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Twitch's Response To #TwitchDoBetter Could Do A Lot Better
12.8.2021
Over the last few days, Twitch streamers from marginalized groups have taken to Twitter to appeal to the Amazon-owned company to start doing something meaningful about the serious issues of harassment on the platform. In response, Twitch put up a Twitter thread saying it will engage in “open...
Streamers Are Rallying Behind ‘Twitch Do Better’
10.8.2021
Over the past few days, you might have seen the #TwitchDoBetter hashtag pick up steam on social media networks like Twitter. You might’ve further wondered why it’s popping now, and what it’s all about. Twitch is a company, after all, and companies can always, always do better. But this recent...
At This Japanese All-Girls Esports Club, Members Learn More Than Headshots
2.8.2021
Jin-Ai Girls’ High School, which resides in the city of Fukui, established an esports club last October. It’s even garnering national media attention.Read more
Amouranth Is Twitch's Smartest Troll, But She's On Thin Ice
23.7.2021
It’s past midnight on a Tuesday. Kaitlyn “Amouranth” Siragusa stands in her bedroom, which emanates a soothing purple glow. Clad in a fire engine-red top and a choker with a heart-shaped clasp, she appears neither bored nor tired, nor does her tongue seem to be pulsating in agony. This is pertinent...
Yes, That Was Final Fantasy At The Olympics Ceremony. And There's More!
23.7.2021
For the nerdy among us, Japan is practically synonymous with video games. And if you play video games and happened to watch the opening ceremony for the biggest sporting event of the year, you probably went, “wait a minute, is that...?” Oh, it was. Actually, there was a slew of musical references...
Summer Games Done Quick 2021 Starts Today, Here’s How To Watch
4.7.2021
Like last year, the in-person part of this 2021's Summer Games Done Quick was canceled due to the continuing covid-19 pandemic. However, there are still a ton of games being played really, really fast online, all week long. And all of it for a good cause! Read more
Twitch Gives Trans, Black, And Disabled Streamers Tags, But Not Protection
2.7.2021
It’s been a whirlwind month for Anne Atomic. The streamer saw her star suddenly begin to rocket into the stratosphere in late May when Twitch introduced both a hot tub section and hundreds of new tags, including a particularly long-requested option: “transgender.” For Anne Atomic, these proved...
Top Smash Bros. Competitors Want Special Treatment
30.6.2021
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competitor Tyler “Marss” Martins set off a firestorm in the fighting game community over the weekend when he suggested top players should be able to register for open-bracket tournaments ahead of those he deemed less important.Read more
Top Twitch Streamers Fight Over Sketchy Gambling Streams
28.6.2021
Gambling streams are nothing new on Twitch. For years, streamers have sunk money into slot machines and poker, often in conjunction with casino websites and other gambling companies. Though allowed on Twitch, these channels have a history of engaging in sketchy behavior. Recently, some of...
E3 Tells Creators Like Geoff Keighley They Might Get In Trouble For Streaming Show
12.6.2021
On an internet obsessed with reactions, events like E3 are a goldmine. Content creators of all stripes co-stream big announcements as they happen, adding some flavor to otherwise pristinely packaged proceedings. Today, however, E3 told creators that might not be such a great idea this year.Read more
Wholesome Games Respond To Backlash In The Classiest Way
9.6.2021
Wholesome Games is a gaming community, focused around a Twitter account, that brings attention to gorgeous, sweet, friendly games, for no reason other than the sheer joy of it. So of course, after they recently announced a second, higher profile Wholesome Direct showcase for this weekend, June...
E3 Avatar Creator: The Kotaku Review
8.6.2021
E3 is here. Registered participants will soon be able to log in to the E3 portal to connect with developers, industry professionals, and fans. Since the event is purely digital, the ESA is encouraging participants to create avatars so exhibitors who may or may not be there and who may or may...
Last Month's Most Popular Twitch Clip Was Just A Butt
2.6.2021
Turns out, people like butts.Read more
Total War: Three Kingdoms Fans Review Bomb The Game After Final Update Announced
31.5.2021
Total War: Three Kingdoms, as of the weekend, is an “Overwhelmingly Negative” game on Steam. An organized review bombing has seen fans react somewhat negatively to the news that the 2019 game will receive no further updates, least of all a promised “building out the North of the map.”Read more
South Korean Politician Wants To Protect Esports Leagues From Sudden Shutdown
20.5.2021
In order to protect esports players and fans from the mercy of companies, South Korean Congressman Dong-su Yoo has proposed a bill to prevent esports leagues from being suddenly shut down unilaterally. Read more
Hell Yeah! The Summer Games Done Quick 2021 Schedule Looks Amazing
18.5.2021
The Summer Games Done Quick 2021 schedule is now out, and I’m so excited. Taking place from July 4-11, the online speedrunner charity event will feature over 100 full-tilt sprints through games famous and obscure, with the proceeds raised going to Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans...
As Gaza Burns, Twitch Charity Streams For Palestine Remain Few And Far Between
18.5.2021
The situation in Gaza is dire. Israeli raids have killed over 200 Palestinians in the past week, at least 42 of them on Sunday alone. They’ve also destroyed more than 500 homes, leaving tens of thousands of Palestinians homeless—a stunningly bleak continuation of decades of apartheid...
Tokyo Is Getting An Esports Gym
4.5.2021
This month, an establishment calling itself “Esports Gym” will open in Tokyo. It claims to be the first in the country.Read more
Hot Tub Streams Are Waning, But Some People Still Think They’re Destroying Twitch
23.4.2021
It’s hot tub stream summer, and everybody’s got an opinion. This week, for example, the biggest streamer on Twitch, Félix “xQc” Lengyel, called hot tub streams “trash,” saying that they’re “the most pathetic thing we’ve seen on Twitch in forever” and petitioning for them to be removed from...
I Have Backlog Anxiety
23.4.2021
We at Kotaku have designated April as Backlog Month, in which we, in light of a looming dearth of new video game releases, turn our attention toward the games that we have wanted to play but missed. But unlike my colleagues, I’m having a problem—I have no idea what to do for Backlog Month, and it’s...