Kirk Hamilton

The Oculus Store Still Needs A Lot Of Work

Oculus didn’t just launch their Rift VR headset back in March—they also launched a software interface and an online store. The software functions similarly to Steam or GOG, working as a store, a social network, a game library and launching pad. It desperately needs an upgrade. Oculus’ software interface can be accessed either on your…

Bungie has issued a Destiny hotfix that they say should fix the bug in the “Players In Activity” feature that forced them to cancel multiplayer events like the Trials of Osiris and this week’s Iron Banner. Both events “may” return this weekend (Trials) and next week (Iron Banner), provided everything checks out post-hotfix. More info…

Limbo is free today and tomorrow on Steam. It’d be a fun one to replay in anticipation of Playdead’s extremely good follow-up Inside. But mostly: free Limbo!

Watch The Evolution Of Destiny’s User Interface

At the Game Developers Conference in March, Bungie’s David Candland gave a really cool talk about the evolution of Destiny’s UI. Among other things, he showed a bunch of prototype menu screens, and also explained the complicated process of fine-tuning a video game interface. GDC has posted a full video of Candland’s talk to YouTube.…

Chat With The Kotaku Staff About E3 [Update: Over]

The carpets have been rolled up, the speakers torn down. The bathrooms have gotten a vigorous cleaning. E3 is over, but our memories linger. Let’s chat. This year we sent Stephen Totilo, Jason Schreier and Patrick Klepek to Los Angeles to cover E3. The rest of us covered remotely, which as it turns out is…

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

E3 has come and gone, and we can groggily get back to talking about video games that are actually out. To that end: What are you playing this weekend? I’ll go first: I’m planning to play some more Overwatch, since a lot of the people I play with were in LA last week. I saw…

Thoughts & Prayers, A Short Video Game That Skewers Gun Control Inaction

Every time there’s a mass shooting in America—which is more or less constantly—politicians take to social media to talk about their thoughts and prayers. NRA-supported legislators tend to be particularly thoughtful and prayerful, something that’s thankfully been called out more aggressively of late. Thoughts & Prayers is a short, easy-to-play browser game from political game-makers…

No podcast episode today, sorry! Due to unexpected travel complications, Jason and I won’t be able to record our final E3 bonus episode of Kotaku Splitscreen. Thanks for listening along this week; we’ll be back next week with regular episodes.

20 Minutes Of Death’s Gambit, A Very Dark Souls Side-Scroller

I was wondering if we’d written about Death’s Gambit before, and all I could find was a 2014 post about how much I loved a GIF I saw of it. That GIF is still cool, but the actual game looks good, too. Yesterday at E3, the game’s lead designer Jean Canellas played through a demo…

Rain World’s Charming Slugcat Meets Some Dangerous New Beasts

We last checked in on Rain Worlda little over a year ago, with its nifty platforming and cute little Slugcat star.Yesterday at E3, half of the game’s two-man dev team showed off the progress they’ve made since then. This clip via Sony’s PlayStation underground stream: Rain World will be out “hopefully soon-ish,” according to the…

Today in sea shanties: These folks in pirate garb outside the Sea of Thieves booth at E3, as captured by Jason Schreier.

Podcast: E3 Day Three

We’re three days into E3, and there’s still plenty to talk about. Final Fantasy XIV, for example. And Final Fantasy XV. And maybe a little Final Fantasy XII. Let’s hit ‘em all, on another bonus E3 episode of Kotaku Splitscreen You can listen to the podcast on iTunes here, and we’re also on Google Play.…

Update:

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past will be out in North America on September 16. There’s a new trailer and everything! Dragon Quest theme music always makes me smile.

The line to play Zelda: Breath of the Wild at E3 is apparently really, really, really, really, really, really, really long. Like, really long. (h/t Polygon)

Watch 30 Extremely Impressive Minutes Of Gravity Rush 2 On PS4

Of all the games at this year’s E3, Gravity Rush 2 might be the one I’m most excited for. I loved Gravity Rush on Vita, and like it even more on PS4. The PS4 sequel, due later this year, however… rrrgh. Pour it into my brain and let me play it right now. It’s too…

Podcast: E3 Day Two

Yesterday, the show floor at the LA Convention Center opened and the E3 expo got underway. Zelda! Final Fantasy! Gwent! And so much more. Let’s discuss, on another bonus E3 episode of Kotaku Splitscreen You can listen to the podcast on iTunes here, and we’re also on Google Play. (The RSS has been running on…

Gravity Rush 2 is still looking great. I was remiss in not posting this trailer last night, and to be honest I halfway think Sony should’ve just spent their entire E3 press conference on this game. That’s just me, though.

Oculus Rift Exclusivity Debate Heats Up Over Serious Sam VR

The debate over “exclusive” Oculus Rift games reached a new pitch yesterday. The catalyst: Serious Sam VR, and the question of whether Oculus is attempting to buy up exclusivity for in-development games. Since the Rift launched in March, Oculus has offered a number of exclusive games for their headset. Games like Farlands, Lucky’s Tale, and…

Roach’s Gwent Card Is Perfect

I still don’t play Gwent in The Witcher 3, and I’m not sure about CD Projekt Red’s new standalone Gwent game, either. The card for Geralt’s horse Roach, however, is so perfect that it may convince me to finally start. Jason just played some Gwent at E3, so we’ll have more impressions of the game…