Microsoft Doesn’t Feel Bad About Flip-Flopping On Xbox One Policies

Mandatory Kinect. Unpopular game-sharing rules. An online connection requirement for starting games. The summer has seen Microsoft back away from all of those things as it prepares to deliver the Xbox One to a next-gen-hungry world. The company’s gotten a lot of flack for their reversals on the strategies once attached to their upcoming console…

What It’s Like To Be A Woman Making Video Games

There’s been a lot of anger creeping into my corner of the internet: Anger about the unequal or insensitive treatment of women and minorities, specifically within the game industry. As a woman working in games since 2007, I’ve felt hurt, discouraged, and isolated by various forms of discrimination. Most of it came from people who…

Conan O’Brien Is Unimpressed With The Voices In Diablo III

If you’ve ever imagined what’s going on in the heads of your Diablo III characters, it probably has something to do with killing and looting and questing. But not according to Conan’s imagination. Not his funniest work, but I continue to enjoy Conan’s increasing interest in video games.

Developer Jailed on Immigration Charges After Swimming to the U.S. [UPDATE]

An independent games developer is in custody and charged with violating U.S. immigration law after allegedly swimming the Detroit River, which forms the U.S.-Canadian border, to gain entry to the country. Sam Smolders (pictured), creator of the role-playing game Victim of Xen, was found by border agents around 2 a.m. on Thursday, soaking wet on…

The Spectacular Story Of Metroid, One Of Gaming’s Richest Universes

Nothing beats the passion of a true fan writing about something they love. That’s what you’re about to see here: one of the richest, most amazing tributes to a great gaming series that we’ve ever run on Kotaku. Warning #1: this one might make your browser chug, so close your other tabs. Warning #2: This…

The Spectacular Story Of Metroid, Part 2

This article is a continuation of Mama Robotnik’s epic telling of the story of Nintendo’s Metroid series. Please make sure that you’ve read part one—and its official explanation of where this lore comes from—first. And make sure your browser is ready for a long piece stuffed with awesome images. Top image here is from art…

Prettier than Super Mario Galaxy, But More Ornery, Too

Gravity Ghost looks like a children’s book come to life. There’s no shooting or killing. But jumping from planet to planet is a lot trickier than it looks in this pastel-colored journey through the cosmos. It’s been fascinating to watch Erin Robinson’s indie space fantasy evolve over the last year or so. Gravity Ghost’s looks…

The Internet Reacts To Grand Theft Auto V‘s Map And Its Size

After months of speculation, the map of Grand Theft Auto V finally made its way to the web, and the details on it opened up the opportunity for a little bit of speculation. SPOILERS FOR THE MAP FOLLOW! Less than a day was more than enough time for the community to come up with some…

Everything You Could Want In A $275 Final Fantasy Keyboard

Behold the limited edition Final Fantasy XI XIth Anniversary keyboard, nearly $300 worth of Moogle-embossed enter keys and FF-fonted F-keys. It’s so beautiful. Available today for preorder from the fine folks at Hori, the Final Fantasy XI XIth Anniversary (so clever) keyboard looks like the perfect way to have a freaking Final Fantasy-themed keyboard on…

So many unanswered questions in this screenshot from Skyrim… The random, yet unmistakable cuddling. The positioning. The imperial guard’s moustache… Let’s just leave these two here in peace. Dayshot is an image-based feature that runs every morning, showcasing some of the prettiest,funniest game-related screenshots and art that we can find. Send us suggestions if you’ve…

So, How Does the New PS Vita Screen Compare to the Old One?

We’ve seen the new PS Vita. It’s right up there! We’ve seen it up close. But we haven’t seen how the new LCD screen compares to the current Vita’s OLED screen. Until now. Twitter user Hiro compared the Ragnarok Odyssey title screen on his original PS Vita to the upcoming Vita. Here, have a look…

The Final Fantasy “Agito” Name Returns!

Before Final Fantasy Type-0 was Final Fantasy Type-0, it was Final Fantasy Agito XIII. The “Agito” name lives on in a new iOS and Android Final Fantasy title. Dubbed Final Fantasy Agito, the game features Type-0 characters like Jack (in glasses!) and Ace. There’s a new character named “Miyuu Kagerohi.” The game was revealed in…

A Stabtastic Trailer Heralds Killzone’s Arrival To The PS Vita

Killzone: Mercenary has arrived to North America. What better way to celebrate than by watching gratuitous amounts of murder? The Vita’s own entry in the Killzone FPS series actually comes with not one, but two launch trailers. So generous! You can take a look at the trailer #2 below, which is a slightly slower demo…

A new Theatrhythm Final Fantasy game is hitting the 3DS in Japan next Spring. Gematsu reports that the sequel, titled Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, will feature 60+ characters, 200+ songs, and a multiplayer “Versus Battle Mode” at launch

Tokyo Man Already Lined Up for the iPhone 5S

The iPhone 5S was just announced. Twitter user @Xxxprius isn’t chancing anything. “I went ahead and got the first place in line,” he tweeted. Now, all he has to do is wait. For well over a week. “I’m lined up at the Ginza Apple Store where the new iPhone 5S launches in ten days,” @Xxxprius…

A Classic, Beloved Beat ‘Em Up Is Getting A Sequel After 25 Years

Indie group Conatus Creative wants to release an official follow-up to Technōs’ classic ’89 side-scrolling street thug-beating simulator, River City Ransom. But first, they are turning to—you guessed it—Kickstarter. As the project page explains, River City Ransom: Underground is just about ready to leave the pre-production phase. This means that the engine is done, and…

Watch Out for Cats!

Beware of falling rocks. Slippery roads. And in parts of Japan and Taiwan, mind the felines! The island of Iriomote in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture is home to a rare breed of indigenous cat that can be only found on the island, and is suitably dubbed “Iriomote mountain cat” (イリオモテヤマネコ or Iriomote yamaneko). This is a…

Up Close with the New PS Vita Slim

Sony is making a new PS Vita. It’s lighter and slimmer. You’ve seen the promotional images, sure. But what’s it actually like? Gamers in Japan give their opinions. Sony rolled out kiosks for the slim PS Vita in Japan so gamers can get a hands-on with the revamped machine. As previously mentioned, the new Vita…

Perhaps The Corniest Game Trailer Of All Time

Hokey PC adventure series Tex Murphy is coming back with Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure (its Kickstarter having hit its mark), and it’s celebrating with this trailer that is, well, a triumph. Of corn. It just…never ends. The making out, the expressions, the Fabergé eggs, it’s all magnificent. The game’s out next year.

We Forgot One Of The Greatest Grand Theft Autos Ever Made

You’ve already forgotten about it. You’ve forgotten about time spent on the train, hunched over a stylus, frantically car-jacking getaway vehicles. You’ve forgotten high speed chases, weaving in and out of traffic. Cop cars in your wake colliding bonnet first with trucks on the freeway, their sirens spluttering and wailing. You’ve forgotten how rewarding that…