Ian Walker

Call Of Duty: Warzone Devs Rename Controversial ‘Border War’ Skin

A controversial Call of Duty: Warzone skin saw its name and description changed by developer Infinity Ward in an update released earlier today Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone players used to be able to equip operator Wayne “D-Day” Davis with a unique skin named “Border War” which, when combined with its description, seemed…

New Online Harassment Hotline Offers Emotional Support To Game Industry

Several prominent members of the gaming community have come together to organize a new text-based hotline aimed at providing emotional support to the industry, especially those that feel isolated by abuse and harassment. The Games and Online Harassment Hotline, which was announced earlier today during a Games for Change panel and launches on August 3,…

Ghost Of Tsushima: The Kotaku Review

Ghost of Tsushima is a game of compulsion. Like most open-world adventures, everything is designed to get you to explore what’s over the next hill or across that nearby river. The map is peppered with question marks, many of which surround towns and temples in which you meet allies and upgrade equipment. Helpful diversions like…

Strong Songs, a music podcast hosted by former Kotaku editor Kirk Hamilton, recently tackled the “World 1-1″ theme from Super Mario Bros It’s a neat look at the various pieces that make up the iconic track as well as some of its influences, like the mambo stylings of Tito Puente. Check it out!

Rare Copy Of Super Mario Bros. Sells At Auction For Record-Breaking $114,000

A mint-condition sealed copy of the original Super Mario Bros. sold at auction for $114,000 on July 10, setting a new record for the sale of a single collectible video game. The previous record, a private sale for $100,150 in February 2019, was another sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. “How the heck did they…

Top Ubisoft Executives Out Amid Allegations Of Company-Wide Misconduct

Serge Hascoët has resigned as Ubisoft’s chief creative officer after weeks of damning accounts of sexual misconduct throughout the company’s various studios, according to a Saturday evening press release. Yannis Mallat, the powerful head of Ubisoft’s Canadian studios, is also out effective immediately, as is the company’s global head of human resources Cécile Cornet. Hascoët…

Everything Announced During Devolver Direct 2020

In lieu of E3, the folks at Devolver Digital shared their latest nightmare look at the world of video games through a special “direct” presentation today. Here’s everything they showed off. We got an extended look at Shadow Warrior 3. As expected, it’s very bloody. It will be available in 2021. Massively multiplayer online party…

Over 50 Sexual Misconduct Allegations Have The Super Smash Bros. Community In Turmoil

The competitive community for Nintendo’s popular Super Smash Bros. series has recently been rocked by an overwhelming amount of sexual misconduct allegations. An endless stream of victims—many speaking out against highly-skilled, popular, or otherwise powerful individuals—has come forward to expose the dark underbelly of a scene built around playing an ostensible children’s game. This has…

The Sims Is Getting A Reality Show Because Why Not

A competition-based reality show themed around The Sims is happening whether you like it or not. The Sims Spark’d, which is set to premiere on July 17, tasks its contestants with building “the most unique characters, worlds and stories” in The Sims 4, according to a press release. Other than that, details are sparse, but…

Evo Online Cancelled After Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Others Withdraw Over Abuse Allegations

Evo Online has been officially canceled following decisions by multiple developers to distance themselves from the event, Kotaku has learned. Street Fighter V, Mortal Kombat 11, and more were pulled from Evo Online following allegations of sexual misconduct against the organization’s co-founder and CEO, Joey “Mr. Wizard” Cuellar. Mortal Kombat 11 narrowly missed out on…

Evo Suspends CEO Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations [UPDATE: CEO Removed]

The co-founder and CEO of massive fighting game competition the Evolution Championship Series has been placed on administrative leave following allegations of past sexual misconduct, the organization said on Wednesday evening. The announcement came a few hours after veteran competitor Mikey “Crackpr0n” Pham accused the CEO, Joey “Mr. Wizard” Cuellar, of repeatedly preying on teenage…

Race To Clear The Division 2‘s New Raid Marred By Cheating Accusations

The Division 2 received its second post-game raid, Operation Iron Horse, yesterday, setting off a mad dash by players and content creators to be the first in the world to finish the difficult mission. It took the eventual winners over eight hours to complete the raid, but what should have been a moment of celebration…

Skullgirls players have put out a statement calling for designer Mike Zaimont’s indefinite banning from commentary and a two-year ban from competition due to recent allegations of sexual harassment. Major fighting game tournament Combo Breaker has said he won’t be welcome to attend in 2021.

Xbox Summer Fest Will Debut Over 60 Demos You Can Try At Home

With in-person gaming events out of the question this year, Xbox is turning to a digital alternative to show off some upcoming Xbox One games. Starting on July 21, the Summer Games Fest Demo Event will allow players to check out early builds for a ton of games from their couches rather than a crowded…

The impossibly cute Ooblets is entering early access on July 15. It will be available on both Xbox One and PC via the Epic Games Store.

Games Should Make Creating Just As Satisfying As Destroying

I’ve had a lot of fun with The Last of Us Part II, especially its more gruesome gameplay elements. As awful as it feels to admit, Naughty Dog made virtual murder fun. There’s a great sense of accomplishment in sneaking up on a pair of enemies, grabbing one, headshotting the other, and executing your captive…

Multiple People Accuse Skullgirls Developer Of Making Inappropriate Sexual Comments

Two people have accused Mike Zaimont, a lead designer on Skullgirls and Indivisible, of making them uncomfortable with demeaning and sexually suggestive comments. One incident allegedly occurred recently via private messages, while the other accuser claimed they happened in person over the course of years. Bunny is a popular Twitch personality with over 1.5 million…

Report: Harry Potter Game Devs Distressed Over J.K. Rowling’s Rampant Transphobia

Developers on the upcoming Harry Potter game have privately expressed concerns over series creator J.K. Rowling’s transphobic comments, according to a new report from Bloomberg Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was first published in 1997, eventually spawning a mega-popular series of young adult fantasy novels, movie adaptations, and various other merchandising. But as fans…

The former Mixer employee who raised concerns over racism in leadership is still calling for the manager in question to be fired. Natalia Domingo, who was the platform’s director of business development before it got shuttered, is accused of referring to streamers as “slaves” and herself as a “slave master.”

Beautiful New Borderlands 3 Expansion Tries To Tell A Better Story

I wasn’t expecting much heading into Bounty of Blood: A Fistful of Redemption, the third of four planned Borderlands 3 expansions. The vaguely western theme has been done to death and, truth be told, I hadn’t spent much time with the game since the last major update dropped. But what I found was a unique…