Brian Ashcraft

Umbrellas. Kyoto, Japan. By Brian Heath. JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line! 

Track: Waltz For Debby | Artist: Bill Evans | Album: [Live Performance] Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Oh hey, here’s another Pokémon tune! This time, it’s Magnemite (known as “Koiru” in Japanese) who gets the song. 

Introducing A New Pokémon App Called Pokéland

In Pokéland, toy Pocket Monsters duke it out on various in-game islands. Think Pokémon Rumble, but for smartphones. Slated for iOS and Android, this app requires an internet connection and uses your Nintendo Account (meaning that your Mii can appear in Pokéland). The app is going into an Android-only alpha test in Japan. The test…

The Hunter X Hunter Manga Returns This June

It looks like Hunter X Hunter’s latest hiatus is drawing to a close. The manga will resume regular publication on June 26 in Weekly Shonen Jump Earlier this month, there was speculation that Hunter X Hunter was returning to print. At that time, its publisher replied, “Regarding the serialization’s resumption, that is undecided at this…

The Ginza Line. Tokyo, Japan. By João Salgueiro. JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!

Track: Tadano Tomodachi | Artist: salyu × salyu | Album: s(o)un(d)beams Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Sony Finally Killed Off The PS3 In Japan 

In Japan, currently there is only one model of PlayStation 3: the charcoal black 500GB version. Make that, was. This article was originally published on March 17, 2017. It has since been updated. March 23 Update – 4:32am: Sony Japan tells Kotaku, “PS3 shipment in Japan is ending ‘soon’ but the production of PS3 itself…

That’s A Good-Looking Pikachu Train

Since 2012, the Pokémon With You train has been making kids happy in Eastern Japan. Now, in 2017, it’s time for the train to get a makeover. Over the years, Japan has seen various Pocket Monster trains, including a Pokémon-covered bullet train. Originally, the Pokémon With You train was inaugurated to help lift spirits in…

Square Enix Announces New JRPG Lost Sphear For PS4, Switch, And Steam

The followup to I Am Setsuna is Lost Sphear, the latest release from Square Enix’s Tokyo RPG Factory. Here’s how Square Enix describes the game: The adventure of LOST SPHEAR begins in a remote town where a young boy, Kanata, awakens from a devastating dream to find his hometown disappearing. To stop the world from…

Merlion. Singapore. By David Teo. JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!

Track: Somebody To Love | Artist: Queen | Album: A Night at the Opera Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Square Enix Moves Final Fantasy VII Remake Development In-House

Previously, Square Enix was working with external studio CyberConnect2 to develop Final Fantasy VII Remake. But now, Square Enix will be making the game in-house. Third party studio CyberConnect2 is perhaps best known for its Naruto and .hack games. Back in 2015, it was revealed that Square Enix was working with the studio on the…

The PS4 and Switch versions of Dragon Quest X have release dates for Japan: DQX for PS4 will be out August 17, while DQX for Switch will be out September 21. No word yet about outside Japan. 

Studio Ghibli Celebrates Delicious Anime Food 

As far as animated food goes, Studio Ghibli’s looks delicious. Now at the Ghibli Museum, there is an official exhibition depicting recreations of the studio’s eats. The exhibit is called “Delicious! Animating Memorable Meals” in English (in Japanese, it’s “Taberu wo Kaku” or 食べるを描く, which is “Drawing Eating”). It began this weekend and runs until…

Monster Hunter XX Getting Special Switch Hardware In Japan 

To mark Monster Hunter XX’s Switch version, Capcom is releasing a special MH emblazoned Switch. The whole Switch isn’t covered in Monster Hunter—just the Switch dock. But for most fans, that should be enough! Guess so, because it’s already sold out on Capcom’s online shop. This hardware bundle also comes with a copy of the…

Old and New. Seoul, South Korea. By Edward Alan Bartholomew. JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!

Pokémon Played Baseball And It Was Insane

For the first time in 18 years, the Pokémon anime featured baseball—er, “Pokébase.” That, and some truly bonkers animation. The last time a Pokémon anime featured baseball, it wasn’t nearly as bananas. This time, though… Pokémon Sun Moon airs every Thursday in Japan at 6:55pm. Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing…

Japanese Comedian Cut From Gintama Movie After Drunk Driving Arrest

Earlier this month, comedian Galigali Galixon was arrested in Osaka for drunk driving. This summer, the live action version of Gintama, a film the comedian has a small role in, is slated to hit Japanese theaters. Make that had a small role. In the wake of his arrest, which made the national news (above), Warner…

Released on the Xbox One last year, Raiden V has been announced for PS4 and Steam as Raiden V: Director’s Cut. It will be released this year in North America, Europe, Japan, and elsewhere in Asia.