Culture

Major Video Game Companies Could Be Doing More For Covid-19 Relief

I understand why people get excited when video game companies and their executives donate millions to charity, as has been happening recently. Big numbers make for catchy headlines. “They’re doing their part!” we tell ourselves, happy to see private citizens chip in where governments have so often failed. After all, none of us will ever…

Riot Says It Will Curb Valorant Toxicity After Own Employee Posts Video Of Sexist Harassment [UPDATE]

It is a regrettable sign of our times that women sharing videos of vocal, sustained harassment they’ve received in specific competitive multiplayer games has become a genre unto itself. The latest game: Riot’s still-in-testing tactical shooter Valorant. The latest person to share a video: A Riot employee. Late last week, a Riot UX designer who…

Fallout 76 Robot Won’t Stop Spamming Players With Communist Propaganda

Fallout 76’s Communist Collectron would rather help emancipate the proletariat than find rare weapons for players. The robot is one of the latest things you can buy from Fallout 76’s in-game shop. Like a traditional Collectron, it’s programmed to scavenge for resources while players are out adventuring. This one has a Commie twist, though, droning…

The Last of Us II Will Come Out In June, Ghost of Tsushima Delayed Until July

The Last Of Us Part II finally has a release date again: June 19. Sony announced the news over on the PlayStation Blog alongside an update that Ghost of Tsushima has been delayed by a month until July 17. Tsushima was originally set to release on June 26. Meanwhile, The Last of Us Part II…

How’s It Going?: Binge Edition

Welcome to another week, and welcome back to our daily open thread. I got a 30 day free trial to Showtime last week, so I’ve been watching a lot of the shows I’ve heard people talk about but never seen. Over the weekend I finished Kidding, a Jim Carrey show that features puppets. (I am…

2K Games Wants To Spend More Time Developing Next Game After The Disaster That Was WWE 2K20

2K Games announced today that it’s going to take more time and make use of a new executive producer to try and avoid another botched release like WWE 2K20. Last year’s World Wrestling Entertainment tie-in was a buggy mess when it launched. Five major updates later, 2K Games says it knows fans “want more from…

PSA: Beware Of Massive The Last Of Us II Spoilers From Apparent Leak [Update]

The wait for Naughty Dog’s indefinitely delayed sequel to The Last of Us just got a lot more frustrating. Footage allegedly captured from a near-final build of The Last of Us II was leaked on YouTube over the weekend, causing a cascade of major plot spoilers to flood social media channels and game forums. Update:…

Gorgeous Handmade Arcade Machines For Your Keyboard

The artisan keycap crafters at Jelly Key have outdone themselves with their latest project, a series of retro arcade machine caps with 3D gaming scenes rendered beneath translucent resin. Artisan keycaps are basically mechanical keyboard jewelry. They are sculpted bits of plastic, resin, and clay meant to accent colorful letters, numbers, and symbols, allowing the…

Track: Living In A Ghost Town | Artist: The Rolling Stones | Album: Living In A Ghost Town (Single)

New Leaves. Osaka, Japan. By Brian Ashcraft | Twitter 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

The Week In Games: Get Tactical, Gears!

The newest Gears of War game drops this week and it is different than every previous game in the franchise. Because it ain’t a cover shooter. Gears Tactics is a turn-based strategy game. I guess technically Gears Pop!, that mobile game that came out a while back, isn’t a cover shooter either. But nobody really…

Track: Far Away Eyes | Artist: The Rolling Stones | Album: Some Girls

‘Shop Contest: Astroneer Costume

It’s 2020 and I can’t believe we have to tell people this, but please don’t use Halloween costumes to protect your kids from a dangerous virus. You know this gives me an idea… Your challenge this week: Show us other places, games, and movies where this costume wouldn’t be very helpful. I guess if you…

How’s It Going?: Rainy Days Edition

Sunday is the end of the week, but before we leave this week lets have one more open thread. Come on over and chat about the week or whatever. Rain! I love the rain. I get excited when I hear storms rolling in and dark clouds start to fill the sky. I’m not trying to…

Sunday Comics: Turn Off That Game!

Hello! It’s time for Kotaku’s Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon. Corpse Run by Alex Di Stasi. Published April 23. Read more of Corpse Run Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich. Published April 23. Read more of Awkward Zombie Clueless Hero by…

‘Shop Contest: The Predator, Winners!

Cover yourself in mud and get ready to shoot at some trees, because last week I asked you to create some images starring The Predator. And you all did great. I think The Predator is still going to kill every one of us, but I’m proud of y’all! Our winning image this week comes from…

Gimme That Mask!

This week on Snapshots some strange objects, a quiet shop in Midgar, an entrance to a dark and scary tomb, colorful lights, nighttime trains, and an angry dude with a gun and baseball hat. “Look, are you mad because I told you to shut up? That was like a year ago!” Kotaku Snapshots is a…

Skrelp Eats Rotten Seaweed And Looks Like Rotten Seaweed

Every Pokemon is interesting and worth talking about. I don’t play a ton of Pokemon, but I do enjoy the universe and I love learning more about the creatures in it. So, Here’s Another Pokemon! It’s Skrelp! Skrelp Details Type: Poison/Water Average Height: 1′ 08″ Average Weight: 16.1 lbs First Added In Generation VI I…

How’s It Going?: PB&J Edition

The weekend is here! Congratulations, you made it. And your prize is a new open thread! Come chat with us. I’m 28 years old and I’ve had maybe 2 PB&J sandwiches in my entire life. My problem was not the flavor, I love peanut butter and I enjoy some jelly on my food. Instead, the…

Battlefield V Will Get One Final Update In June

Battlefield developers Dice announced earlier this week that one final update is coming to Battlefield V in June, though they will continue to combat cheaters even after this last update. Released in November 2018, Battlefield V took the popular series back to WWII, and over the last year and a half, it has been updated…