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CultureTrackmania Cheating Scandal Is Utterly Fascinating
Back in March,I spent a very long time watching Trackmania videos, despite it being a game I don’t really play and know almost nothing about. Today we’re back with another one, just as good, only this time about something less celebratorythan a world record This time it’s about a cheating scandal, when one of the…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 24, 2021 -
Culture18 Years Later, Microsoft Is Fixing Halo’s Graphics On The PC
Halo’s original PC port, released in 2003 and handled by Gearbox, was mostly fine, but it also had some weird issues, mostly related to funky textures. Fans have just kinda put up with them ever since, but in 2021 Microsoft is finally getting around to fixing them. The video below shows a range of texture…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 24, 2021 -
CultureReport: Watch Dogs Started Out As A Driver Sequel
Watch Dogs started life as a Driver game, according to a new report from VG 24/7. But through development it grew beyond what that series was about and into something pitched to Ubisoft’s CEO as their “own GTA.” VG 24/7 spoke with three different sources—one currently at Ubisoft, a former senior Ubisoft employee, and finally…
By Zack Zwiezen Published May 24, 2021 -
CultureOdds and EndsNo Need To Wait: Fans Made Their Own Version Of Overwatch 2
After last week’s Overwatch 2 developer livestream, one fan created some of the changes coming in the new game in Overwatch’s workshop mode. In workshop mode, players can create custom games that allow them to do anything from train their aiming skills to play an Overwatch-ified version of Flappy Bird or Bejeweled. Reddit user Ajfis3,…
By Ash Parrish Published May 24, 2021 -
CultureTwitchTwitch’s New Hot Tub Category Is Full Of Parodies, Fakes, And Scams
Last week, Twitch finally responded to controversy surrounding the so-called “hot tub meta” by clarifying its rules and creating a new section called Pools, Hot Tubs, and Beaches. Given that many complaints about hot tub streams stemmed from the idea that they represented a “loophole” in Twitch’s rules, it has certainly been something to watch…
By Nathan Grayson Published May 24, 2021 -
CultureReddit Asked The Apex Legends Team Why Skins Cost 20 Bucks
The official Apex Legends subreddit hosted an AMA last week with the game’s development team. Fans had questions about everything from weapon balance to character tweaking, and most controversial of all, how the Apex Legends team monetizes its offerings. One Redditor user, x5hadau, asked why some cosmetic skins seem so expensive. “I get that you…
By Jonathan Lee Published May 24, 2021 -
CultureElite Dangerous CEO Apologizes For Odyssey’s Buggy Launch
Odyssey, a large expansion for space exploration simulator Elite Dangerous, launched last week as a buggy mess. This led to a lot of fan backlash and negative Steam reviews. In response to these issues, developer Frontier Developments’ CEO apologized for the terrible launch. Elite Dangerous: Odyssey launched on May 19 on PC. In the days…
By Zack Zwiezen Published May 24, 2021 -
CultureE3 Fan Registration Opens Up Next Week
Following a year off as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, E3 will return next month as an all-digital event. It’s free—despite what some earlier reports suggested—but you’ll still have to register if you want access to what passes as a show floor at an online event without an actual show floor. Registration will kick…
By Ari Notis Published May 24, 2021 -
CultureThe Week In Games: Biomutant Is Almost Here
Open-world RPG Biomutant is out this week on PS4, Xbox One and PC. Biomutant was first revealed back in 2017. A lot has happened since then, but finally, after some radio silence had folks worried about its fate, Biomutant is almost here. For those looking to play Saint’s Row: The Third again, it’s out on…
By Zack Zwiezen Published May 24, 2021 -
CultureDaigo Umehara Describes His Battle With Covid-19: ‘It Was Hell’
As reported earlier this month, esports pro Daigo Umehara was hospitalized after contracting covid-19. This weekend, Umehara tweeted that he had been discharged. Thank goodness. Daigo expressed tremendous gratitude for the medical attention he received, adding that he is on the road to recovery. “After nearly two weeks of treatment, today I was released from…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 24, 2021 -
CultureTwitch Adds Over 350 New Tags Like ‘Black’, ‘Transgender’ And ‘Disabled’
Starting this week, streamers on Twitch are going to have over 350 new tags they can use to help classify their streams, related to “gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ability, mental health, and more”. Twitch announcedthe expansion of its tag system late last week, saying they “are completely optional” and “simply give creators more choices”.…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 23, 2021 -
CultureFrosthaven Is Rethinking Its Fantasy ‘Races’
Gloomhaven sequel Frosthaven isn’t even out yet and it’s already tracking to be one of the biggest board games of the last decade, so it’s very cool seeing the way the game is going to taking a different approach to the way its “races” are depicted compared to more traditional fantasy storylines. In a major…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 23, 2021 -
CultureLittleBigPlanet Servers Closed After Hackers Post Hateful Messages
For a while now, PS3 platformer LittleBigPlanet has been under attack, its servers repeatedly the target for people with nothing better to do than annoy whatever fanbase is left for a game that was first released in 2008. The game’s servers have been struggling since March, when it was assumedthat DDOS attacks were the cause…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 23, 2021 -
CultureOdds and EndsAssassin’s Creed: Valhalla Player Uses Oil Jar To Make Stacking Stones Puzzle A Bit Easier
Stacking stones to create cairns is an activity any Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla player has run into at some point. Many find these stone stacking puzzles to be frustrating and bullshit. So, here’s a tip: Just bring an oil jar to help make the process easier. Reddit user LN404 was messing around with a stone stacking…
By Zack Zwiezen Published May 23, 2021 -
CultureShop Contest‘Shop Contest: Cicadas
I feel like everywhere I look online I see people talking about cicadas. I even had to help create a Photoshopped image for a cicada-related story earlier this week. So if I have to suffer, so do you all. Your challenge this week: Add cicadas to video games. I hate these things. But after spending…
By Zack Zwiezen Published May 23, 2021 -
CultureOdds and EndsSomeone Recreated The Mandalorian‘s Ship And More In Far Cry 5
Sure, we might not be getting a new season of The Mandalorian for some time, but until then you can play this Far Cry 5 custom map that recreates the city seen in the first episodes of the show located on the planet Nevarro and the Mando’s sweet spaceship, the Razor Crest. This custom level was created…
By Zack Zwiezen Published May 23, 2021 -
CultureSunday Comics: That’s Interesting
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 May 20. Read more of Corpse Run Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich. Published May 17. Read more of Awkward Zombie Clueless Hero by…
By Zack Zwiezen Published May 23, 2021 -
CultureShop Contest‘Shop Contest: New PS5 Controllers, Winners!
Can you really have fun with some controllers covered in new paint? It turns out, that yes, yes you can! Our winning image this week comes from Baodonkagronk who created something wonderful. And, I believe, totally historically accurate. I’m not going to even Google it. I just feel it my bones. I greatly enjoyed the…
By Zack Zwiezen Published May 22, 2021 -
CultureChaos At A Walmart As People Rush To Buy Pokémon Cards
The continued shortage of Pokémon cards, fueled by the pandemic,Twitch streamers, and scalpers, led to a chaotic situation at a Walmart in Pennsylvania. The moment the store opened, folks began to run to the section of the store where trading cards are sold, leading to chaos and one sad sight. In a video captured by…
By Zack Zwiezen Published May 22, 2021
