Microsoft’s Next-Gen Xbox Series S Is Only $299

After a series of leaks last night, Microsoft has finallyand officially announced their second next-gen console: the smaller, cheaper Xbox Series S. And it is cheap While the bigger next-gen machines from both Microsoft (Xbox Series X) and Sony (PlayStation 5) are expected to sell later this year for at least $499, this smaller console…

It’s Mario Picross’s 25th Anniversary-Ish! Come Celebrate!

As Nintendo extravagantly celebrates Super Mario Bros.’s 35th birthday, I keep coming back to one thought: But what about the greatest of all the Mario games, Mario Picross? 2020 isn’t only the 35th birthday of Mario’s Super era—and what kind of anniversary is 35 anyway?—but it’s also the 25th anniversary of one of the finest…

As Sonic Turns 30, Sega Plans Multiple New Games

As Mario turns a positive decrepit 35, the young, sprightly (spritely?) Sonic next year celebrates his 30th birthday. And news has slipped out that Sega is planning to celebrate the anniversary with multiple new Sonic games. It seems an advertisement was sent from Sega to investors (thanks Tails Channel) that as well as rather boldly…

What Is Your Favorite Gaming Handheld Of All Time?

It’s Monday and time for Ask Kotaku, the weekly feature in which Kotaku-ites assemble to deliberate on a single burning question. Sometimes a serious one, other times less so; mostly it’s just a nice opportunity to talk more about video games. You down? This week we Ask Kotaku: What is your favorite gaming handheld of…

Minecraft Is Coming To PSVR This Month

As Sony begins a week of announcements for forthcoming PSVR games (although they stress, lacking any PS5-specific news), the first big reveal is that Minecraft is coming to the console goggles. First and most importantly, it’s free to anyone who already owns Minecraft. The VR version will be arriving as a patch to the game…

Take A Hike: Call Of Duty: Warzone Temporarily Removes All Vehicles

If you’re playing Call Of Duty: Warzone you’re going to need to re-polish those soldiery boots. Infinity Ward have temporarily disabled all vehicles from the game. It seems they were breaking stuff. A recently discovered glitch, as noted by Eurogamer, saw players having discovered a point on the map boundary where the “return to combat…

Thank You, Kotaku UK

Our sister site Kotaku UK, which is managed by British publisher Future Publishing, is shutting down this week after a strong six-year run. Kotaku UK EiC Rich Stanton delivered the news to readers this morning. Our regional sister sites are the result of licensing deals with outside publishers. A company such as Future pays to…

How’s It Going? Labor Dabor Edition

Day off, or off-day? Welcome to our daily open thread, but with an accent. As a Brit, I honestly have barely any idea what Labor Day is, other than you can’t even spell it properly. My primary source is a thousand-year-old Homestar Runner puppet cartoon, and now hopefully you too shall be singing this over…

Anime Fans Show Their Love With Birthday Shrines

September 3 was the day that Zenitsu Agatsuma from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba was born. It’s not uncommon for anime fans to celebrate their beloved characters’ birthdays online by posing merch or even baking birthday cakes. Twitter user Momotan’s online celebration was extra special. As pointed out on Hachima (via Soranews), Momotan posted a…

Japanese Politician Suspends Animal Crossing Campaign

Shigeru Ishiba, Japan’s former Defense Minister, is in the running to become the country’s next Prime Minister. This weekend, his campaign announced its plans to come to Animal Crossing: New Horizons According to Jiji, Ishiba’s campaign then decided to suspend activities in New Horizons that same day before they even got off the ground. Originally,…

The Japanese town that replaced humans with…scarecrows. YouTuber Tokyo Lens went to Nagoro Village in South-Western Japan. The town, with its decreasing population, is filled with around 300 handmade scarecrows, with each representing a real individual.

Burger King Releases A Chocolate Whopper In Taiwan

Back in 2018, Burger King announced a chocolate Whopper. That was an April Fool’s prank. Now, in 2020, that joke has become a reality. The original gag was more dessert than a burger, featuring a chocolate cake bun, a chocolate patty, raspberry sauce, white chocolate rings, and candied oranges. This, however, is a real burger.…

Track: Time | Artist: Hikaru Utada | Album: Time

Crusader Kings III’s Loading Screens Are Masterpieces

Paradox’s grand strategy games have always had loading screen art—something you see a lot of over the months/years you play these games—that can best be described as “functional”. Crusader Kings III throws that tradition straight off the parapet with some absolutely gorgeous works of art by industry legend Craig Mullins. When Paradox first announced Mullins’…