- Esports
Blizzard Responds To Controversial Rumors Of $20 Million Overwatch League Buy-In Fee
Blizzard’s official Overwatch League is supposed to be the thing that catapults Overwatch esports to the next level. This week, though, it’s become an ominous cloud hanging over the scene. In the past nine days, nine days, no less than five esports organizations have dropped their Overwatch teams. Why so many? And why now? A…
By Nathan Grayson Published May 11, 2017 - Esports
Dota Pro Counters Time Travel With Map-Wide Grappling Hook
In today’s qualifier matches for Dota’s The Summit 7, Natus Vincere’s Danil “Dendi” Ishutin found himself warped away from a fight by Vega Squadron’s Disruptor. With seconds to save himself, Dendi landed a chain onto a nearby tree and took a journey through space and time. Disruptor’s “Glimpse” ability warps an enemy hero back to…
By Eric Van Allen Published May 11, 2017 -
UncategorizedThousands of Sims Players Want Their Characters To Have A Skin Condition
Just like humans, sims go through fashion trends. As people make custom content and mods, certain ones will rise to the top as particularly attractive or trendy. Right now, thousands of very trendy sims have vitiligo. People who have vitiligo lose the melanin in their skin—Michael Jackson famously had the condition. The vibrant and very…
By Gita Jackson Published May 11, 2017 -
CultureWind Waker HD Speedrunner Averts Disaster With Clutch Trick
Even the best players run into bad luck. Dying to some enemies should be enough to kill a speedrunner’s attempt at a fast time. But thanks to some quick thinking and a tricky glitch, a Wind Waker HD speedrunner brought Link back from the dead and saved their run. gymnast86 is a Zelda speedrunner who runs…
By Heather Alexandra Published May 11, 2017 - Esports
You’re Invited To Take On Top Street Fighter V Players In NYC This Weekend (Or Watch Others Try)
The concept we had was simple. Pit some of the world’s best pro gamers against regular folks. So that’s what we’re doing this Saturday. Do average gamers stand a chance against these guys? The elite players: Nuckledu, Justin Wong and Smug, all ready to battle you in Street Fighter V Their opponents: You! Or others…
Tim Marchman and Stephen Totilo Published May 11, 2017 -
UncategorizedHalo Fan Turns Microsoft’s Cortana Into Actual Hologram
Usually, Cortana the personal assistant is just a disembodied voice. One Halo fan decided to take his Cortana to the next level by building a rad hologram appliance that responds to your queries. The whole thing is still a work in progress, creator Jarem “untitled network” Archer says, but it’s still pretty cool to watch…
By Patricia Hernandez Published May 11, 2017 - Culture
Snacktaku Eats Something Healthy For A Change
Every time Snacktaku posts a review of some hideous food monster, people always ask, “How are you still alive?” They also ask, “When will you eat something healthy?” Why, right now, as I eat my way through two boxes of healthy snacks from LevelUp Foods’ subscription gamer treats service The gaming community is often stereotyped…
By Mike Fahey Published May 11, 2017 - Uncategorized
Seemingly Rare Game-Breaking Bug Found In PC Version Of Prey [UPDATE]
Prey players have apparently discovered a save-corrupting bug in the PC version that renders the new sci-fi game unplayable. Those of us at Kotaku who are playing Prey haven’t run into this one, but you should be aware nonetheless. The most high-profile report comes from IGN, whose reviewer enjoyed Prey but gave it a 4/10…
By Jason Schreier Published May 11, 2017 - Opinion
Paisley Princess Is A Terrific, Tiny Adventure Game In A 5×5 Grid
Paisley Princess takes all of the excitement and charm of a grand adventure game and shrinks it down to a snug 5×5 scale box for a pint sized bit of hacking and dungeon delving. It’s this week’s Indie Pick. Designed by Will Blanton (aka 01010111) Paisley Princess is a cute, Zelda-esque adventure that you can…
By Heather Alexandra Published May 11, 2017 -
UncategorizedPayday 2 Makers Donate DLC Profits To Help Big YouTubers Fight Legal Battle
It’s not often that game devs raise money for celebrities, but Ethan and Hila Klein aren’t ordinary YouTube stars. Right now, the comedy YouTubers say they are fighting an extraordinary—and expensive—legal battle over their right to make “reaction” videos for their 4 million YouTube subscribers. On April Fools, Overkill Software introduced Ethan Klein into first-person…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published May 11, 2017 - Uncategorized
Live Spiders Found Smuggled Inside Bootleg Nintendo Cartridges
Mexico’s Federal Police yesterday intercepted a shipment of contraband goods headed for the US at Guadalajara Airport. Inside was not drugs, or weapons, but vials full of live spiders hidden inside what look like fake Famicom games. As Cronica report, authorities opened a box that contained ten cartridges with labels like Jurassic Park and Robocop…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 11, 2017 -
UncategorizedLego Dimensions Goonies Is Good Enough For Me, Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Here we are, hanging onto strains of greed and blues. Break the chain then we break down. Oh it’s not real if you don’t feel it. Unspoken expectations, ideals you used to play with—they’ve finally taken shape for us. What’s good enough for you is good enough for me. It’s good enough. Good enough for…
By Mike Fahey Published May 11, 2017 - Kotaku East
Square Enix Had “Record-High” Sales Last Year
Even though things might sound grim with the IO Interactive split, Square Enix proper is doing well. Really well, it seems. “For this fiscal year,” Square Enix stated in an official release, “the Company reported record-high net sales, operating income, ordinary income and profit attributable to owners of parent, respectively.” Year on year, Square Enix…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2017 - Uncategorized
Poll: The Most Beloved Action Games In Japan
Over the decades, there have been so many great action games. But which one do people in Japan like best? This poll might shed light on that question. In Japan, Weekly Famitsu has been asking readers about their favorite game in various genres. The results are in for the first of these polls, which was…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2017 - Uncategorized
Square Enix Splits With Hitman Creators IO Interactive
In 2009, Square Enix took control of Hitman developers IO Interactive. Today, the two companies part ways. Square initially assumed ownership of IO when it bought Eidos Interactive, IO’s parent company. But in a statement released today, the Japanese publisher says “to maximize player satisfaction as well as market potential going forward”, they have “regrettably…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 11, 2017