Trump And The FAA Targeting Gamers To Help Solve Air Traffic Controller Shortage
President Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and the FAA have launched a recruitment campaign aimed at gamers to address a 25 percent drop in air traffic controllers since 1981 while flight volume has tripled. The initiative features a video ad with Fortnite and Rocket League footage, positioning gaming as a source of rapid decision‑making and focus. Exit interviews with recent hires suggest gaming experience correlates with key controller skills. The effort builds on a prior Biden‑era program but is marketed more aggressively toward the 18‑34 demographic.
Pokémon Champions May Have The Hardest Shiny Hunting In The Series
Pokémon Champions introduces a daily recruitment system where shiny Pokémon can appear, but the odds remain the base 1‑in‑4096 and there are no tools to boost them. Players can preview recruits for free or spend in‑game currency to lock them...
Phantom Blade Zero Dev Comes Out Against AI Slopface That Could ‘Alter Our Artists’ Original Creative Intent’ After DLSS 5...
Chinese developer S‑Game Studio announced that Phantom Blade Zero will not use AI visual technology that could compromise artistic intent, distancing itself from Nvidia's DLSS 5 controversy. The studio stressed that every asset—from 3D‑scanned characters to blacksmith‑crafted weapons—was created by human...
Pokémon Champions’ First Tournament Confirmed Everyone’s Worst Fear
Pokémon Champions held its inaugural tournament on launch day, April 8, drawing over 500 players and a $500 prize pool. Incineroar dominated the field, appearing on 53.76% of teams and securing the top usage spot, while Sneasler posted a higher win...
YouTube Is Raising The Price Of Avoiding Its Obnoxious Ads
YouTube is set to increase its subscription fees across the board, with the Light plan moving from $8 to $9 per month, Premium from $14 to $16, and the family tier jumping from $23 to $27. The hikes arrive as...
Heated Arc Raiders Lobby Moment Goes Viral As Players Debate The Appeal Of PvP
A clip of a PvE player threatening a PvP opponent in Arc Raiders has gone viral on X, sparking debate over why gamers purchase PvPvE titles yet avoid player‑vs‑player combat. The exchange, posted by Arc Raiders Informer, raised questions about...
Dev Behind Busted GTA IV-Like Steam Release Puts Out Apology Letter
Open‑world action title Samson launched on Steam on April 8, 2026 to mixed reviews marred by game‑breaking bugs, performance drops, and broken animations. Creative director Christofer Sundberg, a co‑founder and former Just Cause developer, posted an apology letter acknowledging the "unacceptable" state...
The Week In Games: Pokémon Champions And Starfield’s Second Chance
Kotaku’s weekly roundup highlights Bethesda’s Starfield debut on PlayStation 5, accompanied by a free cross‑platform update and the new Terran Armada expansion that adds a robot‑army faction. Nintendo launches Pokémon Champions, a free‑to‑play hub consolidating online battling across Switch and Switch 2....
Marathon’s Top Players Are Begging Bungie To Do More About Cheaters
Marathon, Bungie’s extraction shooter, is confronting a surge of cheating complaints from its most dedicated players, especially in ranked matches and the end‑game Cryo Archive map. Streamers such as AlbralelieVT and GJake have reported wall‑hacks, pre‑fire, and stream‑sniping that undermine...
New PS5 Dashboard Update Leaks And Damn, Sony, That Looks Good
Sony's PlayStation 5 beta program has revealed a revamped dashboard that relocates the PSN Store, media hub, and PlayStation Plus management to a new top row. Users can switch between these sections using the R1 and L1 shoulder buttons, streamlining navigation. The...
AionGuard Was Supposed To Be The Crimson Desert Of 15 Years Ago, But Was Canceled In A Text
Avalanche Studios’ ambitious open‑world fantasy AionGuard was cancelled in 2009 after a publisher abruptly ended the partnership via a text message. The game, slated for PS3, Xbox 360, and PS3, promised mechanics similar to what later appeared in Crimson Desert. Co‑founder Christofer...
The Coolest Part Of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Had Nothing To Do With Mario
The Super Mario Galaxy movie features an unexpected cameo by Fox McCloud, the Star Fox pilot, in a striking 2D anime‑style sequence. The brief segment, crafted by supervising animator Benjamin Faure, showcases Fox recounting his interdimensional backstory to Peach and Toad. Critics praised...
GameStop Thought Buying Games Online Was A ‘Passing Phase,’ Says Former Business Developer
Former Stardock business developer Larry Kuperman revealed that GameStop viewed digital game distribution as a temporary trend, leading the retailer to acquire the Impulse platform in 2011 but treat it as a low priority. Impulse was shuttered by April 2014,...
Only Cowards Complain About The Knife Being OP In Marathon
Marathon’s free knife, boosted by melee upgrades, can kill in two hits, sparking claims it’s overpowered. Game director Joseph Ziegler announced upcoming patch tweaks within the next two weeks to address weapon scaling. The community is divided, with some defending...
Look, I’m Not A Furry, But When I See Fox McCloud, I Get It
The Super Mario Galaxy movie reintroduces Fox McCloud, the iconic space‑faring fox from Nintendo’s Star Fox series, as a cameo that instantly caught viewers' attention. Writer Kenneth Shepard notes the character’s swagger and “girls‑want‑him, guys‑want‑to‑be‑him” vibe, positioning him as a cool counterpoint...
Raven Software Cofounder Retires After 36 Years, Reminding People Of All The Cool Stuff It Used To Make Before Call...
Brian Raffel, co‑founder of Raven Software, announced his retirement after a 36‑year career that began with the 1990 title Black Crypt. The studio, once celebrated for classic fantasy shooters like Heretic and Hexen as well as licensed hits such as X‑Men...
Super Mario Bros. Speedrunner Claims He’s Being Sabotaged
Speedrunner Niftski, the second‑fastest to finish Super Mario Bros., claims the Speedrun.com moderation team conspired with current world‑record holder averge11 to ban his input‑swapping technique. After an 8‑to‑1 vote in October allowed input swapping, the board reversed course in February...
Always-Online RTS Has To Quickly Patch In Offline Mode After Server Provider Ditches Them For AI
Stormgate, the free‑to‑play RTS from Frost Giant, lost its online multiplayer host after server provider Hathora was bought by an AI company. Because the title is always‑online, the loss threatens to make the game unplayable by the end of April....
Marvel Rivals Is Not Where I Expected To See A Reference To The ‘No Kings’ Anti-Trump Rallies
Marvel Rivals, NetEase’s hero shooter, introduced a new Lower Manhattan map featuring a poster that reads “No Kingpin,” a clear nod to the “No Kings” anti‑Trump protests. The protests, which have drawn up to 8 million participants, represent the largest single‑day...
A Tease For A Nier Cosmic Horror Project On April Fools’ Day Is Making Fans Lose It
On April 1, the official Japanese Nier social‑media account posted a tongue‑in‑cheek teaser for a "Cosmic Horror" entry in the franchise, featuring a bizarre robotic creature and a sketch of Emil. The video offered no concrete details, prompting a wave of...
YouTuber Constructs Dedicated Warehouse To Preserve PC Gaming’s Coolest Oddities
YouTuber Lazy Game Reviewer (Clint Basinger) has converted a 1,800‑sq‑ft insulated concrete building into a dedicated warehouse to house his extensive PC‑gaming oddities after Hurricane Helene damaged his home. The new facility replaces $900‑a‑month storage rentals and protects the collection,...
Players Keep Finding Veronica Easter Eggs In Resident Evil Requiem
Players of Resident Evil Requiem have uncovered several Easter eggs that hint at a possible Code: Veronica remake, including a wine bottle labeled "Avernico" and toy blocks spelling out game titles. A hotel registry entry lists a Veronica Galibardi, though...
Is An Epstein Version Of Five Nights At Freddy’s Really Going Viral? The Data Tells A More Complex Story
Recent reports have labeled the browser game *Five Nights at Epstein’s* as a nationwide classroom phenomenon, but traffic data tells a more modest story. SimilarWeb recorded roughly 190,000 visits in February, with only about 103,000 originating from the United States—equating...
7 Things We’d Love To See A Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake Borrow From Breath Of The Wild
A full‑scale remake of *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time* is slated for a summer 2026 launch on the upcoming Switch 2, sparking intense fan speculation. The article outlines seven enhancements borrowed from *Breath of the Wild* and *Tears of...
Game Pass Just Got One Of 2025’s Best GOTY Runner-Ups
Absolum, the 2025 fantasy brawler that earned runner‑up Game of the Year honors, arrived on Xbox Game Pass on March 25, 2026. The title, originally priced at $25, is now available at no extra cost across Ultimate, Premium, and PC...
Borderlands 4′s New $30 Expansion Pack Isn’t Winning Over Fans
Gearbox and 2K released the first of two story‑pack expansions for Borderlands 4, titled Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned, priced at $30. The DLC adds a new region, a handful of missions, several guns, and a new playable...
I Played Dark Souls For The First Time In 2026 And It Really Is The Best Ever
Bee Wertheimer recounts her first experience with Dark Souls: Remastered in 2026, describing initial frustration that gave way to mastery after persistent play. She highlights how the game’s steep difficulty curve forces players to learn patterns, ultimately rewarding perseverance. By...
After Next Week, The PS5 Pro Might Never Be Worth Buying Again
Sony will raise the PlayStation 5 Pro price to $900 next week, marking a $150 hike across all PS5 models. The increase follows a two‑year climb from the console’s launch price of $700, driven by component shortages, AI‑related costs, and tariffs. For...
17 JRPGs You Can Add To Your Collection For Cheap During All Of The Spring Game Sales
Spring sales across PlayStation, Nintendo eShop, and Steam are offering deep discounts on a curated list of 17 JRPGs. Prices range from $9 to $49, with many titles marked down 50% or more, including classics like Dragon Quest XI and...
New Star Wars XCOM-Like Game Includes A Surprising Feature
EA’s upcoming Star Wars: Zero Company, developed by Bit Reactor, merges XCOM‑style turn‑based combat with third‑person exploration of iconic Clone Wars locations. Players will navigate planets in an action‑adventure mode between tactical missions, while squadmates engage in dynamic dialogue that...
RAM Crisis Is Forcing Super-Popular Kids Console To Raise Prices Again
Nex Playground, the motion‑control console that captured the kids market, will increase its price by $50 on April 1, moving from $250 to $300. The hike marks the second adjustment in under two years and is directly linked to a global...
Jak And Daxter Fans, Prepare To Have Your Heart Broken
In 2019 Sanzaru Studios presented Sony with a pitch to remake the PS2 classic Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, but Sony declined the proposal. The series has not seen a new entry since 2009’s Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier, as Naughty Dog redirected...
10 Things You Should Never Say To A World Of Warcraft Fan
The article debunks ten common myths that new and veteran World of Warcraft fans often hear, ranging from faction rivalry to quest XP rewards. It explains how Blizzard’s design choices—such as easing faction friction and making flying mounts ubiquitous—have altered...
6 Wild And Overdesigned Details Hidden In Crimson Desert
Crimson Desert, the newly launched open‑world RPG, hides a suite of quirky mechanics that most players overlook. NPCs will retrieve items they drop, sunlight can be reflected off a sword to cook meat, and players can sit on rocks or...
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney Pisses Everyone Off With ‘Out of Touch’ Response To Putting 1,000 Game Makers Out Of Work
Epic Games announced a second round of layoffs, cutting roughly 1,000 Fortnite staff in March 2026. CEO Tim Sweeney posted a boastful message on X, claiming the departing talent would flood the job market with "once‑in‑a‑lifetime" resumes. The tone was...
Union Blasts Greedfall 2 Publisher Over Studio Bankruptcies: ‘Years Of Mismanagement And Strategic Nothingness’
French union Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo accuses Nacon of mismanagement after three of its subsidiaries—Spiders, Kylotonn and Cyanide—filed for insolvency. The studios, which recently launched titles such as GreedFall: The Dying World and Styx: Blades of Greed, are...
Pokémon Pokopia, Let Me Give Mimikyu A Hug
Pokémon Pokopia introduces a heartfelt Mimikyu encounter where players must build a Pikachu‑shaped sofa habitat to win the shy ghost‑fairy’s trust. The game reveals Mimikyu’s true form to Pikachu, creating a brief scare before reconciliation, echoing the Pokémon’s tragic backstory...
Crimson Desert Can’t Stop Selling New Copies As The Open-World Vibes Rebound
Pearl Abyss’s open‑world action RPG Crimson Desert has rebounded, surpassing 3 million copies sold worldwide after a rocky launch. Player reviews on Steam and Metacritic have ticked upward as the studio rolled out rapid hotfixes and addressed early performance complaints. The...
Nathan Fillion Explains Why He’s Not Continuing Firefly’s Story Beyond Serenity
Nathan Fillion announced an animated revival of Joss Whedon's cult series *Firefly*, but clarified it will not continue the story after the 2005 film *Serenity*. The new series is planned as a pre‑Serenity bubble where all original crew members are alive,...
![Warframe Players Fear The Game Has Been Hacked After Receiving ‘Nefarious Invites’ [Update]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://kotaku.com/app/uploads/2026/03/warframe-metacard-1200x675.jpg)
Warframe Players Fear The Game Has Been Hacked After Receiving ‘Nefarious Invites’ [Update]
Warframe players reported receiving bizarre, often offensive in‑game invite messages, prompting fears of a hack. Digital Extremes investigated and confirmed the messages resulted from altered invite text fields, not from compromised accounts or data breaches. The studio deployed a fix...
HBO’s The Last Of Us Casts A Cis Actor To Play Its Trans Lead
HBO announced that Kyriana Kratter, a cisgender actress, will portray Lev, a transgender boy, in the third season of its adaptation of The Last of Us. The casting decision has ignited criticism because Lev’s gender identity is pivotal to the storyline...
Crimson Desert Players Debate Whether Some In-Game Paintings Are AI-Generated Or Just Sloppy
Pearl Abyss’s new action‑adventure Crimson Desert sparked debate over in‑game paintings that may be AI‑generated. Players shared screenshots of bizarre artworks, including a chaotic centaur battle and a strange woodcut, questioning whether they are placeholders, sloppy design, or AI‑created. The...
Space Marine 2 Messed Up Its Voice Pack DLC So Bad It’s Been Refunded And Made Free
Saber Interactive released a $5 Chapter Voice Pack 1 for Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, promising 450 new lines but delivering incomplete re‑voicing for only three of seven classes. Players encountered frequent voice swaps and a predominance of grunts, leading to an overwhelmingly...
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Almost Had One More Choice At The End That Got Cut
Dragon Age: The Veilguard originally featured a post‑ending conversation where Morrigan and the Inquisitor asked the player why they bound Solas, but the scene was cut. Writer Trick Weekes explained the dialogue would have let players articulate their motivations, mirroring...
Buzzfeed Says Its New AI Slop Games Are Inspired By Nintendo
Buzzfeed is branching into AI‑generated mobile games with the launch of Conjure, its first offering from the new Branch Office unit. The game asks users to submit daily photos, which the AI then spins into quirky creepypasta‑style narratives. Buzzfeed cites...
Tomb Raider Studio Faces Fourth Round Of Layoffs In Just 12 Months
Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind Tomb Raider, announced a fourth round of layoffs, cutting 20 employees and bringing total reductions to over 70 staff in the past year. The cuts affect development and central operations roles amid ongoing restructuring at...
Every Song On KPop Demon Hunters’ Incredible Soundtrack, Ranked From Good To Best
Netflix’s animated musical *KPop Demon Hunters* has become the platform’s most‑streamed film and earned an Oscar for Best Original Song with the breakout hit “Golden.” The movie features seven original K‑Pop tracks performed by fictional groups Huntr/x and Saja Boys, each...
Yes, Your Pokémon Are Disappearing In Pokopia And It’s Really Annoying To Get Them Back
Pokopia features 300 town‑dwelling Pokémon, but the engine only renders about 30 at a time, causing many creatures to despawn. This technical limitation means players often cannot locate a specific Pokémon when needed. The game offers a workaround: using the...
Biggest GTA Wiki Leaves Fandom Over Censorship And Annoying Ads Ahead Of GTA 6 Launch
The GTA Wiki, the largest community‑run Grand Theft Auto encyclopedia with over 20,000 articles, has left the Fandom platform and launched an independent website. Editors cited Fandom’s aggressive pop‑up ads, intrusive video embeds, and tightening censorship policies as primary reasons...
Egg Adventures, Trash Bandits, And Waking Nightmares: 5 Neat Indies You Definitely Missed This Week
This week’s indie roundup spotlights five overlooked titles that push genre boundaries. "Mama’s Sleeping Angels" reimagines co‑op horror extraction with dream‑like rituals, while "Funi Raccoon Game" turns trash‑collecting into a chaotic 3D platformer. "Glasses Cleaning Simulator" offers a browser‑based micro‑simulation...