The VGBees Podcast
Host and founder of VGBees, John Warren, is joined every week by cohost Niki Grayson and illustrious guests adjacent to video games and culture for candid, funny, and enlightening conversations about an art form that is both uniting and dividing us. Every week, The VGBees Podcast will explore trends and touchpoints you need to know in order to have the most well-rounded idea of what's going on in games. Explore vgbees.com after each episode for notes on each episode as well as written pieces by our collaborators and guests. We all have to work together to build a brighter...
John & Niki: True iicons

This week, John and Niki discuss what it would take to get them to attend the new ESA-fronted conference called iicon starting next April in Las Vegas. It's like GDC but worse, somehow. Also:
Metal Gear Solid Delta gets a release dateGrand Theft Auto 6 confirmed for fall 2025timeline on new Nvidia cards coming back in stockKingdom Come: Deliverance 2Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward VectorVirtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O.Marvel RivalsEternal StrandsAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsOf course, we answer your HIVE QUESTIONS like we do each and every week.
Emergency Basketball Podcast: The Luka Doncic Trade

The entire sports world was shocked when 5-time All-NBA 1st Teamer and 25 year old megastar Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for a Randy's donut and some unpaid parking tickets. Okay maybe it's not quite that bad, but it's really, really, really close.
Your local basketball experts and fans of both teams in question, John and Niki, break down what you need to know about why the trade happened, what happens to both of these teams, and the long-term effects this trade may have around the league.
They also get into why...
It's Hard to Let Go

This week, Niki and John dive into the news that BioWare is downsizing and outsourcing part of Mass Effect 5's development. More than that, it strikes our hosts that maybe the series should go away if it means saving the jobs of the remaining employees tasked with such a burden. Anyway, it's a good discussion about a complicated problem. Also:
the Video Game History Foundation's excellent new digital archives have launchedForza Horizon 5 is coming to PS5 with crossplayMicrosoft's two-sided strategyEternal StrandsVirtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O.Ninja Gaiden II BlackWe also answer your HIVE QUESTIONS...
Boy the Musical

This week, Niki and John take in the most recent Xbox Direct showcase and dive into each game discussed, including:
Ninja Gaiden 4South of MidnightExpedition 33Doom: The Dark AgesThey also discuss the cancelation of Celeste follow-up Earthblade and the blog post announcing it. In addition, the news that EA is disappointed in the sales of both Dragon Age: The Veilguard and EA Sports FC 25 is examined through a lens that understands the latter is much, much, much more interesting and noteworthy than the former.
As always, the duo answers your burning HIVE QUESTIONS...
Mario Kart 2

This week, Niki and John discuss the biggest story in games. That's right, it's the MegaByte Nation Gaming Expo from Los Angeles, CA! What are Game Hogs up to? What does a UMD of old Family Guy episodes cost?
Oh also we discuss the official announcement of Nintendo Switch 2, including:
form factor changesJoy-Cons are also mice?guesses about the new Mario Kartspeculation on release dateand much more!We also answer your Hive Questions like we every single week! Which game would change the hearts and minds of a Footloose-style town that hates video games?<...
All the Ingredients for a Speedrun

This week, Niki is laying low to escape the horrible fires facing Los Angeles. John runs solo, discussing the games news of the week, including:
Nintendo Switch 2 rumorsthe delay of Assassin's Creed ShadowsTencent's designation as a military organizationthe new LEGO Game BoyWe also answer your HIVE QUESTIONS and discuss John's fleet of emulation devices.
Here are some links for donations/causes to help aid in the recovery of Los Angeles.
Watch Duty - donations go toward running an incredibly helpful tracking service for AngelenosCanine Rescue Club - helping match displaced pets with...Why Don't These Games Make Me Cry?

This week, Niki and John both shake off their respective Holiday illnesses to come together for the first episode of 2025! They reflect on what they might have missed in 2024, including:
Mouthwashing1000xResistMetaphor: ReFantazioThe Rise of the Golden IdolAlso, what would the first episode of the new year be without predictions for games to play in 2025:
Death Stranding 2: On the BeachFBC: FirebreakPokemon Legends: Z-ASkateJudasWe also answer your burning HIVE QUESTIONS like we do each and every week!
The VGBees 2024 Games of the Year

It is that time of year! VGBees has awarded its official (well John and Niki's) Games of the Year 2024! We had two overlaps, so we cover eight total games and wow we had a blast revisiting the year's very best games.
Not to spoil the surprise (stop reading if you don't want to know), but in alphabetical order we discuss:
Astro BotBalatroCall of Duty: Black Ops 6Content WarningCrow CountryIndiana Jones and the Great CirclePath of Exile 2Thank Goodness You're Here!No HIVE QUESTIONS in this special episode, but you can always join and ask...
Brick & Jack: Football Geniuses

Niki and John go through a whirlwind of big games news this week, including the revelation that Woody Johnson is steering New York Jets personnel decisions with advice from his sons, Brick and Jack, derived from Madden 25 player stats. Also:
the Charlotte Hornets Grinch a PS5 away from a childSony invests big in Kadokawa (FromSoftware's parent company)the Switch 2 is called Switch 2 (probably)As far as what we've been playing, well:
Path of Exile 2Indiana Jones and the Great CircleMarvel RivalsAs always, we answer your HIVE QUESTIONS on the show and this...
The Game Awards 2024 Postmortem

This week, Niki worked an entire human day within the span of two human days to work Gamespot/Giant Bomb's TGA coverage and lived (thrived!) to tell about it. John asks burning questions like "what was the deal with those long sandwiches Dan Ryckert was giving to people?"
Then, they get into the meat of The Game Awards 2024, including:
The Witcher 4Elden Ring NightreignVirtua FighterOnimusha: Way of the SwordOkami SequelProject: RobotIntergalactic: The Heretic ProphetAstro Bot winning Game of the Yearand much more!Also, what did giving the Game Changer Award to a (perfectly nice...