Culture

Players Duped By Steam’s Winter Sale ‘ARG’ Send Valve An Actual Red Herring

Steam’s big winter sale included an alternate reality game that… really wasn’t. After following a rather unsatisfying breadcrumb trail, players unlocked a Steam badge titled “Red Herring.” Very funny, Valve. Now, though, joke’s on them. A member of the subreddit dedicated to untangling Valve’s web of steamy secrets confirmed that a) they sent Valve some…

To The Moon, the 2011 story game that made everyone cry, is finally getting a sequel. Titled Finding Paradise, it’s about traversing the memories of another dying patient to fulfill their last wish. This time, it’s the boy (now grown-up) from spin-off A Bird Story. The game will be out late 2016 or early 2017.…

Track: Compendium | Artist: Elder | Album: Lore Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

When A Final Fantasy Artist (And Neil Gaiman) Did Sci-Fi David Bowie

I know Mike already wrote a piece on the sad passing of David Bowie, but for tonight’s Fine Art I wanted to talk about/show something as well, one of the cooler times the great man’s work intersected with both video games and comics. In 2004, an unlikely pairing saw comics superstar Neil Gaiman and renowned…

Octonauts Cosplay!

It’s the best, because Octonauts is the best. Cosplay by pineappleundies

One of the World’s Best Speedrunners Can’t Speedrun Anymore

Narcissa Wright used to be the fastest Zelda: Ocarina of Time player. Her best run was nearly perfect, the stuff of, well, legends. Cut to now: Wright has developed hand problems and can’t speedrun. She’s also decided to undergo hormone replacement therapy. Her life is fraught with change, and some of her viewers aren’t taking…

The Ugliest Thing Snacktaku Has Ever Eaten

Earlier this week I encountered a food creation so hideous that I set up my camera in the noisy press room at the 2016 Smite World Championship and recorded a Snacktaku video so I could get it over with. Originally published 1/9/16 The main source of sustenance at the Cobb Energy Center in Atlanta, which…

Monday Comics: That’s A Lot Of Blood

Welcome to Kotaku’s Monday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics one day later than usual. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon. Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira. Guest comic published January 8, with gorgeous work by Pseudonym from Cassiopeia Quinn. Read more of Nerf NOW!! Awkward Zombie by Katie…

Track: Heroes | Artist: David Bowie | Album: Heroes Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

One Punch Man vs Marvel vs DC

Lee Woo-chul is a freelance concept artist from South Korea. You can see more of Lee’s work at his personal site and 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…

Watch The Final Day Of The Weeklong Awesome Games Done Quick Charity Marathon

Just when you thought the holidays were ending, along comes an entire week of super-speedy runs through your favorite games for an excellent cause. It’s time for Awesome Games Done Quick. Let’s watch together! Along with its summer variant, the Awesome Games Done Quick marathon has quickly become one of my favorite gaming events of…

This Week In The Business: Shinra Falls Again

QUOTE | “[Shinra Technologies] has found no prospective investors at this point, and therefore has to discontinue its business.” – Square Enix, explaining why it shuttered the cloud-gaming subsidiary founded by former Square Enix president Yoichi Wada Elsewhere in the business of gaming this week… QUOTE | “2015 was a monumental year for Xbox –…

Undertale, As Told By Steam Reviews

Undertale came out of nowhere and turned RPGs upside-down with its deft mix of emotions, dogs, emotions, and more dogs. It’s become one of the biggest games on Steam. Undertale currently has nearly 30,000 Steam reviews, a whopping 97 percent of which are positive. As I discussed in my own review, this is a game…

Counter-Strike’s new gloves look snazzy. Valve decided to ring in a new year of CSGO by giving your in-game hands a modern makeover. Players are already coming up with ideas for (pretty cool looking) skins, and other players are saying, “Shhhh, quiet! Valve will get ideas about monetizing glove skins!”

Track: Fools Gold | 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.

Time For Arts & Crafts, Kids

Zeen Chin is an artist from Malaysia who has recently worked on games like Legend Of The Cryptids, Galaxy Saga and Kingdom Death You can see more of Zeen’s workat 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…

Ark: Survival Evolved Mod Lets You Make Disgusting Meat Houses

Well, this sure is… uhhh. That is to say… er. Hm. Ever wanted to live in a house made of glistening meat, blanched bones, and striated fibers, all pulsating together in nauseating harmony? Now, now, don’t screamvomit (from excitement!) all at once. Instead, check out infinitesunrise’s Meat Structures mod for Ark: Survival Evolved. It’s everything…

Fallout Player Slams Deathclaw Into Vertibird

Today on Highlight Reel we have massive car crashes, awesome motorcycles, sad supermen, ground pound denial, and much more! Watch the video above, 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. Metal Gear Online – superman having a…

Mario Maker‘s Cruelest Level Designer Has Made A Stage For Normal People

“I tried to be kind with this level,” said Alex “PangaeaPanga,”a man responsible for many of Mario Maker’s toughest levels. His latest creation was unveiled at Awesome Games Done Quick yesterday evening. Most humans are not capable of beating a level made by Panga. Hell, one guy even started crying after finishing it. We are…

Podcast: The Year Of Virtual Reality Devices

Is this truly the Year of Virtual Reality? Or just the Year That A Lot Of VR Devices Come Out? Find out on today’s episode of Kotaku Splitscreen Join your friendly podcast hosts for an intimate discussion about the $600 Oculus Rift and how it’ll fit into our video game playing in the coming years.…