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Final Fantasy XV, As Told By Steam Reviews

It took more than a year, but the good, good anime boys’ roadtrip tour finally made a stop on PC. Have Steam reviewers accepted the sprawling, uneven fishing simulator in spite of its flaws, though? (Spoiler: Yes.) Given Square Enix’s not-so-great history with PC ports, we breathed a sigh of relief when it became apparent…

Black Panther Shows Us The Power Of A Good Villain

Straight out of Austin, we’re bringing you a bonus episode of Kotaku Splitscreen to talk Black Panther and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Former Kotaku and current io9 writer Evan Narcisse, who’s also writing a six-issue Marvel comic called Rise of the Black Panther, reunites with me and Kirk to talk about the adventures of T’Challa…

Some Things In Games Should Be Gross

A lot of little moments in games make you feel good. Mario’s jump is predictable and weighty, and headshotting a Fallen in Destiny 2 and seeing their soul leave their body will always give me a tiny burst of pride. What really fascinates me, though, are the moments in games that make you feel incredibly…

Artist Turns Child’s Sketch Into Hearthstone Card

I’ve drawn plenty of video game characters in my day, some real, some imagined, but none of them ever got transformed into the real thing by a professional artist like this kid’s did. Say hello to “LEOPARDEN!,” a Hearthstone minion dreamed up by someone’s 9-year-old daughter. According to her, “He lives in the caves and…

Her Story Creator’s Latest Is An Interactive Movie

Created by Her Story designer Sam Barlow, WarGames works like an interactive television show. It follows the story of Kelly, a hacker who goes from prankster to leader of a group exposing government secrets. As players choose what they see on screen, they slowly shape Kelly’s personality and make key choices that affect the story.…

Pro Gamers Are Getting Serious About Unionizing

Former Overwatch pro and coach Thomas “Morte” Kerbusch has partnered with sports labor attorney Ellen Zavian to push towards unionizing, according to a report from Liz Mullen in Sports Business Journal. Meanwhile, the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive pro scene is also forming a players association, thanks to the efforts of Scott “SirScoots” Smith, a longtime esports…

Junkrat Sucks

The worst feeling in a first-person shooter is having absolutely no idea why you died. Overwatch took that feeling, compressed it into a small Australian man, and armed it with grenades. Junkrat is Overwatch trash. Every game against him turns Overwatch’s impeccably-designed maps into booby-trapped dumpsters overflowing with exploding little Junkrat shits. As his teammate,…

Seriously Though, Maybe Get A Switch Stand

I’ve had my Nintendo Switch for a little over a year now, but I only just bought a stand for it last week. I shouldn’t have waited so long. I spend about half of my Switch time playing docked, and the other half in handheld mode. Before last week, when I was in handheld mode,…

I Love It When Games Don’t Tell Me Anything

Oxygen Not Included plays like trying to make a baking soda volcano in middle school. Instead of following any instructions, you dive in, make a mess, and hopefully learn something along the way. Don’t Starve developer Klei’s latest game is all about building a self sufficient base. Your workers, called duplicants, are stranded on an…

I’m Digging A Mystery Game That Turns Conversations Into Boss Battles

In my last diary entry, I discussed my love for good mysteries. This week the first episode of an intriguing game called The Council came to Steam, full of tense conversations and supernatural phenomena. It even lets you be best buds with George Washington. But what I like best is its conversational minigames. In The…

Darwin Project Is Like The Hunger Games for Streaming

Darwin Project is the latest game riding the battle royale wave. It takes its inspiration from The Hunger Games series and turns every match into a game show where the audience can help determine who lives and who dies. Ten players fight to be the last one standing in a frozen landscape full of lava…

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Will Be Out This Fall [Update: Trailer]

A new teaser countdown from Square Enix promises big Tomb Raider news tomorrow, but a quick HTML check will give it to you right now: Shadow of the Tomb Raider is coming out this September. Head to the official Tomb Raider website and you’ll see a message promising an announcement on March 15, 2018 at…

Monster Hunter World‘s First Major Update Hits March 22

On March 22, Monster Hunter World will get its first big update, bringing the monster Deviljho. Via Capcom, here are the gameplay changes and additions: And the weapon tweaks for improved game balance. Check out these screenshots. Also, on March 16, Capcom is sending out “Hunter Personal Grooming Tickets” so players will be able to…

Japan Is Getting A Hello Kitty Bullet Train 

In the wake of the Evangelion bullet train, Japan is getting a new special high-speed train featuring the country’s favorite feline friend This summer, a Hello Kitty-themed bullet train will begin service in Western Japan. Currently, there is only concept art. It’s pink and cute! Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing…

The Game Franchises That Will Exist 100 Years Into The Future

Video games are still a relatively young medium. Many of the most iconic characters weren’t created that long ago. But what about a century from now? Which ones will remain? A thread on 2ch, Japan’s most popular bulletin board, covered those same questions. The answers probably won’t be a surprise, but here are some, but…