A patent granted to Activision outlines a new matchmaking system that would pair players together in order to encourage microtransactions. Systems such as loot boxes already use various tricks to encourage players to drop cash, so it’s not surprising that game publishers would want to find more underhanded ways to get those wallets open. First…
Mirror’s Edge is a 2008 game all about hardcore parkour and fluid movement. A new collaborative speedrun shows off exactly what happens when you toss expert players behind the wheel. The Mirror’s Edge speedrunning community released a segmented speedrun today, showcasing the game’s freerunning and some neat out of bounds glitches. A segmented speedrun takes…
Last month, rumors spread about the Polish company CD Projekt Red, mostly based on negative Glassdoor reviews complaining of mismanagement and low morale. This morning, CD Projekt Red released a statement in response, saying that its “approach to making games is not for everyone” and that the studio is taking its time on its next…
A new collection of concept art reveals details of a Halo Wars 3 pitch that featured space battles and XCOM-esque base management. Halo Wars 2 managed to capture the feeling of Bungie’s famous franchise but wasn’t that intense of a strategy game. A handful of art, shared by Creative Assembly concept artist Brad Wright, offers…
We’re playing the Switch port of Stardew Valley right now on Twitch. Time to harvest blueberries and romance the artist who lives by the lake.
The influx of randomized loot boxes into games like Shadow of War and Star Wars Battlefront II has kicked off a discussion about their inclusion in games. Discussions of multiplayer imbalance and blocked off game content ignore an important truth: loot boxes are an ethical problem. They exist largely to exploit players and create addicts.…
As reported by Gamasutra, IGN has acquired indie-game deal site Humble Bundle. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed but the site will continue operating independently, ensuring everyone has at least one cheap copy of RPG Maker that they never use.
Yesterday, The Good Life, the next project by Hidetaka “SWERY” Suehiro, failed to meet its crowdfunding goal on Fig. In a letter to fans, SWERY announced the project would move to Kickstarter. The Good Life captured people’s attention for its strange premise: a reporter moving to a country village where everyone turns into cats at…
We’re continuing our playthrough of Binary Domain right now on Twitch. It has a kickass French robot buddy. Il est incroyable!
EA has clarified in a blog post that the most powerful items in Star Wars Battlefront II’s loot crate based “star card” system will only be earned through in game achievements. Still, I’ve got a bad feeling about this…
Super Mario Odyssey comes out in two weeks. Some players are so eager to race through the game that they’ve started recording ‘speedruns’ at demo kiosks in department stores. Demo speedruns are mostly a chance to experiment with the game’s movement mechanics. Mario has some pretty great jumps in Odyssey and the ability to possess…
In The Norwood Suite, the chef asked me to go to his hotel room and pick up some pickles from the closet. Instead, I got lost in a hidden corridor that curved through the resort, dumping me out into the kitchen right next to the giant chess room. That’s just how it goes in The…
The Sonic Amateur Games Expo is a yearly showcase of ROM hacks and fan games. This year’s selection was full of gorgeous art, twisty levels, and new takes on the franchise’s speedy gameplay. These projects are as artful as anything Sega makes and some are just as massive as any AAA Sonic game. The expo,…
Dust 2 is one of the most famous Counter-Strike maps of all time, and it’s coming back to the newest version of that game. Valve revealed a reworked version of the iconic bomb defusal map, and it’s looking pretty great. Earlier this year, Dust 2 was removed from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s competitive playlist. The popular…
We’re continuing our playthrough of Deadly Premonition live now on Twitch.You’ll come and join us in chat, won’t you Zach?
I’ve been playing through Deadly Premonition and Binary Domain on Kotaku’s Twitch channel. One is an offbeat crime thriller and the other is a clumsy shooter about robots. They’re pure pulp. They’re also two of the best games I’ve ever played. Deadly Premonition and Binary Domain lack the refined technical polish or (supposedly) mature sensibilities…
We’re starting up a playthrough of Binary Domain live now on Twitch Am I a robot? Are you a robot? Who knows!
2004’s Spider-Man 2 is fondly remembered for being a pretty good movie tie-in game with some amazing web swinging. New York is a blast to zip through, but one speedrunner decided to see how fast they could complete the game without using its most exciting feature. Slyfincleton decided to speedrun their way through Spider-Man 2…
Giant robots are awesome and Gundam Versus has some of the best. But can a game offer you too many options? Heather takes a look in this critical video. Transcript: Gundam Versus is a fast affair full of laser swords, dashes, and sudden death. The game focuses on arcade battles between giant robots called mobile…
Nouris an art game about the beauty of food and playing with what you eat. With a few slaps of the keyboard, a ramen bowl gets packed with noodles while boba balls leap into tea cups. It’s silly but gorgeous. It’s this week’s Indie Pick. Made by TJ Hughes aka Terrifying Jellyfish, Nour seeks to…
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