The Next Xbox Will Require an Internet Connection To Start Games, Sources Say

Two Kotaku sources have added more credence to the rumor that the next Xbox, expected to battle the PlayStation 4 in late 2013 or early 2014, will be an always-online system, though it will be able to tolerate dropped connections. “Unless something has changed recently,” one of the sources told us over email, “Durango consumer…

If Limbo Was A Movie, It Would Look Like This

The eerie, kind of creepy atmosphere of 2010’s Limbo is captured perfectly in this short film by Jesper Eriksson. It’s kind of uncanny, to the point that I was surprised to find no mention of the game in an interview with Eriksson about the short. If you told me this was Limbo-inspired, I’d have believed…

The Penny-Arcade Report has a touching story about transgender gamers who were able to settle into their identities thanks to the safe haven of video games and the avatars that helped them experiment.

Duck Retro Hunt Developer Charmingly Denies Rip-Off Claims In His Very Own ‘Retro Reply’

Yesterday I was snarking at Asier Marzo, the developer of the apparent Android Duck Hunt rip-off Duck Retro Hunt. But the guy is winning me over. Here’s what I sent him, after running an item about his studio Infinity K and their seeming interest in making games that look like other people’s games or at…

What an Astoundingly Clever Way to Play Tekken

There are some incredibly sharp people out there who would truly enjoy playing Namco Bandai fighter Tekken competitive online, but lack the skills necessary to prevail against the lightning-fast reflexes of their peers. Tekken Card Tournament is the game for them. I nearly called this “The Thinking Man’s Tekken Game,” but that would suggest that…

Before It Was Cancelled, Star Wars 1313 Was Going To Be About Boba Fett

We’ve learned a great deal about Star Wars 1313 over the past few months, and today we’ve got one more huge detail thanks to a reliable Kotaku source: last year, just before E3, LucasArts shifted focus and turned it into a game about the masked bounty hunter Boba Fett. This happened last May. Star Wars…

BlizzCon 2013 ticketsgo on sale briefly on Wednesday, April 24, followed by another equally brief sale on Sunday, April 27. Chances are you won’t get any, but we’re rooting for you.

Have you seen our readers’ new Talk Amongst Yourselves page? It’s a beast. Some really interesting content they’re churning out over there. Go check it out and contribute.

Toki Tori 2 hatches on the Wii U and the original Castlevania makes its big 3DS debut in this week’s Nintendo Download. Get your ghostly groove on with the full listright here.

The Rules of Grand Theft Auto Box Art

Rockstar not only recreated the 2D universe of the previous games in 3D, but the developers also came up with a new standard for the North American box art. For each title after Grand Theft Auto III, the cover art would focus on characters and various staples from the game. The mosaic-like designs consistently portray…

Four Months Later the Official Hitman: Absolution Companion App Arrives

It’s all about timing in the companion app business. Some people might tell you that it’s best to get out a mobile application that keeps track of your performance, equipment and the latest right when the game is released — the sort of people who buy milk with their cookies so they can enjoy them…

Mega Man X‘s Spark Mandrill Theme, In An Amazing A Capella

The spectacularly-bearded Smooth McGroove has an impressive knack for rearranging well-known video game themes in a capella, using only his voice and his cat. He picked a really good one in his latest video, the Spark Mandrill theme from Mega Man X You gotta love this guy’s taste in video game music. His YouTube channel…

Drakengard 3 Isn’t Just About Making A Sequel… Not Entirely

It’s been 10 years since Drakengard (Called Drag On Dragoon in Japan) was released for the PlayStation 2 and 8 years since the release of its sequel, Drakengard 2. Now, Drakengard 3 is on the way, and according to producer Takamasa Shiba, it’s the perfect time for it. “Everyone says the Japanese game market, particularly…

North Korean Propaganda Website Hacked, Apparently by Anonymous

Uriminzokkiri.com, the North Korean propaganda site, was hacked, it seems. As of posting, it is impossible to access the site. It’s gone dark. What’s more, Uriminzokkiri’s Twitter currently appears compromised and is tweeting, “Hacked” and “Tango Down” for various other North Korean propaganda sites—as noted by website North Korea Tech. Uriminzokkiri’s Flickr page is now…

Popular Manga Continues Its Fight Against Terror and Threats

The Kuroko’s Basketball terrorist has not yet been apprehended, but it looks like the threat rate has been reduced from a code red to a code orange at the Tokyo Big Sight event center. Last year, following anonymous threats against the popular manga Kuroko’s Basketball author, Tadatoshi Fujimaki, several events across Japan were changed to…

The Queen of Kerrigan Cosplay

Tasha from South Korean cosplay team Spiral Cats has outdone herself. Her take on StarCraft‘s Kerrigan is nothing short of spectacular. No, it is spectacular. Kerrigan is certainly not an easy character to bring to life. And look how Tasha did just that. Previously, Kotaku showcased the impressive cosplay work of Tasha and her Spiral…

Here’s How You Make Cracked iPhones Cool. I Guess?

Don’t let wrecked iPhone screens ruin your day. Turn that frown upside down. Or something! Here’s how Twitter user Inami made a cracked iPhone screen cool: An image of Sasuke from Naruto And voilà, a cool looking iPhone. Well, cool looking broken iPhone. 画面がひび割れたスマホをカッコよく見せる方法。[@inami4] Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you…

This Is Japan’s “Sad Keanu” Meme

Shoko Nakagawa is a superstar. She records music, she appears on TV shows, and she even voices Pokémon anime characters. You’d think she would be happy! Maybe she is. But, in this meme, she’s Japan’s equivalent of Sad Keanu. Awww. In Japanese, the meme is often called “Shoko is lonely” (“Shokotan Bocchi” or しょこたんぼっち). “Bocchi”…

It was only a few years ago that Hiroshi Yamauchi, the man who helmed Nintendo for over fifty years, was the richest man in Japan. Now, according to the latest Forbes rankings, he’s only the 13th richest. Hard times!

Jet Li Says Video Games Can Totally Be A Sport

Well, here’s an unexpected champion of the plight of the professional gamer: martial arts/acting legend Jet Li. Attending a PvP event for Age of Wushu, a martial arts MMO, Li said “If poker card games and chess both have the players sitting down and are considered sports, why not virtual gaming as well.” “There are…