Horizon Zero Dawn: The Kotaku Review

For years now, the latest console generation has been coasting on the idea that more raw power means better games. The PS4’s newest exclusive, Horizon Zero Dawn, is the rare game that delivers on that promise. To play Guerilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn is to feel awe. Awe over sheer technical wizardry and its ability…

Microsoft Unveils $10 Monthly Gaming Subscription Service For Xbox One [Update]

Coming this spring to the Xbox One, the Xbox Game Pass will give console owners access to over 100 Xbox One and backwards compatible games for $9.99 a month. The Xbox Game Pass is not a streaming service, like PlayStation Now, but a game download subscription along the lines of EA Access. Subscribers who pay…

Oh, Drats

Gareth Davies is a concept artist based in the UK. You can see more of Davies’ work at his personal site and ArtStation page To see the images in their native resolution, click on the “expand” button in the top-left corner. Fine Art is a celebration of the work of video game artists, showcasing the…

Cherry Blossom McFlurry Coming To McDonalds Japan

Nothing quite says spring in Japan like…a McFlurry. During this season, many products, from yogurt to Starbucks, get limited edition sakura (cherry blossom) versions in Japan, which is probably why McDonald’s is rolling out a special spring McFlurry.  According to Entabe, this frozen treat comes with sakura-colored waffle cone bits accented with pickled cherry blossom…

Behold, Hardcore Anime Armor 

They’re called Love Livers (ラブライバー or rabu raibaa). And do they ever love schoolgirl anime Love Live. They even have the armor to prove it. Love Live—sorry Love Live!—follows of group of students who start an idol girl group to keep their school from closing. Diehard fans show their Love Live! affection by wearing a…

Usain Bolt Gets Long Overdue Pokémon Ad

This really should’ve happened years ago, but here we are, Usain Bolt and Pokémon together at last. In Japanese, “Bolt” is ボルト (boruto), and “volt” is ボルト (boruto), providing ample ground for endless Pokémon puns in Japanese, such as the Jyuu-man Boruto (100,000 volt, or “Thunderbolt” attack in English).  Kotaku East is your slice of…

Thorsen Creek Petroglyphs. Bella Coola, British Columbia, Canada. By Taylor Helferty. 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!  

Overwatch Spices Up A Boring Office Job

VR game Job Simulator is fun enough as it is, though I guess adding some Overwatch to it can’t hurt. This cute little vid by Zi Ye (currently working on the Rick & Morty VR game) shows that the only job worth simulating is moving the payload.

The Mario Bros. Music Has Official Lyrics

You’ve been hearing the ditty for decades, both in games and on the internet, but did you know that the original Mario Bros. theme—from the games, not the TV show’s intro—has official lyrics to go with it? Anyone who has heardthe excellent Mario & Zelda Big Band Live recording from 2003 (or, if you haven’t,…

Top Street Fighter V Competitor Sees Huge Potential in Newcomer Kolin

Street Fighter V’s second season begins in earnest on Tuesday, February 28, when Kolin joins the playable cast. As with any addition, her arrival signals a shift in high-level play, and competitors are already doing everything they can to suss out her capabilities in preparation for the 2017 tournament circuit. A pseudo-newcomer to the Street…

Ark: Survival Evolved Devs Offering $4,000 A Month To Some Modders

Next week, Studio Wildcard will officially launch a new program for modders. Every month, 15 modders will receive a $4,000 stipend for their work. Jeremy Stieglitz, Studio Wildcard’s lead designer, lead programmer and co-creative director on Ark: Survival Evolved, told PC Gamer that the program will select 15 modders and pay them a monthly stipend…

Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild Gets Pirated Days Before Launch, Causing Major Leaks

For the last week, the Zelda fandom has become a minefield of spoilers, as various Breath of the Wild related images, screenshots, and videos have leaked ahead of the official release. It’s only gotten worse today. (Some spoilers ahead.) Late this month, some fans discovered that they were able to briefly download Breath of the…

EA’s Peter Moore Gets New Job At Liverpool FC

Peter Moore, lately of Electronic Arts but just as well-known for previous executive roles with Sega and Xbox, will be taking up a new job in June, as chief executive officer of Liverpool FC. It’s a dream job for the Liverpool-born Moore, who as you can see below is an absolute LFC fanatic. He’ll start…

Overwatch Pros Sniped Off A Ledge After Ambush Goes Wrong

The Immortals Overwatch team has an impressive damage-dealing duo in GrimReality and Agilities, but every now and then, it’s nice to see a couple of greats get cut down. The internet enjoyed schadenfreude at Immortals’ expense during yesterday’s Overwatch “Monthly Melee” semi-finals, where our two anti-heroes got way too cocky about sneaking out onto a…

For Honor Is Basically A Fighting Game 

For Honor is bloody and hectic. Each exchange of blows helps you learn how to fight an opponent. Underneath a mess of micro-transactions, For Honor hides the soul of a true fighting game. We take a critical look at it in this video. Transcript: When I first booted up For Honor, I was dismayed. The…

Pokémon Go’s Evolution Items Seem Incredibly Rare 

One of the biggest draws of gen two in Pokémon Go are the fancy evolutions that require special items, such as the Metal Coat or Dragon Scale. Some players vying for these items are having a hard time actually finding them, though. As far as anyone can tell, evolution item drops are random. There are…