fest 2024 and came away feeling mostly energized by what they saw and played.

Covered in this episode:

- LEGO Horizon Adventures

- Wanderstop

- Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind

- Skate

- Fable

- Doom: The Dark Ages

- South of Midnight

- Gears of War E-Day

- Dragon Age: The Veilguard

- Monster Hunter Wilds

- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

- Fear the Spotlight

- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

- Hyper Light Breaker