Culture

The Art Of Shin Megami Tensei IV

Even though I love Persona, I’d never played the core Shin Megami Tensei series before 2013’s IV. That gorgeous art pushed me over the edge, though, so it’s a pleasure to be able to showcase some of it here on Fine Art tonight. The pieces here are all from Udon’s Shin Megami Tensei IV art…

Ark: Survival Evolved Added Poop To Avoid Putting In A Suicide Key

In Ark: Survival Evolved, your character just kinda poops sometimes. It’s a little alarming at first, in the same way that I imagine pooping for the first time in real life is. The origin of that funny mechanic? Grimly serious. Turns out, Studio Wildcard co-founder Susan Stieglitz came up with it in order to get…

It’s Hard To Get Valve To Talk About Whether They Still Make Games

Recently at GDC I got to try out Valve’s new collection of VR game vignettes, The Lab. It was cool. It was also… another set of scattered ideas. It’s been years since Valve released a big game. The Lab is Valve’s Vive launch title, and it strings a series of VR minigames together with an…

The Year In StarCraft II

With StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void out the door, what’s next for Blizzard’s seminal RTS franchise? What else is coming this year? LET’S FIND OUT. On this week’s episode of our podcast, Kotaku Splitscreen, I’m joined by StarCraft II lead producer Tim Morten, who tells us about his history in the games industry and…

Now That Is Some Sensible Armor

Yangtian Li, aka Tian, is an artist from China. In addition to games stuff, Li also has an IndieGoGo running at the moment that’s all about ladies wearing armour. Proper armour. You can see more of Li’s work at her personal site and DeviantArt page. To see the larger pics in all their glory (or,…

Spectacular Final Fantasy Cosplay Looks Like A Screenshot

Kilory is Kilory, a human cosplayer. She is not, as these images might have you believe, a living, breathing incarnation of Final Fantasy XIII’s Lightning. With some help from props maker 月家猫空 璟宿 和谐, she’s gotten as close to the series’ likeness as I think a human being is ever going to get. Simply incredible…

Ten of the Best One-Night Games

Whether it’s an RPG that tells a story over dozens of hours, or a strategy game that takes months to master, games are often a considerable time investment. For many people this is central to gaming’s appeal: nowhere else in art can you find such complete worlds to lose yourself in or such stern challenges…

It’s A School Day

Krenz Cushart is an artist from Taiwan. You can see more work at his ArtStation page To see the larger pics in all their glory (or, if they’re big enough, so you can save them as wallpaper), click on the “expand” button in the top-left corner. Fine Art is a celebration of the work of…

Cosplay Ventures Into The Frozen Wilds

Cosplay photography is often at its best when it gets a little adventurous, daring to head outside the studio or convention floor and get as wild as the characters that are being cosplayed. That’s exactly what photographers Anna Fischer and Dave Yang decided to do when they recently took a road trip to the White…

You Know What They Say About Crustaceans With Small Feet…

Vadim Shchepilov is an artist from Ukraine who works at Whale Rock Games. You can see more of Vadim’s work at his personal site and ArtStation page To see the larger pics in all their glory (or, if they’re big enough, so you can save them as wallpaper), click on the “expand” button in the…

 Division NPCs Have Bad Timing

Today on Highlight Reel we have bad NPC timing, horrible car thieves, Rainbow 6 defenses, and much more! Watch the video above or on our Youtube Page, then talk about your favorite highlight in the comments below. Be sure to check out, like, and share the original videos via the links below EA Sports UFC…

No One Can Handle Six Pies At Once, Even On Pi Day

It’s March 14, 2016, also known as Rounded Pi Day. Chances of me ever eating six pies for a Snacktaku video again are incredibly slim, so here’s a replay of last year’s Ultimate Pi Day celebration for your dining pleasure. Originally posted 3/14/15 It’s March 14, 2015, the last day the U.S. date will align…

Track: Waterfall | Artist: The Stone Roses | Album: The Stone Roses Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

Kylie Ren Is Also Very Upset About Darth Vader, Life

Cosplayer Mistress of Fear calls this Fem Kylo Ren, but I figured—in keeping with the theme—that Kylie Ren had a better ring to it. The lightsaber is obviously eye-catching, but check out the detail she’s worked into stuff like the sleeves and robes; it’s almost a shame, because the all-black nature of Ren’s outfit means…

The Force Awakens’ Concept Art Had Some Cool Ideas

The website of Industrial Light & Magic, the design and effects team made famous by the original Star Wars, has shared a massive art dump from The Force Awakens, containing images from throughout the film’s development. Which is probably more exciting than the art itself! I mean yes, it’s nice seeing some near-final artwork here,…

Syrian Refugees Party At Furry Convention

A group of Syrian refugees, having just arrived in Canada, are being temporarily put up in a hotel. The same hotel that, last weekend, was also home to a convention for furries As The Independent reports, it was one hell of a culture shock for the refugees, but it worked out about as well as…

The Week In Games: Everybody Was Just Plain Fighting

I pieced together this image as a little joke for the top of the post, but the more I look at it the more I want to play a game where Pikachu Libre faces off against Conor McGregor. Sadly video games don’t work like Reese;s Peanut Butter Cups,so we’ll have to settle for picking up…

Some Real Talk With Tim Schafer 

Today on Kotaku Splitscreen, Double Fine CEO Tim Schafer joins us to talk about his piles and piles of money. Plus: how Day of the Tentacle holds up today, what it’s like inside the LucasArts barn, and some Real Talk about the relationships between journalists and game developers. Originally posted 3/10/16, but it’s Sunday now,…

Sunday Comics: Don’t Open That Door

Welcome to Kotaku’s Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon. Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira. Published March 9. Read more of Nerf NOW!! Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich. Published March 7. Read more of Awkward Zombie Penny Arcade by Jerry Holkins and…

This Week In The Business: Fear The Walking Dead

QUOTE | “[I]f it doesn’t make sense for the fans then you’re basically fucked. They’re gonna go to the App Store, give you one-star, and say, ‘This is not The Walking Dead.’” – Next Games CEO Teemu Huuhtanen, explaining how working with a brand sometimes has to limit larger business opportunities Elsewhere in the business…