In-Game Purchases Poison The Well

Video games will always manipulate us. Each challenge and scenario in a game has been carefully engineered to make us react a certain way. Most of the time, that’s what we sign up for. But the moment real money enters the equation, something changes. In-game purchases, also known as microtransactions, have been at the heart…

Many Assassin’s Creed Origins Players Aren’t Ready For The Game’s First Post-Release Boss Battles

A couple times over the past few weeks, a giant Egyptian deity has sprung up in Assassin’s Creed Origins for players to fight. In early November, it was Anubis, god of the dead. Around Thanksgiving it was Sobek, the crocodile god. The gods weren’t accessible when the game launched in late October and they each…

Come On, Anime

In the category of “gross anime things,” let’s talk a little about an increasingly popular gross anime thing commonly referred to as “Really 700 years old.” That’s when a 700-year-old demon with the body of a young girl who, somehow, finds herself in a sexually compromising position. Yep. Historically, the trope has referred to otherworldly…

Skyrim‘s World Is Still Gorgeous On A Handheld

Skyrim offers one of the most beautiful worlds in video games. The game’s Switch version adds some minor changes and lets you carry that world in your purse. The idea of having an adventure in your pocket has been a cornerstone of Nintendo’s success over the years. From The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening on…

The Cruel Blogfathers Of Deadspin Show Their True Colors

Compete is a joint project between Kotaku and Deadspin, and as the Compete editor and writers, we like to say that we have two dads. They’re both supportive, loving parents, if ones with slightly different workflows—or so we thought until last night, when one father’s apparently hidden resentments boiled over. We were scheduled to present…

Vortex Vibe Keyboard Review: Smaller By The Numbers

Sleek mechanical keyboards that strip away lesser-used keys in favor of a smaller footprint are picking up, but some people just can’t do without that number pad. Vortex’s new Vibe keyboard is a nice compromise, with some outstanding keycaps on top. A full-size keyboard has all the keys. A tenkeyless, or TKL keyboard, slices the…

Here’s December’s PlayStation Plus Lineup

There’s a range of games in December’s PlayStation Plus lineup, from the bloody action of Darksiders II to visual novel Xblaze Lost: Memories. As always, these games are only “free” if you have an active PlayStation Plus membership. December’s PS Plus lineup is: PlayStation 4 Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary…

New Downtown Diner Set Brings ’50s Flair To Lego Cities

The ever-expanding city block that is the Lego Creator Expert line of building sets gets a welcome splash of neon pink and green with the January 1 release of the Downtown Diner. It’s 2,480 plastic pieces that combine to form three floors of 1950s-style entertainment. I’ve been running out of room for built Lego sets…

Final Fantasy XV Gets Character Swapping

It’s the one-year anniversary of Final Fantasy XV’s launch, which means it’s nearly time for Square Enix to finish the game. Today, the studio announced plans to let you play it all as one of Noctis’s pals. The feature, which will be implemented at some point before the new downloadable content Episode Ignis drops on…

Rebellion Is Remaking Battlezone II: Combat Commander

Hot on the heels of 2016’s Battlezone 98 Redux and this year’s Battlezone VR, Rebellion announces Battlezone Combat Commander, a remastered version of 1999’s Battlezone II, due out next year on PC. That’s three Battlezone games in three years. Way to work that license, Rebellion.  Battlezone II: Combat Commander is a hybrid first-person shooter /…

Tokyo Disney Is Planning A New Amusement Park 

Currently, there are two Tokyo Disney parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Construction for a third park could start in 2025. The theme might be “Japan.” According to the official release (via Mainichi News), a “Japanese style theme” is being considered to appeal to tourists visiting the country. The park will feature new attractions and…

How Manga Characters Change and Evolve

Previously, Kotaku published an explainer on how anime art has changed in Japan over the decades. Now, let’s have a look at how some manga characters have evolved. It’s only natural for characters to evolve, and it happens any and everywhere. Heck, just compare Steamboat Willie and Mickey Mouse. What is interesting is to see…

The Least Surprising Japanese Game Delay Announcement of 2017

Between 2010 and 2011, war game Daisenryaku Perfect: Ruler of the Battlefield, which is made by a real Japanese game studio, was delayed eight times. Eight! So it’s no surprise that the PS4 version of the latest Daisenryaku Perfect game just got a new release date. Daisenryaku Perfect 4.0 was slated for a December 21…

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Gets Inevitable Fan Art

It’s like clockwork. If people are playing a game, then you better believe there is fan art. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is no exception. Here is a selection of work safe (of course there is NSFW stuff!) Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp fan art.

Tokyo’s Secret, Members-Only Nintendo-Themed Bar

To get into the private Nintendo-themed bar “84,” you gotta either be a member or know someone. Its address isn’t listed, and the establishment is strictly card-carrying members only. No wonder the door makes a Zelda secret sound when opened. Website Tofugu recently profiled 84, which is read as “Hashi.” The name is a wordplay…

A Wild Pikachu Appeared. Seoul, South Korea. By Lexi Santos 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!   

This is Waypoint’s excellent documentary on Angela “Overkill” Hill, the MMA fighter who is also an avid cosplayer