560°

Kotaku Didn’t Get the Cold Shoulder from Bethesda & Ubisoft, They Earned It

OnlySP: What is games journalism? Is it supposed to tell you every little detail about an upcoming game? Are we supposed to check out games and provide you in-depth previews of what we played? Are we supposed to provide you with stories about the people and the games within the industry? Everyone seems to have a different answer about what games journalism is supposed to be, and this makes our jobs incredibly difficult.

-Foxtrot3121d ago

Something finally came back round and bit them on the ass

Now we are going to see sly articles from them which try and make out it was the studios fault not them, like Bethesda and Ubisoft are being the jackasses here.

Wingsfan243121d ago

I just don't get what they're whining about. If you reveal somebody's secrets early, they're not gonna trust you anymore. Pretty freakin simple, which Kotaku seems to have a problem with because they can't decide if they're a blog or reputable outlet.

Genuine-User3121d ago (Edited 3121d ago )

They are a bunch of whiny bloggers in my opinion.

dirkdady3121d ago

Really good article. I like their mentality that "journalists" are not entitled to anything.

Bansai3121d ago Show
alabtrosMyster3121d ago

You know there is something wrong when you see people being shocked that a reporter says things that some company's PR team disapproves of....

Not that you should see the stuff they send in the preview material or the early copies provided for review should be shown before the intended time (it would just not be fair) but if some artist or programmer tell you about game x or y before it's time... I think it's fair game to "leak" the information... However PR is allowed to get upset too? It's their game to promote after all...

Aeery3121d ago

I'm not sorry for them, really.
I'm a person who believe in the freedom of opinions and the right to spread information, things that in these days, a lot of gaming website, have forgotten in the name of the "click".
In the end, websites like Kotaku don't offer a service to the readers ... they offer a service to their ego.

Palitera3121d ago

They could take one step further to screw up that lame site for good: Blacklist forever EVERY "journalist" that works with them from now on. :D

There are a few of ridiculous clickbaity websites, specially posting here on N4G (Rashid's and his puppils) and everyone knows who they are. I'm glad they finally started paying the toll.

Sevir3121d ago

This is a very good read, There are times when Kotaku demonstrates journalist eticate, for example, the situation at bungie, the mass change of Destiny, or the case with Activision/EA Infinity Ward.

But the leaking of Sony's "Home", Bethesda's Fallout 4, and the subsequent leaks of AC:Unity, Rogue and Syndicate and the dirty ways they go about getting information is just what this often critized industry doesn't need. And their rebuttal is, that their job is to get coverage, good or bad, and they'll continue to get coverage...

They told that to Sony when Sony asked them not to leak Home before it's public showing, and then Sony Blacklisted them before they complained only to have shu reinstate them.

Good to see Ubisoft and Bethesda stick to their guns. Shady journalism isn't what this industry needs.

Mr Pumblechook3120d ago

Something grubby that Kotaku did was when they revealed the whole story and ending to an upcoming Call of Duty game. They made out that it was a great journalistic scoop, but it was the furthest thing from journalism. They received the info from their industry privilege but all it did was betray the staff who trusted them and spoil the story for the gaming public.

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bmf73643121d ago

Ubisoft is operated by jackasses, but the issue stems from Kotaku being a piece of shit website.

showtimefolks3121d ago

I hate them as much as the next game but now a days these leaked from sources are a normal thing

I mean I was so surprised that sony were able go keep ff7 and shenmue 3 a secret. That's what suck now a days, almost everything is ruined ahead of time in name of journalism

rainslacker3121d ago (Edited 3121d ago )

I went and read Totillo's article which sparked all these articles. Hate to give Kotaku the hit, but to be informed is good I think.

Anyhow, Totillo is a good writer. He makes his points, and paints his side with great clarity, and even makes a few good points that I can agree with. However, he is also very entitled, and seems to try very hard to paint the reports as a service for his readers....pretty typical of him actually(got my first bubble up on this site for calling him out on a comment he made in a blog here about this same view as a service to the reader mantra)

While I think it's great if it's true, at no point in his article can I recall him ever once considering IF the news should have been reported for the service of his readers, and how that would affect those working on the game, or the subsequent marketing that the game would get, and ultimately how that would affect the game's sales...thus affecting both the publisher and the developer. it seems his "duty" to his readers to present the truth and the news was paramount, and that all the other stuff didn't matter. Of course he only briefly talked about how his own livelihood benefited.

At one point he says any other site that gained the same information would have done the same. I would actually say that's mostly true. But in the end, that doesn't mean that it's right to do so.

Basically, at no point did I ever see him try to say that he tries to be a responsible journalist...and that's a problem, and that's why Kotaku has become blacklisted. not because they leaked some information, but because that leak was irresponsible.

Now, to be off topic.

If you want to see a hive mind love fest, go read the comment section of the Totillo article. It's all self-congratulatory, and nothing but positive praise for Kotaku. After loading in 4 more sections of the comments, not once did I see anyone asking if they felt the developers or publishers could be harmed, nor ever once see a comment calling out Kotaku for it's hypocritical stances on this particular issue and ones that have happened in the past.

For Totillo to go around saying they're all about the truth is the most hypocritical of all. For more than a year now, the truth they present is more often than not the truth that saves their backside, and those of their like minded colleagues from rebuke.

Kotaku will one day pass into the annals of nothingness, and hardly anyone will remember them. But I wouldn't be surprised if their actions over the past year make it's way into college text books on just how powerful social engineering can affect the common view. It's a common topic in sociology and communication classes.

@the author of the article

Really liked the article. Think you spent too much time talking about yourself, and your own ethics...although I do think they're good ethics to have and wish you the best of luck in the future. I know it's a tricky thing in the gaming press to draw the line between what is news, and what is enthusiast press, but I do see too many sites trying to be both a news outlet, and a PR mouthpiece, then getting all upset when they fail at both. One day, they'll figure out the proper way to report news and hopefully be responsible about it so there can be a better happy median between the press and the publishers, which will ultimately be a great benefit to the readers.

@showtime

I've been surprised how well Sony has kept a lot of secrets this gen. They used to be a sieve of leaks, and it was so common that jokes were made about it at a couple E3's by Jack Tretton.

Findingcrybabies3121d ago

I'll never take Ubishit's side. They are a garbage developer that releases games in terrible shape and have god awful MP connection issues. I like some of their games, but the point stands. If I buy I buy used.

That said. Kotaku can burn.

samuelspade3121d ago (Edited 3121d ago )

I, personally just don't get, how anyone can determine what was from the developers, and what was leaked. I mean, can't you just say it was leaked when, in actuality, it was from the Devs? So...I guess where is the line that gets crossed?

Edit: How do we know what was a leak or something that the devs showed and then the site said it was a leak?

spicelicka3121d ago

Well obviously the developers would know if they've purposely haven't given any information but its leaked on the internet.

In kotaku's case if you read their Fallout 4 leal article from 2013, they literally refer to scripts they got access to, they refer to emails and talk about sources that only big journalism sites have access to.

Of course Bathesda saw this and figured out the leaks were authentic, and NOT something they wanted the public to know. But if they announced that kotaku is blacklisted then they're basically confirming the rumours. So instead they slowly cut them off from their press events, review copies, etc.

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migh_and_highty3121d ago (Edited 3121d ago )

At the end of the day, gaming journalism isn't political journalism. Leaking government documents is different from leaking game news. Kotaku can't complain that they have been blacklisted because they did something bad in the eyes of the publisher. This industry should work together, not against.

I don't mind if 'journalists' and developers or pubs work together to enhance the industry than try and cause so much friction and call male gamers Mysoginistic and unwelcoming to women.

In conclusion, gawker is sinking, especially after their disgusting, needless display of revealing a person's personal affairs over being gay. Kotaku is just as bad as their daddy site and is sinking with it. The 'we hate gamers' narrative can only end one way, gamers always win

Sevir3121d ago

The industry does work together, they hold press events for things when it's ready, I think it's ok, if you're trying to understand shady things in the industry, like Konami/Kojima, or the change in Destiny, or the situation behind the studio that closed down because MS wouldn't give them more money to finish phantom dust.

But leaking surprises ahead of time gets game developers fired and tightens the pipeline on our access to more announcements.

If Freudian slip ups happen, (ie) Naughtydog accidentally confirming there's a second TLOU in development, or Sony's Andrew House confirming GT6 and a new Assassin's Creed coming down the pipeline, in a conversation that he didn't know was being recorded, sure report on that, but to go out and dig up acquire and leak stuff not ready. Blacklist them.

KilKarazy3121d ago

The website is an extremely politically biased (owned by gawker) hipster haven. Right down to one of their editors drinking PBR on a live stream. They're also responsible for stirring up the gamergate thing trying to subvert the issue that a developer was sleeping with an editor possibly compromising the editors review of said developers game.

OC_MurphysLaw3121d ago

I really agree with the title and sentiment.

Show all comments (73)
Garethvk8d ago

We can hope. Especially if the rumors of Cillian Murphy and Alaska are true.

RaidenBlack8d ago

That'd be too good if true.
But Henderson also leaked that next Far Cry setting was targeting some asian island.

jznrpg7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

With their shitty practices I really don’t care what Ubisoft announces until they reverse their course

Relientk778d ago

Assassin's Creed Hexe is what I wanna hear about most. Yes I wanna play as a witch with magic during the 16 century witch trials in Germany (as per rumors). Sign me up

Huey_My_D_Long8d ago

Yeah, Hex sounds amazing to me as well, and I've been playing since AC 1. I'm real curious how are they gonna fit the magic into the game, maybe in similar way the dlc introduced gods and god abilities. but I love that I've heard its gonna have a horror vibe.

Garethvk8d ago

Hopefully it is full of good stuff.

RaidenBlack8d ago

The studio just completed Avatar and busy with Outlaws and also got their F2P Heartland cancelled ... IMO, Division 3 will surely come but it'll take more time.
I'd be most thrilled if Ubisoft greenlits a sequel or at least a remake of the studio's first game i.e World in Conflict

anast8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

I would get hyped about Hexe. If the rumors are true, UBI might get a gold edition purchase out of me.

Demetrius8d ago

Hopefully gameplay of ac shadows or star wars outlaws, if they finally announce the new far cry I'm definitely getting that, far cry still fun af and gorgeous games, yeah ubisoft has their faults but atleast they're not copying souls like games their titles still have identity

neutralgamer19928d ago

We will definitely see gameplay for star wars and AC. Farcry let's see

OtterX8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

I'm going to be an outlier amongst the rest of these comments.... give us something NEW! I'm pretty burnt out on Ubisoft franchises, unless you're giving us a new Rayman game!

*Edit - imagine what they could do with a Rayman 3D game in this day and age. I say now is the time to revisit the series.

RaidenBlack8d ago

Would love a AAA PoP too or a back to roots Ghost Recon (none of the open world stuff)

MeatyUrologist8d ago

Hell yes! Ghost recon in the style of the originals with real consequences, permanent and all!

jznrpg7d ago

I love Rayman, played it a ton with my kids years ago. But Ubisoft puts dumb crap in their games. MTs , paid tiers , always online requirement for single player games and as they stand now I could see them doing that to Rayman

OtterX7d ago

Yea unfortunately, you're right. :'(

Garethvk8d ago

Beyond Good and Evil 2: It is coming really; we promise.

OtterX8d ago

Their microtransaction monetization scheme on it will lie somewhere between good and evil!

Haha JK.... it'll be completely evil. 🙃

Show all comments (21)
450°

Ubisoft say AC Shadows protagonists will be "romantically attracted to different types of people"

Ubisoft recently shared more details about Assassin's Creed Shadows protagonists, confirming that both of them will romantically attract and be attracted to different types of people.

Hugodastrevas16d ago

That should please everyone I'm sure...

RpgSama15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

Feudal Japan DEI LGBTQ+ Samurai, sounds very accurate for the time period. Surely a decision made only with historical accuracy in mind.

Crows9015d ago

Or even modern day accuracy.....

Lexreborn215d ago

You have no idea what you are talking about, bet you didn’t know nobunaga was bi-sexual. Or ran maru his is often depicted as androgynous was a “beautiful boy”.

So yeah, feudal Japan had tons of lgbtq and kawaii enough… A BLACK SAMURAI! All without the need of offending a Caucasian because the world is diverse.

VenomUK15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

This story has cracked me up so much! Bravo Ubisoft, bravo! 🤣. So last week everyone was upset that in the long-awaited first Assassin’s Creed: Japan game the protagonist is black. But NOW he is also LGBTQ+ ! It’s like the Ubisoft creative team sat around a table and said “How can we best impress our Kotaku/IGN/Polygon friends and antagonise gamers? Let’s make it woke x 100!’ And then they all silent clapped!

Just you wait until the Star Wars: Outlaws details come out, there better not be anybody complaining about Kay Vess’ dating preferences and the gay droid armies.

Christopher15d ago

It actually is.

Japanese were very Greek in their sexual experiences.

lodossrage15d ago

Lexreborn2 is right

Go read up on Japan's feudal era homosexuality and bisexuality was a very common thing in that time.

I just have to laugh because the same people complaining about this are the same ones crying about wanting "historical accuracy". When it's clear most of the whiners don't even know history themselves.

Christopher15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

Facts don't care about downvotes, btw. You either claim to understand historical accuracy or you just admit you don't like the stuff people did throughout history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

thorstein15d ago

Japan had no Christian stupidity about sexuality.

That's where your nonsensical puritanical view comes from: the Abraham's faiths.

It's feudal Japan, they don't believe in your religion's made up nonsense.

I mean, if you're going to embrace a particular viewpoint, you should at least be aware of where it comes from. Most of the world doesn't care about your ideals.

In those days, they certainly didn't care about your religion.

Get over yourself.

RpgSama15d ago

All of you guys missed the point, I even said I'm very sure they did it ONLY because they wanted to be historically accurate. Stop defending this, we all know why they did it and who they want to pander, it's not out newfound respect for history.

lodossrage15d ago

@RpgSama

Nobody is defending anything.

People are just pointing out the fact that after they just cried about the game not being historically accurate, when they SHOW they're accurate, they cry about it because they don't like certain parts of history

Not to mention you contradicted yourself RPGSama. You just pointed out you said they "ONLY because they wanted to be historically accurate". Then turn around and accuse them of pandering and/or having an agenda. Those two things are opposing statements

Cacabunga15d ago

Dumbest decision ever.. always online was a pass for me but now not even for free I’ll try it..

LordoftheCritics15d ago

It's made by Ubisoft Montreal.

Obviously we'll be allowed to bang anything that moves.

RiseNShine15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

Yeha pretty sure.

H915d ago

People actually telling you that Japan had sexual deviancy which is correct however what's hilarious is that they will act as if it holds the same moral value that the LGBT community holds today, oh the things men used to say about themselves when they are attracted to other men, it's not empowering in the least bit

senorfartcushion15d ago

It was more common to be attracted to the same sex before the crusades.

15d ago
Tapani15d ago

You are completely lost on Japanese history. Japan was one of the most liberal places in the world, and in many ways still is. You can slice and dice it from your western hubris and whatever point of view, but the reality is that history tells great stories about freedom of choice and people not being judgemental on this island. Also one of the reasons I want to raise my family here, no need to have those whatever Western woke bullshit here, because everyone just respects each other without using all that nonsense.

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CrimsonWing6915d ago

Geezus, just make a good game… holy sh*t this is becoming insufferable.

Crows9015d ago

Oh yeah!!!! What about being inclusive???

I'm sorry
..please replace the word inclusive with stupid.

Hofstaderman15d ago

You asking UbiSoft to make a good game? This is not 2002.

thorstein15d ago

I thought you crybabies wanted "historical accuracy." Now that your going to get it, you're going to cry more.

PRIMORDUS15d ago

It's past the point of retarded, everyone seems forced to do this bullshit now in games. 😑

Barlos15d ago

Hell no. A good game or film is secondary now to the agenda and the 'message'.

It's not enough to be simply entertained these days, there has to be an overarching real world narrative. I mean look at Dr Who as a recent example. Disney have completely destroyed it all in the name of 'diversity'.

senorfartcushion15d ago

You sound like you don't have a very active sex life ,😅

CrimsonWing6915d ago (Edited 15d ago )

Are you projecting? 😝

senorfartcushion15d ago

It's the only thing that explains the incel crap. They can't simply be angry virgins who don't get any, so then a lack of a sex life i.e. a dad of three or something, is also a good additional explanation. They're either lonely and don't get any or too busy to get any. There's a horrible news for sexual control with incels, and they're angry because they simply aren't the right people to achieve that control. They're weaker animals.

notachance15d ago

dude’s too busy commenting on other people’s sex life to actually stay on topic.

That or he’s angry but didn’t have half the brain needed to refute back so he went for the classic ad hominem fallacy.

senorfartcushion15d ago

Notachance

It's a fact that remains true. The only way it can't be true is if humans were not greedy and heavily reliant on procreation.

Your username is fitting.

CrimsonWing6914d ago (Edited 14d ago )

dude, let’s be real, you’re on a video game news site going into the comments section and taking time out of your life to go to war with people you think don’t f*ck. You sound as much of a virgin as any incel does.

Let’s be real, bub you’re just as pathetic as the rest of them. Anyone who would look at this who doesn’t waste their time on a video game news site or video games in general probably thinks the only thing you f*ck is your crusty ass pillow.

C’mon, man. Anyone who f*cks doesn’t immediately go into a comment section claiming others have no sex life. It’s just one of those things if you are getting your d*ck wet. It just comes off like you’re projecting in hopes to god nobody figures out you can’t get any, so you try to flex, even though you’re completely full of sh*t.

I mean, that’s the only thing that makes sense to me 😅.

senorfartcushion14d ago

I'm engaged without children - I'm doing just fine.

This is just nerd sites now. Users are just so angry and for basically the same reasons. Most people go through phases with this type of stuff but it's scary seeing the same attitudes being regurgitated over and over again. From what I've seen it's a strange mix of sexual frustration, lack of proper financing and the need to have 100% control over both so that they aren't taken away from the users.

CrimsonWing6913d ago

@fartcushion

Look, man, people are allowed to have opinions and show frustration with stuff. It has no bearing on them not getting sex or not making money.

I have no idea how people commenting on being tired of hearing about SJW sh*t being shown in the spotlight like some carnival sideshow where publishers are wanting some pat on the back for means they’re financially unstable and don’t have a sexual relationship.

What, are you on the spectrum? Like how do you come to that conclusion and make multiple responses to the discourse with “virgin alert” or “you need to have sex?” That right there is kind of sus to me.

I don’t know in what world you lived in where this hasn’t been a nerd site, but people are allowed to comment their thoughts on things and still have relationships. You’re just as much of a nerd as everyone in here.

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15d ago Replies(3)
darthv7215d ago

Is that genuinely a selling point for people?

RpgSama15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

They sure as hell want to see if it is, time and time and time again.

VincentVanBro15d ago

You have to understand they’re incapable of writing a good story so this is the best they could come up with

thorstein15d ago

Well, after last weeks crying about historical accuracy. Now Ubi days, " Oh, okay, historical accuracy: here you go."

Now you're saying you don't want the accuracy? Can you guys just make up your minds?

15d ago
notatallsurprisinggg15d ago

It's a genuine click-bait snippet to rile up people like you to push traffic.

15d ago
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210°

Ubisoft to Focus on "Return to Leadership" in Open World Genre, Expand Live Service Experiences

Ubisoft says they are focusing on two "core verticals," and that's to return as a leader in the open world genre, and live service games.

enkiduxiv23d ago

Calling Ubisoft a leader in open world gaming at any point in time would be like calling Dollar General a leader in retail.

excaliburps23d ago

Well, to be fair, they did pump out good open world games before. It was used as a template so much that people now know what it means when you say it's like an Ubi open world collectahon.

shinoff218323d ago

What though? I can't think of one game they had where I liked anything about it. Atleast since the ps3/360 Gen

Kornholic23d ago

If they have never been the leader in open world gaming, then explain me this: why does almost every open world game follow the same tired old Ubisoft open world formula?

Follow the Leader.

Aphrodia22d ago

YO dont' talk bad about the General. There'll be problems...

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isarai23d ago

You were never the leader bro 🤣

shinoff218323d ago (Edited 23d ago )

I don't think they were ever the leader tbh. I've never really cared for any of their open world games. I do wanna try watch dogs 2 because it looks like it's set in San Fran. Looked interesting

Show all comments (36)