Culture

AGDQ’s Shovel Knight Speedrun Race Was Tense

Speedrunning charity event Awesome Games Done Quick is in full swing and already producing some amazing runs. Yesterday, a speedrun race between two Shovel Knight players stole the show. Awesome Games Done Quick or AGDQ showcases some of the best speedrunners in a week long charity drive for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. In addition to…

Track: Shelter | Artist: Porter Robinson & Madeon | Album: Shelter Single Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Track: Leaving nothing but the absence of everything | Artist: Young And In The Way | Album: I Am Not What I Am

Bioshock Cosplay, Buried At Sea

BioShock Infinite’s Elizabeth is cool, but she’s a lot cooler in the game’s DLC, which explains why so many people are out there doing such a good job cosplaying the character. This is Lunaritie doing a full shoot as the more adult Elizabeth, with photography by Kristy Che I want to party wherever it is…

The Week In Games: Hold On To Your Vocals

The latest Hatsune Miku game hits the West this week along with a handful (literally) of other games. Prepare your ears for the tones of the future and some beats that will blow your mind. For those unacquainted with the Hatsune series, like me, they are ports of arcade rhythm games that star a Vocaloid…

Gaming’s First Vibrator Turns 15 Years Old This Weekend

The PlayStation 2 version of Rez had one of video gaming's most unique peripherals

Track: Aurora Northern Quarter | Artist: Lone | Album: Reality Testing Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Sunday Comics: Get Good

Welcome to Kotaku’s Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics that usually occurs on Sunday except when it doesn’t. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon. Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira. Published January 7. Read more of Nerf NOW!! Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich. Published January 2. Read more…

This Week In The Business: The Toilet Question

QUOTE | “With every change or update or addition we always have this weird, core question to weigh: does it make the game better or worse to play in the bathroom?” – Fingersoft CEO Teemu Närhi asks the key question at the heart of modern mobile development QUOTE | “There’s still a lot of change…

Counter-Strike League Shuts Down After Players Organize Against Owners

Earlier this year, a new esports league, The Professional eSports Association (PEA), burst onto the scene. It was unique in that it was owned by bigtime esports teams, rather than a third party. Immediately there were worries of impropriety. Now, in the wake of a recent controversy, the PEA has suspended its Counter-Strike league. It…

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

Readers, this weekend is my birthday! I’m making a big stink because I like birthdays a lot. I have some plans with some people, as one should on one’s birthday, and I also have to remember to call my sister because it’s her birthday too (we’re twins). But I’m also looking forward to playing some…

Overwatch’s Bastion Becomes Bouncing Death Machine

Today on Highlight Reel we have space ejects, gravity star moves, beautiful Battlefield 1 montages and much more! Watch the video 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. Subscribe to Kotaku on YouTube for more! Editor’s note:…

Track: Saishuu Heiki Girl | Artist: Six Lounge | Album: Saishuu Heiki Girl single Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Eww, Bloodborne Cosplay

The cosplay itself isn’t “eww”. It’s fantastic, with a surprising amount of detail! But there’s just something gross and creepy about seeing Souls/Bloodborne stuff that isn’t heroic knights come to life like this. Which, counter, is entirely the point Chime Maiden cosplay by Shade Cramer. Photos by Vladimir Burykin

Stardew Valley Made More Money On Steam Than Most Holiday Blockbusters

Steam Spy just released a big 2016 data dump, and it’s certainly revealing. Valve revealed the top 100 most money-making Steam games of 2016, but they didn’t provide any data beyond vague rankings. Steam Spy, on the other hand, offers data for days, but it’s all estimated, albeit fairly rigorously. Here are their most interesting…

Hey There Tank Girl

Igor-Alban Chevalier, aka The Black Frog, is an artist who has worked for companies like Blizzard, Xbox, Sony and Ubisoft. He also works in film (X-Men, Brotherhood Of The Wolf & Harry Potter) and comics as well. You can see more The Black Frog’s art at his personal site and ArtStation page To see the…

Track: New Wares Are The New Heirs | Artist: R23X, feat. Devora Shavinksy | Album: VELTAHL Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Ciri by Lyz Brickley. Photo by beethy

If Force Awakens’ BB-8 Was A Bad Guy

We’ve seen what a lumbering killing machine looks like when it works for the Empire, but this is what cute lil’ BB-8 would look like if he was in the service of space fascists. It’s by George Damiani, a 3D artist from Brazil, and combines a few elements from Rogue One (the colour scheme of…

Someone made a coaster planet in Planet Coaster. “Wrapping itself around a sphere no larger than the average asteroid, Planet Coaster launches itself up to speeds surpassing 100 km/h,” writes creator Silvarret. Props to them for this truly inspired goof.