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Overwatch Glitch Lets Mercy Unleash Her Inner Phoenix
In the latest version of Overwatch, using Mercy’s “hello” emote while floating through the sky can yield some wicked results The discovery was shared on Reddit by user Rosilia who was able to help the beloved healer nearly double her wing span and also make it glow bright green by quickly deploying the emote while…
By Ethan Gach Published March 11, 2017 -
CultureFor Honor Viking Gets Whupped By The Invisible Man
Today on Highlight Reel we have Viking mimes, close shaves, gods worth dying for, and much more! Watch the video then talk about your favorite highlight in the comments below. Be sure to check out, like, and share the original videos via the links below. Subscribe to Kotaku on YouTube for more! Mafia III –…
By Chris Person Published March 9, 2017 -
Blizzard Cracks Down On Overwatch Players Who Farm XP
Jeff Kaplan sees you, Overwatch XP farmers. He sees you, and he’s pissed. Well, maybe not pissed, but unusually angry by “glittering ray of sunlight transformed into an eternally patient man” standards. Recently, some players have taken to creating XP farming servers in Overwatch’s new custom game browser. Basically, you join one, pick a hero,…
By Nathan Grayson Published March 8, 2017 -
Overwatch Players Are Abusing Custom Games To Farm XP
Overwatch’s new custom game browser has given rise to everything from tense “predator” games of cat and mouse to sex role-play rooms. Good times all around, in other words. Other players, however, have taken to abusing the feature. If you take a look around Overwatch’s custom game lobby, you’ll almost assuredly come across at least…
By Nathan Grayson Published March 7, 2017 -
Frustration Can Improve Video Games, Designer Found
In video games, frustration is often viewed as a dirty word. If you’re feeling frustrated—like you’ve hit a wall and can’t find a way over, under, or around—the designers must have made a mistake. That’s not always the case, though. Sometimes, game makers try to make you feel irritated, or even livid. Last week, Duelyst…
By Nathan Grayson Published March 7, 2017 -
CultureOverwatch Hero Gets Hit With A Dose Of Reality
Today on Highlight Reel we have Overwatch expectations vs. reality, viking alley-oops, malfunctioning metal death birds and much more! Watch the video then talk about your favorite highlight in the comments below. Be sure to check out, like, and share the original videos via the links below. Subscribe to Kotaku on YouTube for more! Dark…
By Chris Person Published March 6, 2017 -
Overwatch Players Are Making Custom Sex Role-Play Rooms Now
Predictably, several 18+ sex role-play rooms have made their way into Overwatch’s new “custom games” lobby. “MERCY ABUSE RP 18+,” “ROADRAT GAY BATH-HOUSE RP,” “HIGHSCHOOL ROLEPLAY 18+ HOT,” and at least five “DADDY” rooms, typically in reference to the tank Reinhardt, have crept into the “custom games” lobby after the feature’s launch last week. In…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published March 6, 2017 -
Blizzard Talks About How They Came Up With Overwatch‘s New Hero, Orisa
Overwatch’s newest hero, Orisa, isn’t what you’d call, er, typical. She’s a quadrupedal robo-tank with horns, and she kinda came out of nowhere. In creating her, Blizzard faced some unique challenges. During a recent GDC session, Overwatch lead writer Michael Chu discussed Orisa’s conception. “Orisa was a character that emerged from game design,” he said.…
By Nathan Grayson Published March 3, 2017 -
The Internet Reacts To Orisa, Overwatch‘s Latest Hero
Overwatch’s latest hero is Orisa, a bad ass robot tank. We’ve spent some time playing with her and like her a bunch. The Internet is also excited for this cute centaur-mom. How’s the fanart you ask? Extremely on point. Orisa is a robot created by Efi Oladele, an eleven year old inventor from Numbani. A…
By Gita Jackson Published March 3, 2017 -
Overwatch‘s Newest Character Orisa Is A Dynamic, Deadly Tank
Overwatch’s new hero Orisa, released yesterday on the PTR, is an “anchoring tank,” in the words of Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan. Her moveset affixes her to her allies, buffing and protecting them in turns. She boasts a killer gun that fires from extreme distances, but one-on-one, she’s not much of a challenge to take…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published March 3, 2017 -
Overwatch‘s Unique Art Style Began With Torbjorn
It’s well-documented that Tracer was Overwatch’s first playable hero, but before the game was ever playable, another character helped hammer out Overwatch’s identity. Surprisingly, it was Torbjorn. During a GDC panel earlier today, Overwatch art director Bill Petras and assistant art director Arnold Tsang explained, among other things, how Blizzard molded the game in Torbjorn’s…
By Nathan Grayson Published March 2, 2017 -
CultureCosplay
Tracer Cosplay Is Almost Perfect
Blizzard, if you ever need a live-action Tracer for an Overwatch commercial, here’s your girl. This is Hoteshi, a cosplayer from Russia, and almost everything about this Tracer is 100%, from the hair to the thick jacket to the armour to (a lot of people get this wrong!) a proper Union Jack on her shoulder.…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 2, 2017 -
Overwatch’s New Hero Is Orisa
Overwatch’s new and 24th hero is the robot tank Orisa, who fights with a “fusion driver,” or a projectile machine gun. In a developer update video, Overwatch game developer Jeff Kaplan says her weapon has more range than nearly any other tank hero. She’s currently on the PTR. The robot was created by the 11-year-old…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published March 2, 2017 -
Overwatch Team Will Roll Back Bastion’s Unpopular Buff
Earlier this week, Overwatch’s Bastion buff went live and, as usual, the sky fell. Players were so devastated about the changes, and so vocal, that the game’s director Jeff Kaplan just said he’d roll them back, a little consolingly. But two days post-patch, did players really have enough time to develop workable strategies to counter…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published March 2, 2017 -
Overwatch Wins Game Of The Year At The 2017 GDC Awards
The Game Developer’s Choice Awards were last night, and you’ll be shocked to learn Overwatch won “Game of the Year.” But there were other awards too, because there are other games. There are games besides Overwatch you guys. The GDC Awards are voted on by folks in the industry, so the nominees and winners always…
By Riley MacLeod Published March 2, 2017 -
And Now, Some Overwatch Haiku
Here is a collection of very good Overwatch haiku. This started when reader Evan, who only plays Overwatch as Lucio, sent these in: Audio medic! Guys we really need a tank. I see. Three Genjis. Lonely Lucio Capturing the point himself Junkrat blows him up Attackers scatter Like leaves in an autumn wind Feel that…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 1, 2017 -
CultureCosplay
Chinese Mei Cosplay Has Plenty Of Chill
It’s a cruel fate for our eyeballs that Mei, who is the worst, often has some of the best Overwatch cosplay. In this case, it’s home-grown (for Mei), with Chinese cosplayer Husky Surely doing a damn fine job here. Is there too much photoshop going on in the background? You bet. Does it detract from…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 1, 2017 -
EsportsTo Maintain High Ranks, Overwatch Players Will Need To Play Way More Often Now
Yesterday’s Overwatch patch will force players with high competitive skill ratings to play at least seven games a week or see their ranking decline. It’s a smart move to combat foul play, and in the comings weeks, top Overwatch players should see fewer “smurf” accounts and more fair skill rankings. In response to the patch,…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published March 1, 2017 -
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.
By Luke Plunkett Published February 27, 2017