Culture

Blizzard Removes Controversial Hero Pools From Overwatch‘s Competitive Mode

Earlier this year, Blizzard gave Overwatch fans clamoring for a hero pick/ban system what they were asking for—sort of. The hero pool feature did indeed ban certain heroes, but Blizzard was doing the choosing. This led to regular consternation from pros and regular players alike. As a result, Blizzard has decided to retire the system…

Sony Will Now Reveal The PlayStation 5 On June 11

Sony today has announced that June 11 is when they will have their big PlayStation 5 reveal event. Specifically on June 11 at 9:00 BST (4 PM ET). That’s when Sony will finally reveal more details and show some games coming to the PS5 when the new console releases later this year. The first indication…

Need For Speed Heat Becomes The First EA Game To Get Cross-Play

Need for Speed Heat is getting cross-play starting June 9, making it the first EA game to let people from different platforms finally play together. The feature is getting added in the game’s final update, due out tomorrow. Once it’s live, players will be able to opt into cross-play from the game’s settings and race…

How’s It Going?: Togetherness Edition

Welcome to another Monday, and welcome back to our daily open thread. I went to a protest here in New York Friday night, which was a weird experience after spending three months studiously avoiding people whenever possible. It wasn’t the most organized march, not helped by the fact that it’s really hard to hear what…

Paper Beast, the stunning PlayStation VR game from the creator of Another World, isn’t just for PSVR anymore. Paper Beast is coming to PC virtual reality platforms this summer, with continuous move support, upgraded graphics, new creatures, and more. 

The Week In Games: Satisfactory Comes To Steam

Once exclusive to the Epic Games Store, Satisfactory is making the jump to Steam this week. I enjoyed my brief time with Satisfactory, but it never clicked with me like I was hoping. Something about building complex systems in first-person didn’t work with the way my brain is wired. I’ve seen folks making amazing things…

Track: West End Girls (New Lockdown Version) | Artist: Pet Shop Boys | Album: West End Girls (New Lockdown Version) (single)

Here Comes The Sun. Essex, NY. By Dan Smith | Instagram | Official Site 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

Red Dead Redemption 2 Mod Turns Arthur Into A Super Cowboy

If you are bored with riding horses and shooting bandits and want to fly around the Old West like Superman, a new mod will let you do just that. And unlike Superman, you can use your powers to be an asshole. Aptly named Super Arthur, this powerful PC mod comes from prolific GTA and Red Dead…

‘Shop Contest: Ladders

The Sims 4 finally got ladders. This opens up a whole bunch of new building options for players. So, with this historic day upon us, it feels like we should celebrate these new ladders! Your challenge this week: Add ladders to other video games. I’ll be honest, the real reason I’m asking you to add…

How’s It Going?: New Desk Edition

Quickly, into my office! I have something to tell you. Yes, you. Turns out, the rumors are true. Kotaku’s daily open thread is live! I signed a lease for a new apartment recently and we move late July. So I’ve begun looking for a new desk for my new office. I’ve never had an office.…

Sunday Comics: Assistance Please!

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 June 4. Read more of Corpse Run Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich. Published June 1. Read more of Awkward Zombie Clueless Hero by…

‘Shop Contest: National Eyewear Day, Winners!

Happy National Eyewear Day, which is a totally real holiday. Stop laughing back there. I have my glasses on so I see you. Now, put your glasses on and take a look at these great images! Our winning image this week comes from MonoArtan who is also banned for life, but this image made me…

The Internet Reacts To Destiny 2’s Slowly Exploding Spaceship

Today thousands of gamers around the world met in Destiny 2 and then spent like a solid hour waiting and waiting and waiting for the game’s first big live event. Eventually, something happened. A big ship was destroyed. It took a long time, it wasn’t very exciting until the end and a lot of people…

Please, No Flash Photography!

This week on Snapshots we look at a lovely sunset, a smoking cowboy, some creepy birds, a big shark in Assassin’s Creed, and surprise a poor, little, critter with a bright flash of light. “Leave me alone, you damn paparazzi!” Kotaku Snapshots is a weekly look at some of the best, funniest and coolest screenshots…

Giant Space Ship Blows Up Very Slowly In Destiny 2‘s First Major Live Event

Destiny 2 had it’s first big Fortnite-style live event today with players crowding around to watch as the Almighty space ship that had been hurtling toward Earth all season was finally shot down. The only problem was it took forever. The live event kicked off at 1:00 p.m. ET with an in-game alert telling players…

Itch.io Is Selling A Bundle Of Over 700+ Games For $5 To Support Racial Justice And Equality

The indie game store Itch.io has put together a massive bundle containing 742 indie games worth over $3,400 and is selling the whole thing for $5 to help raise money to support the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Community Bail Fund. The collection was launched three days ago to support the Black Lives…

Cutiefly Knows That Amber Is The Color Of Your Energy

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 Cutiefly! Cutiefly Details Type: Bug/Fairy Average Height: 0′ 04″ Average Weight: 0.4 lbs First Added In Generation VII Cutiefly,…

How’s It Going?: Finishing A Big Game Edition

Welcome, to another wonderful, amazing, and damn fine open thread from Kotaku! We do this daily! Come on in and chat. Finally, I beat Assassin’s Creed: Odyessy. For the last two weeks, I’ve been playing 4 to 6 hours a night. Every night. And after finishing a bunch of side quests and locations, I, at…

In a developer update, Crucible developers Relentless Studios have announced that they are removing two of the three game modes from the free-to-play shooter. The developer says they want to focus on their most popular mode while working to improve the game and add features like voice chat.