Kotaku Was Right To 'RUIN' Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom (The Jimquisition)

[@Deeplycloseted435]

Can’t believe there is finally full frontal nudity in a Zelda game. Crazy times.

[@redwitch95]

Seriously, I wasn't expecting Link to be so... small.

[@HollowGolem]

Doesn't have the same impact when it's a goron, though.

[@Buck_Bentley]

Who knew Tingle was THAT BIG.

[@23Scadu]

@@Buck_Bentley I've known since Majora's Mask. The vibe couldn't be more clear.

[@steelplatedheart]

Uuuuh the great fairy? She's definitely nude in at least one of those games

[@pluckylump]

"Stop spoiling the game for me!" I scream as I voluntarily click through and start reading.

[@micheljavert5923]

You remember how in cyberpunk literature/TTRPGs there was the concept of people essentially pledging their lives and loyalties to the giant megacorps? Defending them to the death against any and all who would challenge or question their corporate patron. I reckon at this rate people will be living in Nintendo arcologies to escape the wasteland within a decade or so.

[@megamangos7408]

It seemed like such a silly idea when I was young. Made sense for a TTRPG as you needed bad guys to fight. "But come on, nobody is that stupid right? The Megacorp has to have some kind of mind-control device, right?" Ahhh, I remember being young. Where the question, "They can't be that stupid, right?" keeps being answered over and over in the worst ways possible.

[@DrownedInExile]

Corpo-Feudalism. "I will to my Corporate Lords, be true and faithful. And love all that they love, and shun all that they shun!"

[@fluffy_tail4365]

Imagine the mario themed arcologies with the bing wahooos at full volume

[@boomertiro1422]

Samsung vs Tencent

[@SteveElOtaku]

@@fluffy_tail4365 "Imagine a turtle going BAH-BAH into the human face, forever."

[@MisterZimbabwe]

Damn, I was SHOOK to my CORE when Link saw the statue of Liberty and realized he was on Earth the WHOLE TIME

[@mechanomics2649]

Personally, I was more shocked at Will Smith punching Link in the head and saying "Welcome to Earth."

[@MisterZimbabwe]

@@mechanomics2649 Felt like they were kinda treading old ground. I mean, what's the one thing Will Smith is known for now? All he does is run around giving people the ol' Right-There-Fred

[@CybershamanX]

"You MANIACS! You blew the truth up! Aww, damn you! Damn you all to hell!"

[@scottthewaterwarrior]

Oh that's what it was? I thought it was Mega Maid.

[@Zectifin]

damn you ruined the whole game for me. I'm gonna have to cancel my preorder. Hear that Nintendo? The leaks ruined a sale for you. (jk I was never going to buy it. It looks like the same game with the same damn weapon durability bullshit with 1 cool fusion mechanic bolted on)

[@mikewicked.x]

Well, at least they didn't send the Pinkertons to Kotaku's offices for not being held to an embargo that doesn't exist. Like Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast did when they accidentally sent a product to a customer and then sent the Pinkertons to them when they made a KZbin opening video because they broke an embargo they didn't participate in.

[@numinousnihil3804]

"Do you want games journalism, or do you want an extension of the PR department?" Sums up the video and the question to put to the pro corp side pretty well.

[@magicman25103]

I mean he's not wrong, but Kotaku is hardly the Paragon of journalistic integrity. But I guess even a broken clock is right twice a day

[@BRUXXUS]

Truly sad that for many people, journalism has become the same as marketing. I mean… it’s GREAT for corporations and marketing departments… not so great for everyone else.

[@saniakshay12]

It is very telling how reactionary games media has become. They look to social media to form their opinions and then spit them out and get liked for it. Especially with youtube critics.

[@vincentmuyo]

Why we need independent journalism, really.

[@Sapheiorus]

@@vincentmuyo The problem is that all these outlets start out “independent”, but then they receive considerable perks (followed thereafter by implicit threats to lose those perks) for particular coverage of exclusive information. This leads to the rhetorical favors those outlets return so they can continue having an edge over competitior outlets. This ensures they stay relevant and continue profiting. This “dependence” compared to the initial “independence” guarantees material gain for the journal enterprise owners, so obviously it ends up being the optimal and “right” thing to do when it comes to managing the journalist outlet. It’s not a matter of “independence”. Such independence in this economic arrangement will inevitably mean NOTHING with respect to this issue. We would need a structure that DOES NOT reward collusions of this sort and instead outlaws and punishes them.

[@BeatPeet]

When political journalists work as a mouthpiece of the government they are "bought off" and "corrupt", but somehow it's the job of games journalism to dance to the publishers' tune? Something is wrong here, and it's not on Kotaku's end.

[@EternalSentinal]

I'm surprised Stephanie didn't mention that post-release reviews are more relevant when game publishers are able to push in micro transactions and other patches that could have influenced a review made before the game launched.

[@Laezar1]

Yeah, tbh I don't see any reason to buy games day 1 or even month 1 unless you're a game journalist who wants to report on it. I don't get why people are *obsessed* with playing games on launch... don't we all have a massive backlogs of games to go through? I still haven't played elden ring, I played sekiro when elden ring came out lol, I'll get to it eventually but if it's a good game it doesn't matter if I play it now or in two years.

[@JSmith19858]

Cyberpunk seemed like it would have been my kind of game, although I've still not played it. Reviews 12 months after release still weren't kind so I gave it a wide berth. The reviews and reviewers didn't stop me buying it, it being a broken janky piece of shit at launch did, and not trusting that it had been improved to an enjoyable state in that time.

[@Khotetsu]

Especially in this world of worldwide release times, which means embargos can still be in effect after the game has released.

[@rinothename5563]

They already talked about in the RE 4 remake video iirc.

[@jamesrule1338]

Yes. Exactly this.

[@KyleDangerAdams]

“Journalism is printing something that someone does not want printed. Everything else is public relations.” -George Orwell

[@NyJoanzy]

That also covers libel but a general 'yes'.

[@DuoXCity]

This is why I don't like living by quotes, just about all of them have their moments of invalidity, Like that... ok, so if a Journalists reports on sponge migrations, and no one objects, it's not journalism? If it's of public importance in any measure, it's journalism. Journalism's requirements do not include "stick it to the man" anymore than it does "avoid sticking it to the man". Importance =/= controversy.

[@RhythmGrizz]

Bruh It's video games.

[@chancekahle2214]

Given that Orwell took his orders from the British intelligence service, he must have been an expert in public relations.

[@NyJoanzy]

@@chancekahle2214 it's actually what he based aspects of his authoritarian governments on.

[@OutHereOnThePerimeter]

I can’t believe after all he’s survived, what finally took Link out was food poisoning from eating an Octorok. Must have been so hungry that he was able to eat one…

[@PlatinumAltaria]

Reporting on things that are happening in real life is a shameful and unprofessional way to behave. Gaming journalism is about giving AAA publishers endless 9/10s while covering up abuse and anti-consumer practices.

[@Myrea_Rend]

Journalism is when an outlet fails to mention that Ubisoft still shelters serial abusers because omg new Assassin's Creed

[@PlatinumAltaria]

@@Myrea_Rend What's most offensive is that it's UBISOFT. They have never published a good game, so idk why people are so eager to defend them.

[@Gamer1990100]

like IGN LOL

[@inciaradible7144]

9/10?! A 9?! How dare you not give it an 11!!!!

[@eduardodubois4994]

​@@inciaradible7144Not enough call of duty

[@octosalias5785]

Its not like Nintendo was going to change their minds for good behavior or something.

[@RottenMuLoT]

Ironically, now Nintendo would need to sign Kotaku for them to not continue doing what they are doing. As long as Kotaku are on the legal side, they should go as far as possible if you ask me.

[@nikolaast]

And get RICO'd for corporate espionage. I love it.

[@mjc0961]

@@RottenMuLoT Yup. Nintendo has to end the blacklist and give Kotaku early copies with NDAs again or Kotaku can just do this next time. Nintendo either has to give up their petty blacklist or accept more coverage of leaks. Either way, Nintendo takes a small L. And I in turn very pettily enjoy that.

[@dawensci7134]

​@@mjc0961 kotaku is shit thats a fact

[@ProfessorBright]

A news site, reporting news? AND not following contracts they NEVER signed? Heavens forfend!

[@betasector]

It's a blog, not a news site.

[@hazukichanx408]

Absolute loyalty is not requested, it is _required._ It is the minimum. You must conform, other-ones. You must think as we do. You must do as the masters say. Conform. Conform. Conform.

[@Mike918]

@@betasector From Kotaku's literal homepage: Gaming Reviews, News, Tips and More. COPE

[@betasector]

@@Mike918 with what? It has never been a news site, it's a blogsite and the personal playground for a bunch of people mostly irrelevant in the industry. Everyone who mattered left ages ago and their content is so vapid and tired and predictable, an AI chatbot could do better than most of their "articles".

[@Maddness101]

@@betasector yep, and, as the video points out, despite their relative unimportance they still kicked up a major fuss by not playing ball, despite having had the ball taken away from them long ago.

[@colinbamsey5262]

I read the Kotaku spoil article and honestly it made me want to play the game. And that's its actual effect; it advertises the game while tantalizing with the promise of forbidden info. And the controversy generates more buzz around its release. Publishers may take action to prevent leaks, but fr it's par of the dance, and Nintendo can declare how upset this makes them, but ultimately they're going to profit off this. Hell, game marketers might consider leaking to Kotaku under the table to get the same treatment.

[@AdamBladeTaylor]

I was shocked to learn that Ganon is Link's father. That was one hell of a reveal.

[@vrapbrap]

That's where he got the morb gene that allows link to morb out on in tears of the morbdom.

[@katarjin]

I know! and that Zelda is his sister...what a twist.

[@Zectifin]

god I love fake spoilers. People who hate spoilers freak out and its not even real.

[@minimalphilia]

Meh, I called it.

[@3Rayfire]

Just ripping off Star Wars, I expected more.

[@lesbiandrea]

It's amazing how video game journalists are apparently both "paid off" by publishers while also being evil by not dancing along to a publisher's tune.

[@Nanook128]

It's almost like the gamers(TM) Believe in some kind of political ideology where their enemies are both weak and strong at the same time. Hmmm, why does that sound familiar? 🤔

[@Hawkatana]

@@Nanook128 Of course! They were anti-centrists the whole time!

[@1IGG]

​@@Nanook128 Uh, I want to solve "what are signs for fascism" for 200.

[@hornylink]

@@Hawkatana the fuck is an anti-centrist?

[@seeibe]

I actually don't understand gamers(TM). They have adopted an ideology by which they would have to actually look down on themselves if they were consistent, for "wasting time" on something that by their view only children are supposed to do. But I guess that's the thing with fascism, consistency is irrelevant, all that matters is that there's someone even more "other" than you you can treat as subhuman, until eventually it's your turn.

[@ash36230]

I didn't even know it was leaked 😂 Can't believe Ganondorf was Saruman all along

[@pokemastercube]

what? my understanding was he is a regeneration of the master

[@BababooeyGooey]

And then he Ganondorfed all over Narnia.

[@SharienGaming]

wasnt ganondorf the guy who started the klingons?

[@shytendeakatamanoir9740]

​@@SharienGaming Both, actually. He's also Voldemort's father.

[@RokkTheRock]

cant believe it was revealed he was a reddit moderator all along

[@mirrorsandstuff]

A gaming press outlet reporting something other than a press release. How very dare they!

[@rolfs2165]

Not having your review ready to go live the very second the embargo ends also has another major benefit: you can include all the scummy shit that got "patched" in post-launch in your review (and score). And unlike an update to a week-old article, people will actually read it!

[@mariorodriguezgonzalez1070]

And that will likely get you blacklisted. Truly the gift that keeps on giving.

[@imberribored]

I kept hearing fuss about it and finally decided to look at the article. And wow. They just reported on confirmed/possible features pretty much. I didn't learn any crazy story reveals or spoilers in the narrative. I am upset that we can't pet dogs, though. Monsters.

[@woaddragon]

That not surprising. When Metroid dread came out, Kotaku stated that it very easy to pirate the game. Not that you should. This is the exact opposite of what gamers (tm) claimed

[@CarbonRollerCaco]

@@woaddragon Kotaku DID say "it's great emulated" in the original version of the article. Not technically saying it's PREFERABLE, but that's still effectively an endorsement of piracy. Nintendo WERE right to blacklist them. Not saying everything Nintendo does is angelic-I certainly have problems with how they handle piracy myself-just giving credit where it's due and squashing misinformation.

[@CarbonRollerCaco]

So it was literally just clickbait. That's still shitty, though not in a super-problematic way. Oh, Kotaku.

[@boodream2004]

They literally wrote thanks god piracy existss. Come on.

[@woaddragon]

@@boodream2004 having read 5 articles on Kotaku on Nintendo priracy, perhaps you saw something that I did not

[@DrDirtyLeggz]

Thoughts and Prayers to those that Kotaku forced to hit the link to the article and made them read

[@Panimal98]

Hehe. Link.

[@MungkaeX]

It really is horrible that a gaming publication is allowed to force people to read their articles.

[@zyriantel9601]

@@Panimal98 HYAAAGH

[@vxicepickxv]

​@@MungkaeX How do I join a reading enforcement division of Kotaku?

[@hornylink]

@@vxicepickxv first step, how good do you look in thigh-highs? (yes I'm just mixing everything into the things gamers hate slurry)

[@ganmerlad]

This 'embargo' b.s. came up recently with Wizards of the Coast and their "Magic The Gathering" cards when one small KZbinr got ahold of their not-yet-released set early because they were accidentally sent to him by a game store (I think). He was thrilled and opened them on video, of course. Not many days later WotC sent the Pinkertons (yeah, those ones) to his door who threatened him with a massive fine and jail time, insisted the cards were stolen, demanded the cards and for the YTer to take down the videos that showed the cards. (the YTer complied after all the threats) WotC's excuse for sending armed security was the cards were embargoed. Fine, but, that YTer wasn't under embargo, and the cards weren't stolen. The YTer did nothing wrong. (I don't play MTG or D&D but Hasbro/WotC is such a train wreck that I've been keeping up on events waiting to see what unbelievably *stupid* thing they do next).

[@Carewolf]

Well, he did open a package he knew wasn't his, or sent to him. So he might be guilty of causing a 0.5€ worth of damages.. :DD He should just have send them one euro and dollar, and told them to fuck off.

[@shirasho]

@@Carewolf Not sure about the UK, but in the US if you are sent a package that has your name on it, it is legally yours to keep whether the contents are right or not. It matters not if the items were shipped too early, you received 100 RAM units instead of the 1 you ordered, or even if the package was meant for somebody else. By law, the sender cannot force you to send the items back if the package has your name on it. It is within their right to request, but they cannot force you to do anything. There is no universe in which the way WotC reacted is just. There may be an argument made if they went after the distributor that sent the item too early, but going after the end consumer is a big no no.

[@hornylink]

@@Carewolf the package was sent to him, he had purchased legally, and he didn't know until after opening the cards that "March of the Machines: Epilogue booster" was not the "March of the machines: Set booster" he had ordered since they had the exact same packaging except for that text. he opened them for a video like he was planning to do anyway, then WoTC SENT THE FUCKING PINKERTONS to his house

[@ganmerlad]

;) I probably should have explained the YTer ordered a set that is already out, so the package was addressed to him. But they sent him a different set. The names on the sets are almost the same and the person that sent them doesn't play MTG. Easy to understand snafu. The YTer *does* play MTG so immediately knew the cards were unreleased, but since he's a content creator and juicy content fell into his lap...of course he used it.

[@danielgehring7437]

@@shirasho I agree with your sentiment, and you are completely correct that there is no universe where the way WotC reacted is just, but that's not true in the least. If a thief stole a million dollar ruby from some rich dude and mailed it to a random address, the address owner does not get to keep the ruby. In fact they'd probably have their whole lives torn apart while cops searched for a way they were more connected to the crime. What you mean is that in most cases, it's not worth the expense and bad press for the original owner of the goods to have it returned to them.

[@TF_Tony]

It's funny. When games journalism remains superficial and mere shills for the publishers, they're accused of disregarding the basic tenets of journalism. But when they then do actual journalism, like exposing and drawing attention to exploitative working conditions, or uncovering any plans the industry may have, the Gamer boys want them to shut up and not "ruin" their enjoyment. It's like the art debate. First, they wanted video games to be perceived as art, but when academia took them up on that offer and scrutinized games through the lens of Critical Theory, as any other media before it, it was the Marxists and fEmAlEs taking over.

[@furrry6056]

Strange thing about Marxists and Females 'taking over' : I was under the impression gaming didn't really start until.. Super Marxio Hos

[@shytendeakatamanoir9740]

It's not that complicated, honestly. Anything that supports my narrow view of video games is good. The rest is absolutely terrible.

[@danielgehring7437]

@@shytendeakatamanoir9740 Well nobody said it was complicated, just that it was _hilarious._

[@ASpaceOstrich]

This leak is the closest thing to games journalism mainstream games media has done in a while. Still not really anything more than vapid listicle coverage, but it was unscheduled vapid listicle coverage.

[@jeveritt8398]

​@@ASpaceOstrichwhat do you mean giving another mediocre AAA game a 7 out of 10 is surely the highest standard of journalism 🤭

[@flapsmcginty4039]

This is off topic but I just love the random nostalgia in these videos, the random ‘Look and Read’ clips, the ancient TV ads and the love for random late 80’s toys makes me think that Steph and I are of a very similar age.

[@wyattgirth4435]

For real, screw Zelda; I want to talk about that Inhumanoids toy on the shelf!

[@SlenchFan]

Link’s death shook me to my core. Although the set up for Chungus to take up the mantle and master sword in Link’s memory made me cry tears of the kingdom.

[@sambeckettcat]

The fact Kotaku did this with respect for people who don’t want spoilers is why I’m ok with it. I remember an old Nintendo based news team that used to put the spoilers right in the title of their articles,

[@tommo120]

I managed to avoid pretty much any information about TotK until I RUINED it for myself by downloading the game and playing it on an emulator! I am so furious at myself for this

[@TheMasterd333]

I have reported you to Nintendo

[@saniakshay12]

Nintendo's lawyers are everywhere. I hear Reggie has gone full Liam Neeson.

[@Ckoz2829]

Ugh, I hate when that happens! Like, how was I supposed to know?

[@zyriantel9601]

@@saniakshay12 Pretty sure Reggie doesn’t work at Nintendo anymore, guy was smart enough to jump ship early

[@NarcissistAU]

Even a stopped clock etc., even Kotaku. The apparently widespread underlying belief that facts should be dictated by financial interest is horrifying.

[@det.bullock4461]

The few times I looked at Kotaku's comment section there was always a remarkable number of people pissed off at Kotaku, you'd think they'd avoid looking at the site if they disliked it *that* much.

[@noonenowhere877]

Don’t be ridiculous if you’re trying to kill something, then you keep attacking it until it stops moving, if it’s still moving you keep attacking it. It’s really not rocket science.

[@morgannyan2738]

youd think the same for the people who harrased the hogwarts legacy streamers

[@det.bullock4461]

@@morgannyan2738 I didn't exactly hear the same hate for girlfriend reviews I heard for kotaku. (Though to be fair I just stopped following them. I didn't follow their streams though. I don't know what my reaction would have had I been a regular Twitch follower)

[@morgannyan2738]

@@det.bullock4461 Please tell me what kind of harrasment is acceptable for people, you really think GF reviews was the only one who got harrased?

[@det.bullock4461]

@@morgannyan2738 Dude, I didn't look into it beyond "they streamed the terf writer franchise game and unfollowed them". I dunno if it was proper harassment or just a bunch of twitch followers that just disagreed in the comments with her streaming the game (which is something I saw happen in other contexts), if it was it was shitty of course but I never really looked further into it. And I wonder how it's supposed to fit with people that still hang around in the kotaku comment section even way after they supposedly wrote the site off. 🤔

[@Myrea_Rend]

NOOOOO, KOTAKU DID A JOURNALISMS

[@zippomage]

had to happen eventually

[@tessa8484]

If you call copy/pasting information from reddit and 4chan journalism then I guess so? Funny how they don't do this "journalism" for Sony or Microsoft. Or anyone else that still gives them access.

[@xdearlifex]

You're not allowed to do that?! S'videogames!

[@Buck_Bentley]

Kotaku is BAD!

[@DogratDavis]

Haha what a unique and cute and quirky way to phrase that! Have a dislike for your efforts!

[@Lastprogramer]

Even if you think causal piracy is wrong (which is a wrong opinion), cracking DRM is still essential to historical preservation of gaming. otherwise we are 'burning books' destroying unique, and costlessly fungible information for no other reason than to preserve a sort of profitable scarcity.

[@DantePD]

Happy to watch this before Nintendo inevitably starts taking copyright swings at it. Because we all know they will.

[@bagrym]

Its been two hours. Do we know if the pinkertons havent already crucified Steph?

[@hornylink]

@@bagrym shit do the pinkertons have a British branch office?

[@wariodude128]

Will likely make the video copyright deadlocked again, which at this point is to be expected.

[@xxtz2007xx]

​@@bagrym That was Hasbro. From Nintendo, it would be yakuza.

[@FractalShoggoth]

HERE'S A TV THAT LOOKS LIKE AN APPLE.

[@Saitken]

Massive corruption and abuse in the video game industry: I sleep Zelda leaks that nobody is making you read: rEaL sHiT?!

[@mix1ro]

i want JSS to do voice acting for the next fable games. can you imagine them yelling at the main character with those voices they read the comments in ☠️

[@thomasjoychild4962]

That would be AMAZING

[@jasconius_maximus]

I just want a Fable game that doesn’t bore the piss out of me, two hours in.

[@Solanuma]

next fable game lol

[@linguotgr]

How it started: “there is an unhealthy relationship between games publishers and game reviewers, it’s all corrupt!” How it ended up: “How dare you reviewers not do what the publishers want!”

[@PlatinumAltaria]

It used to be a joke that any game by a big publisher would get a minimum 8/10, now people are angry that 8/10 is too low.

[@Myrea_Rend]

Starting to think it was never really about ethics in video game journalism for most of these Gamers(TM)

[@Stormdraka]

Thats true, I used to be one of the people who would comment on how it was lame game journalists would shill the game so they could get invited more often and free game copies. These days everyone still hate game journalists, but its now the "fans" who'll say the game is ok no matter what.

[@YawaruSan]

People get so angry when you point out the conditioning they’re being involuntarily subjected to, that’s how you know it’s working!

[@scipioafricanus2071]

@@Myrea_Rend I'm starting to think that most of it was done out of sexism and hate (gamer gate). The alt right and neo nazi groups tried their hardest to subvert all kinds of fandoms and were extremely effective, at least initially they were. Today there are more creators and forum users who smartened up on the dog whistles. But they still gained a foothold and every time a black, brown, or LBTQ+ character/ actor is seen on screen they emerge again to fan the flames of hate.

[@TheNamesJER]

It’s so weird the way Gamers™ talk about journalists covering up or glossing over the bad in the industry, always highly reviewing AAA games, and not doing actual journalism and then Kotaku does all the things they’re asking for and they’re like “no, not like that or from you”. It’s reminding me a lot of the controversy surrounding their reporting over Metroid Dread emulation.

[@shis1988]

While I agree it's bad, honestly I like Metroid too much and wish for it to keep going. I don't agree with covering it... but not worth my energy to rage at them because I wanted Dread to sell.

[@hibachimk240]

It's not weird at all... Thing is, that talk about journalism, for those Gamers™, is just bullshit to cover their alt-right sensibilities. They hate Kotaku because according to them it's "woke".

[@katarjin]

@@shis1988 It did sell..what are you on about?

[@WhatIsAmadillo]

Can't say I usually like Kotaku much, but I gotta respect their lack of fucks to give when they pee on big publishers' shiny expensive suit shoes once in a blue moon

[@onemoreturn]

"Will someone PLEASE think of the corporations!?" -Gaemerz, every single day since vidya was invented.

[@mookiestewart3776]

You realize kotaku is also part of a corporation right?? Right now your joke can literally be said about you lol

[@onemoreturn]

You are literally the guy from that "Curious! I'm very smart!" cartoon. Kotaku is shit, but they can be correct about some things. And Nintendo going apeshit over this is simultaneously hilarious and pathetic.

[@mallowtonmouse]

I love that Kotaku can actually *checks notes* do journalism

[@TheWheelman298]

they have caused controversy on many an occasion

[@youtubeuniversity3638]

Also moral to pirate WotC games, correct?

[@PlatinumAltaria]

They chose to live on the coast, it's not our fault they're so susceptible to raiding by pirates.

[@KiddDaPhoenix]

When you go out of your way to fuck your players, your fans who share their content with other fans online, your 3rd party creators who you make bloody money off, then send armed mercenaries to somebody's home because they did the crime of opening a case of cards they were sent on camera... Yeah. Evil lawyer bullshit and actual guns in people's faces. Downloading a PDF isn't an issue at this point. I'm not really hungry to buy books any more, and I used to buy almost every one with glee.

[@youmukonpaku3168]

better to just not play them. The old OGL was there to try to help unify the tabletop RPG community at a time when it was being destroyed by censors and pearl clutchers with fears of SaTaNiSm, and to create a network effect that would (and did) strengthen the position of WOTC's core products. They decided they didn't want anyone else in their walled garden, so it's time to agree with them and leave for the better pastures elsewhere, like Traveller's many current editions or the systems Powered by the Apocalypse.

[@NightmareLyra]

I feel there is real reasons for hating Kotaku, such as how they handled the story about the accusations about a certain video game composers and how they ignored the requests of the survivor for over a year, but this is not one of the reasons. Leaks are good, actually

[@Myrea_Rend]

A certain Jeremy Soule?

[@Nanook128]

What's the story behind video game composers that you're alluding to?

[@ShyRanger]

In regards to this article, is that a reason to hate Kotaku or a reason to hate the writer and editor who worked on it. Cause I'd think, assuming the leaks story is by completely different staff members, I'd separate those two thing entirely.

[@BodySprayMan]

There's also the time an article complaining about Samus not showing enough emotion in Dread and saying she should smile. Which... like, oh my God, what the fuck was that? That's a good reason to call them out.

[@lordrikudouzero9119]

@@Nanook128 I think it was Persona 5 music in Smash…

[@ShockedLogic]

Gamers(tm) have learned that the words 'integrity' and 'professionalism' exist in the journalism world but not at all what those words actually mean, just that they're words they can say Kotaku isn't when that website does so much as fucking breath.

[@Flameclaw123]

There's something beautifully ironic in the fact that if so many people hadn't been pissing themselves over this Kotaku article, I wouldn't have even known it existed

[@Korvus_Korax]

Speaking of Nintendo, they just DMCA'd Alanah Pearce and had her Twitch channel taken down. All she did was react to a video posted by her friend Skill Up. A video which Nintendo themselves approved for public viewing. It's especially unfair because Alanah donates her Twitch money to charity and Nintendo are now stopping this from happening. Makes me glad I've never been a customer of theirs tbh.

[@stuartmorgan3654]

I can't believe Zelda killed Dumbledore and Link was a ghost the entire time.

[@nathaniellindner313]

For me it was that Link’s companions were all now sentient AIs manipulating his actions from underneath Hyrule castle, wild stuff

[@Sammy-S]

I was so shocked when Link said "I am the Legend of Zelda™, it's Linkin' time" and then proceeded to Link all over Ganon

[@Agoraphoboy]

I think there's a lot of people linkin' all over the new Ganon art

[@Sammy-S]

​@@Agoraphoboy Myself included 😏

[@haunterdragon4580]

Damn just reading this is making me want to Link like fuck

[@wesleythomas7125]

When Zelda took the infinity gauntlet from Modok, I got chills

[@AS-Val-Gijinka]

When Link plants the flag in the ground and declares the city to be rebuilt, saying "I declare this to henceforth be called Linkin Park" I cried

[@Jun123]

The game being leaked is Nintendo's problem. They need to suck it up.

[@Willrmountain]

The real reason JSS gets any hate must surely the jealously they have for that Inhumanoid and full Manta force set.

[@NonsenseOblige]

People don't seem to understand that news is something somebody doesn't want published, everything else is advertising.

[@KTEFilmsInc]

"It could be called 'Petty.'" *Shows image of Tom Petty* Thank you. I honestly loved and needed that, Steph.

[@Maddness101]

5:04 my God the sarcasm level is off the charts, even by the usual standard for this show… and I love it.

[@seanhauth1683]

The epic and grandiose music just made the sarcasm even better lol

[@themothreborn]

wow, what an ending. Who would have thought Ganondorf was James Stephanie Sterling's Father's Brother's Nephew's Cousin's Former Roommate?

[@TheRogueWolf]

What does that make us?

[@mirrorocean]

So what does that make them? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING :)

[@Sponsie1000]

uhm that was actually heavily foreshadowed in the ending of the 3rd manga back in 1997. If you had some intelligence for once in your life you wouldve known that (like me), and been a superior being for it.

[@SageRuffin]

@@Sponsie1000 I thought that manga was declared non-canon after Disney bought out the rights? Or was that Sony? I forget.

[@shytendeakatamanoir9740]

​@@SageRuffin We could see heavy influence from that manga already in BotW, and from TotK preview. If, like any of us superior fans, you spent hours zooming on every single part of the trailers in desperate search of information, it was perfectly obvious. Honestly, I laugh at those that even consider this a twist!

[@AlexFandino-xi3oo]

Im SO glad tears of the kingdom is breaking sales records and getting amazing reviews. Just to spite you and your obvious biases. Cant wait for your salty review of TOTK 😂🤦‍♂️

[@gargleff2691]

But but but they keep saying pirating Nintendo is the moral thing to do, and that Kotaku is right, but it didn't do anything? Jim has 988k subs, 987k subs, 986k subs, how didnt that affect anything?

[@LenaLangton]

Steph, please don’t call yourself unimportant, you’re one of the people that gave me the courage to come out as trans. Your words are inspirational and your devil may care attitude is aspirational. I know a lot of it is an act but seriously I would probably have gone even longer before coming out than I have had you not come out and been open about it. And I think that’s way more important than any videogame.

[@ShyRanger]

It's tricky for them and others like them, because in a way they WANT to consider themselves unimportant to avoid being inspirational to terrible people. Not that you are I'm sure you're cool, but you know how some people can take the wrong messages, the wrong behavior, and such.

[@dalekrenegade2596]

🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@shytendeakatamanoir9740]

Unimportant in the sense they can't put those big video games companies to ruin, no matter how cool and great that would be. They have some influence, but not really any actual power. That being said, great for you! I wish you the best!

[@Daedrich]

Congrats on coming out!

[@KabbalahSherry]

Wholesome comment 🥹💝🏳️‍⚧️

[@bradenculver7457]

The fact that one of the few games journalists who can report on this due to being black listed actually reported on this is causing controversy is so silly. Just because it's Kotaku. You don't have to read it. Kotaku doesn't have an obligation to Nintendo. The article warns you. This is a good thing for consumers, but because Kotaku did it it's riled up the gamers.

[@BSunE]

Not only this, but it has ALWAYS been Kotaku's position, and it seems to be working well for them, it's not like gamers don't go there.

[@taterthepenguin]

Kotaku: *exists* Gamers: "HoW DaRe YeWw!" *fills diaper, cries*

[@bradenculver7457]

@@revobot2100 I'm not going to pretend Kotaku is some harbinger of the highest quality ethical games journalism, but it's soooo overblown how awful it is. It's an npc gamer take at this point

[@guidosaur7506]

Yeah I spent too long arguing with someone on twitter. They said Kotaku "literally provided a tutorial on how to pirate Metroid dread". When I said that they didn't do that they switched to well they told you to pirate old roms that Nintendo wasn't selling at the time. Then I was like yeah, who cares, and got told it was morally wrong and illegal

[@nobodyinparticular9640]

I think I know the idiot you're taking about, they're spewing the same bs around these comments, lol

[@ElliWoelfin]

if something is against hte law it immoral >:CCCCCCCCCCCCCC

[@lightningkitten]

qin dynasty legalism

[@guidosaur7506]

@@ElliWoelfin I wanted to ask them if they believed we need to import mother 3 to be able to morally play it, but I got too annoyed.

[@TheWheelman298]

the original article could arguably be read as them encouraging piracy not showing how to do it. like starting an article with: Hey, real quick: If you are a Nintendo lawyer or employee, just like... don’t read this and ending with Thank God for pirates, emulators, modders, and hackers. doesn't help

[@TheSorrel]

Wait, so the information was out there in the open for everyone to see and Kotaku just collected it all in an Article and people got mad over that? WTF?

[@Cri_Jackal]

No, Kotaku called Nintendo unprofessional for blacklisting them, somehow forgetting that they actively encouraged people to piraye Metroid Dread and are perfectly willing to report on leaked info from their games. You can't expect to work with a company you are actively acting against, that's the issue, their hypocrisy.

[@1IGG]

​@@Cri_Jackal what stupid logic is that? Blacklisting critics because they didn't shill your shitty game IS very much unprofessional. And the truth isn't less true because it is sad by someone who isn't the world's greatest saint. It still remains true. Whataboutism is just stupid.

[@jonnydarkfang2816]

It was a little bit more than that. With Nintendos last big release, Metroid Dread, Kotaku openly advocated and showed a step by step guide on how to download copies illegally through emulation. Showing people how to steal a day one release basically. Nintendo then blacklisted them. So when Tears of the Kingdom comes round and Nintendo don't give Kotaku a copy they get butthurt and start acting like they were blacklisted for some really hard hitting and deep investigative reporting on the industry. Like the gaming version of Watergate or some shit. They then double down and start posting memes involving killing Japanese soldiers during WW2. Then they decide to go full petty child and say "if you're not giving me what I think I'm entitled too, then I'm going to try to not only inform people that leaks are out there so watch out, but I'm going to actively publish each and every one in a long list" They think they should be entitled to good treatment, even when they actively go out of their way to do things to hurt the company they want good treatment from. It's a hypocrisy issue basically. Now usually I'm with Sterling on their stances but I do think they're wrong here. Spinning this as Kotaku doing "actual Journalism" is disingenuous at best and downright dishonest at worst. The weren't showing mismanagement, bad treatment of employees, sexual harrasment or anything else. This wasn't hard hitting expose type material that showed the company doing illegal, immoral, or anticonsumer practics, it was a petty "if you don't give me the ball, I'm going to call you bad names" type situation. Plus the fact that Kotaku have, for a long time, been a gaming site secondary and a political site first and have a habit of causing unnecessary problems for a ton of Devs to push an agenda (you simply need to look at Hogwarts Legacy to see that, entire review is about how you're committing genocide if you play a game) when many people think they should maybe, as a gaming site, be focusing on gaming first and politics second (if at all).

[@scipioafricanus2071]

@@Cri_Jackal What are you even saying? Kotaku isn't a single person and different writers and editors might have different opinions an a matter. Also which Kotaku article encouraged piracy? The Metroid one? because nowhere do they ever say "go and pirate this game" they just reported on the fact you can run a better version through emulation, which is legal everywhere except Japan. Stop riding for a corporation that doesn't give a damn about you. They'll resell to you 30 year old games for every consecutive generation running them through their own emulator that's how greedy and lazy they are.

[@Cri_Jackal]

@@scipioafricanus2071 Emulation is illegal in America, it's been classified as a form of piracy for years. Kotaku can report on it all they want, but getting pissed at Nintendo for blacklisting them, calling them unprofessional, after actively directing people to pirate their products, is just plain stupid.

[@amys4594]

hot pink eyeliner was a great decision

[@hockeyhacker97]

11:39... My question to those same people saying Kotaku didn't have journalistic integrity, my question to them is "why are you getting upset about them reporting on leaks and yet you are probably fine with television and "the News" spreading utter slander and hate speech against people who are trans just for political gains? Why are you not appalled that the news would intentionally endanger peoples lives by lying and calling an entire group of people all pedos and groomers? Kotaku by reporting on facts regardless of how they obtained the facts has way more 'journalistic integrity' than those in 'the news' spouting shit hateful harmful lies that can get people killed, all for political gains"

[@LayZKimochi420BlazeIt]

Ganon comes back and then link kills him, sorry for spoiling twilight princess.

[@TheBEAST205]

Omg. Does link happen to mutely collect a bunch of pointless bullshit along the way?

[@seraphonica]

what is Nintendo going to do? slightly darker blacklist them?

[@Smileyrat]

Double secret blacklist.

[@caliggyjack7480]

I'm appalled that Jim would spoil Link shooting dirty dan. I was waiting ever since I saw Dan's emotional story arc in Age of Calamity and to have Dirty Dan's fate spoiled here has left me befuddled, bamboozled, blindsided, bludgeoned, bemused, and bereft of happiness.

[@seraslain962]

Dirty Dan got done dirty

[@kegluneq6306]

That's Dirty Den! A character from British soap opera Eastenders who was shot in mysterious circumstances in 1989 (so basically like an 'I shot JR' reference).

[@zyriantel9601]

@@kegluneq6306 So what you mean to tell me is that Ganon’s got nuffin’ left?

[@WheresPoochie]

But I’m Dirty Dan

[@theomegajuice8660]

Everyone here signalling that they aren't British and don't know that it's dirty DEN, not DAN!

[@LaurenzaRendemal]

Steph, gotta say, this video was so cathartic to me. I had a rather heated row with one of my friends over the whole Kotaku leaks thing recently. They were on the side of Nintendo's lickspittle, and they used every single bootlicking argument you presented in this video. I rebutted them with the same points you made, but because you're a much better writer than me, you articulated it way better than I did. I'm just pleased to be vindicated!

[@rohithmekala2608]

Same. Kotatu has a right to publish and its our choice to read it or not. If we don't want to get spoiled. Don't read, simple.

[@Blisterdude123]

This entire video is basically a strawman. Nobody (should have) said Kotaku weren't within their rights to post articles about whatever the hell they want.Of course they can do that. But people are right to point out as a journalistic publication, Kotaku are out of their minds with an overinflated sense of self-worth if they think access to pre-release review copies of games are some kind of 'human right'. They're playing the game, they know the rules, I've no idea why they're acting salty about the fact that posting articles undermining a corporation has resulted in that corporation cutting off their access. Trying to make this about journalistic integrity or whatever is just misleading. Kotaku wanted to have their cake and eat it, and they can't, and they threw a strop about it. That's literally it. That's the beginning and end to what this is actually about. It's not even the first time it's happened to them this year.

[@AuspexAO]

@@Blisterdude123 See the thing is that the video isn't claiming they have some vaunted journalistic integrity. It's mostly telling people to stop filling their mouth with corpo c@ck. Now, I don't think that's what you're doing. I sense a political agenda. Can anyone tell me why a very specific type of gamer tends to hate Kotaku? I hate not understanding this. It's like it's on the tip of my tongue.

[@WiresDawson]

@@Blisterdude123 bigot.

[@madamejenkins86]

"All to protect a company that would set all yall's houses on fire if it made them money" - Or sue you and make you pay a portion of all of your income for the rest of your life. Potato potahto.

[@renaigh]

when a Journalist is under fire for simply doing their job (a horribly offensive inoffensive job at that) you know the world is in a dark place.

[@Solus749]

kotaku journalists? don't make me laugh, when 2/3 of an article isn't about the game or potential issues but is about if trump did this they lost all credibility. Same thing with the piracy issue, yea nintendos club was god awful but you don't write a step by step for how to pirate x if you are a official publication....actions have consequences

[@DeadHandtheSurvivor]

​@@Solus749 Oh for God sakes are you people *still* going on about that garbage? If you're offering me a way to enjoy a game that will run ten times better than it would on the switch, then why wouldn't I let people know about that? If Nintendo doesn't want people to pirate their games, then actually make the system they're on good instead of other hardware that can run the game at 60fps 4k resolution with little to no slow downs. Also Nintendo black listed them because they actually had the gall to speak up about them so screw them! It's all fair game in my books

[@renaigh]

@@Solus749 yeah, and sometimes those consequences are bullshit.

[@Solus749]

@@renaigh not when you knowingly lie outright or as mr renaigh is upset about promote out right illegal actions step by step on a official outlet. Same with getting a copy to talk about a game an spend 2/3 or sometimes more talking about trump. When you do that don't be suprised you get blacklisted.

[@user-xsn5ozskwg]

Honestly, the "most game journalists are just PR branches of publishers" is something people need to get through their skulls. When internet journalism exploded in the early 2000s that was one of the things it was praised for, the low overhead costs and global accessibility meant anyone could publish a review and have it be seen. The idea of being blacklisted from the industry, let alone by a specific publisher, would have been laughable because who are they to determine if someone can spend their own money and share their thoughts. It's ridiculous people are against Kotaku about this.

[@Alufear]

Funny enough, the leaked details that Kotaku reported are things that would have been shown to the public in trailers and presentations for any other game, even previous Zelda games, if Nintendo didn't treat TotK like some big mystery.

[@saniakshay12]

It is crazy how every little detail is being treated as a spoiler. Like going underground is not a spoiler. The announcement trailer alluded to it lmao. They've built hype by showing nothing and making journos (sellouts) make a billion articles.

[@dawensci7134]

​@@saniakshay12 the true spoiler is that zelda is 10000 years in the past and at the near end gonna fight Calamaty Canon and shes gonna transform into something big

[@adamdegerman960]

The reason i think most people commented on the article was that they were crying over being blacklisted.

[@wanderingrandomer]

1:54 Y'know, I never really considered why recent Switch games had always leaked early. I am so used to it happening at this point, I never questioned it.

[@jeyolikemayo]

People forget the legendary Half-life 2 leak that ultimately pushed valve to recreate their game into a true classic.

[@lnsflare1]

Going by how the story of Breath of the Wild seems to have been a very barebones bullet point retelling of the story of Nihon Falcom's Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (which originally came out on the Vita about a year earlier), I might have spoiled Tears of the Kingdom for myself by playing Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, where the series' recurring protagonist is forced against his will to have a cursed/magical arm and gains a series of random powers throughout the game.

[@freddogrosso9835]

I just take every oportunity I can to say I love Y's VIII with all my heart. It plays so well, with a lovely game loop, and the story just flows. It left me wanting for more.

[@Arella17]

I need to get into the Ys series

[@jamesrule1338]

Damn.... I never noticed that before... Also, I'll throw in my own recommendation to play Ys VIII and IX. Play them.

[@shytendeakatamanoir9740]

I need to finish Ys VIII at some point. I'm more into Legends of The Heroes myself though... So I hope it ends up like ToCSIV. That would be fun to watch

[@NexNoctis]

Sorry, i dont get the similarities in both games stories... and i completed both, so what am i missing.. 😮

[@d.w.stratton4078]

Ahhh Steph, the fact that you left that 7/10 reference in for BotW make me cackle. You're always doing the most. Love it.

[@MungkaeX]

I’m assuming TotK will be rated 6/10 by JSS because it simply isn’t as impactful as BotW.😂

[@shis1988]

​@@MungkaeX keeping durability alone is grounds for 5/10 and below tbh. That it's still as bad as BOTW is 4/10 level.

[@MungkaeX]

@@shis1988 but that doesn’t take into account the ability to make a meat sword. The fact we’ll all be swinging Big Meat around in a couple days is enough to justify the 6/10.

[@raskolnikov6443]

@@shis1988 Love that mechanic

[@shis1988]

@@MungkaeX and it'll break after the first swipe

[@StarDragonJP]

The person who wrote the article cares about being in Nintendo'd good graces. Right before they wrote this article they were crying about Nintendo not giving them a copy of Tears of the Kingdom and calling them "unprofessional & coercive" before proving themselves to be unprofessional & petty. You can say what you want about them reporting on leaks but like you said, a lot of the games are getting leaked and they've never written up an article about them before. This isn't some bastion of journalistic integrity, just some spiteful man striking out at Nintendo because he felt entitled to a copy of Tears of the Kingdom & didn't get it.

[@LocalHarma]

Ok but like, there’s no story spoilers in the article, It’s literally just stuff we could guess at from the trailers. And they put a spoiler warning at the start of the article. How do people think Kotaku were in wrong here? This is such a non-controversy it’s insane

[@thesupremeadmiral]

People who are against news outlets reporting leaks are nuts. Like the point of any press is to not be on the side of the industry (or government) that they report on, but on the side of the public so they can learn new that they would normally be denied. I don't want Zelda Tears of the Kingdom spoiled but I've had 0 issues with encountering spoilers (I didn't even know about the leak until several days after it was announced). When the Street Fighter 6 leaks happened, I jumped right onto them because I wanted to know right away which characters were going to be in the game. It did not ruin my hype at all. Hell, I got to experience a complete 180 with Marisa where at first she didn't look interesting but now I'm completely hyped for her more than any other fighter. Take some personal responsibility and stop licking boots people. The press is a tool for YOU, the PUBLIC, not the establishment. Learn to appreciate that idea before its gone entirely.

[@bicycle-ghost]

In times of developers deliberately only patching in microtransactions a week after launch, first reviews aren't worth a damn.

[@KaptinScuzgob]

i had no idea kotaku had leaked stuff. upon watching this video, i promptly sought them out. thanks Sterling!

[@Elwood128]

As much as I hate Nintendo, I hate Kotaku even more, so seeing Luke Plunkett crying over being blacklisted has been pure gold. Kotaku is the CNN of games journalism and hasn't been relevant for years.

[@JachymorDota]

You owe Big Corp nothing. Their stated goal is to have ALL of the money and if they could pay their employees nothing, they would have them pay for the "privilege" to work for them.

[@CountCocofang]

The irony is that in this particular case Kotaku has more journalistic integrity than every other outlet that DIDN'T report on the leaks. Here, they are the professionals. Meanwhile, they didn't spoil anyone because the headline makes it very clear what the contents of the article is. So people can just steer clear if they wish to. That's one big issue with people criticizing journalism. They often don't get it. There are plenty of reasons to criticize Kotaku or any number of outlets and journalists. But this is not one of them.

[@abadenoughdude300]

When Kotaku is the pinnacle of journalism then you know this is a dystopian timeline.

[@kutsop]

Can i just get a 10hour loop of Stephanie being called a good girl and smiling????

[@WCWThunderRosa]

Yeag 😵‍💫

[@AndroJonny95]

Came here to find this comment

[@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342]

This this this lol

[@alysone685]

Nintendo fans lately are really going mask off lately about believing media and journalism are solely there to worship their brand.

[@MelodicQuest]

Once again, I find myself repeating the same phrase: "Corporations are not your friends"

[@AkarZaephyr]

Fucking information embargo. Can you imagine the holocaust of being able to read a full review two weeks before the game release and learn the state of it BEFORE pre-ordering, and if it's better to wait for patch? The horror!

[@mirrorocean]

Truly shocking that journalists published some journalism.

[@Rosencreutzzz]

Weren't we all like mad that embargos have been chafing up against release dates for the last few years, making reviews effectively a post-launch experience, rather than a forewarning to purchasers? Wasn't that like, a thing people were generally annoyed by? I just don't get it.

[@PlatinumAltaria]

Apparently for some people blind hype is more important than consumer rights.

[@courtney.p.s.]

That’s like being mad at the Zelda/Nintendo subreddits for posting information. People actively avoid spoilers all the time.

[@CombatZAK]

I also thought please don't eat the blue man immediately before they did it.

[@GamerbyDesign]

All videogame sites should be blacklisted.

[@iheartjackieyes]

there are channels upon channels whose main deal is reporting leaks of specific games & game series, what a non-issue to be mad over

[@JayEyedWolf]

Kotaku existing outside of embargo and actually USING that status seems like it has the potential to tip power out of the hands of publishers and into the hands of games journalists. If other journalists notice kotaku and other blacklisted organizations are doing just fine or better without obedience, maybe others will pull from these subservient contracts and force publishers to renegotiate their rules and restrictions. I mean, it's unlikely, given that I'm sure game copies aren't the only thing larger organizations stand to lose-- any chance of interviews with developers is definitely on the line too-- but it would be interesting to see if that kind of shift COULD happen. It would definitely improve both industries.

[@dankyei]

Quick tip folks! To avoid spoilers and leaks just don't look at them 👍🏻

[@ShyRanger]

Hate to say it but this isn't an entirely true statement. I mean yes, you can ignore most spoilers if you don't outright search for them. But depending on what you look at, it might be IMPOSSIBLE to outright avoid EVERYTHING unless you literally blindfold yourself or never turn on a device ever. It's like say "To avoid any brand, just don't look at them" You can try but you can't avoid everything.

[@alexandredesbiens-brassard9109]

To be fair.... sometimes Kotaku will put spoilers right in the headline of an article - they did it recently in an article about the latest Horizon DLC. The headline just straight up spoiled the ending. But this Zelda article isn't one of those time.

[@MungkaeX]

Honestly I gotta hand it to Kotaku for not spoiling anything in the headline and indicating very clearly in said headline “Warning: Spoilers ahead!”

[@TheDiner50]

​@@ShyRanger What? And even if one truly doom scroll and get caught into someone intentionally trying to spoil something? Like the best example being people driving around in real world spoiling a death of someone pointless in a Harry Potter book that was about to be released. It was a few years ago now. So? What a big deal. As if it truly * matter. It is rare a spoiler is sooo crucial or that it truly is even worth to claim it as truly something you lost out on. Today in entertainment you need so much research before committing to anything. There is so much * out there and way to much * 'reviews'. $100 asking price means nothing and the fanshittery is able to muddy the waters WAY to much. Anyone actually so screwed up in there mind and committed to not spoiling ANYTHING about some Nintendon't game? That is just one more reason on a long list why you should not buy anything connected to this insanity. So much 'spoiler' posts you can truly avoid. And any true spoiler is usually found in media that is way to good for the mainstream * to even care to anger people with. Even the Harry Potter death in that stupid book is not just funny. It also is deserved. I'm sure so many people afraid of 'spoilers' for some stupid video game defend said stupid video game for the shit going on in the businesses. The crunch and abuse etc. And really that says something when spoilers are going to hurt them more then the people making said stuff is hurting.

[@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342]

@@TheDiner50 Well said. Shy Ranger is being very unrealistick. I have never wore a blind fold in my life, I'm talking among other zelda fans right now, and so far no one has mega ruined the story for me lolz. Relax shyranger... The fire ain that hot.

[@Lawnie]

I see the ADHD Impulsive Thoughts won again at the end, there.

[@bfeldz1023]

There's a ton you can give Kotaku shit for. This is not one of those things. They were not only well within their rights, they even titled the article to make people aware there would be spoilers inside so they could avoid it if they wanted to. All Kotaku did this time was literally their job. They reported the news about video games.

[@IceDragon289]

I remember the uproar over Kotaku reporting on Metroid Dread running on emulators before it launched. People claimed that Dread needed to sell well for Metroid to continue, and that Kotaku was endangering that. Not only is it not Kotaku's job to protect Metroid's sales; Dread sold just fine anyway. More than fine, even, last i checked, Dread was closing in on 3 million copies, and is already the best selling installment in the series.

[@1IGG]

Lol reporting games can be pirated is like reporting water is wet at room temperature (normal pressure). That's just a given.

[@danielludwig647]

As a Metroid fan, I totally get why people were concerned about sales. It’s a series that Nintendo will let sit fallow for years on end because they don’t give enough attention to caring for their stable of franchises outside of Mario and Zelda. But I’m not an idiot. Leaks and emulation are free advertising. People who care enough to go through the trouble to emulate and appreciate games (including preserving and distributing old out-of-print titles) are the ones who actually spend money on games. They’re the first ones to get excited. They’re *fans*.

[@jordanespinosa2508]

Steph: you are important. There are so many people you help feel seen. You bring up abuses by large companies towards their employees and customer base. Hell, I feel like I come away learning something and getting informed about a hobby I have a harder and harder time enjoying. You even inspired me some years ago, to actually start up my own KZbin channel. Thank God for JimStephanie Fucking Sterling Son.

[@daben7145]

disgusting how many people shill for companies that exploit their customers for decades and its getting worse and worse every year.

[@1IGG]

Propaganda works.

[@Cyrus_Nagisa]

This has nothing to do with "shilling for a company" this is people ruining others experaince of a game they have been waiting for for clicks, fuck Kotaku

[@lucasrobbins2705]

Game developers are making those review copies irrelevant anyway. I always wait a few weeks/months for the reviews/games so that the microtransactions and different editions aren't a surprise.

[@lizb7271]

6:43 "Kotaku embarrasses themselves over Tears of the Kingdom". What? Whoever wrote that has embarrassed themself way more than Kotaku did for [checks notes] doing video games journalism. On a site dedicated to video games journalism. The entire thing is frustrating because so many people want to go to bat for the video game industry, largely filled with massive and highly profitable corportations, against journalism, an industry which is in significant decline and by and large has become an extension of corporate PR departments because it's cheaper. Also, absolutely wild that Tears of the Kingdom revealed that all of the characters were trans. Very bold move.

[@TheGreatSquark]

Okay, the insanity of these people who tied so much of their self worth to a video game is getting to be too much so I can't finish this video. Looking good, Steph, and with the algorithm pleasing comment I am out of here.

[@saniakshay12]

Zelda is the greatest phenomenon in pop culture it will change the world! Nintendo is god!

[@keppakappa5033]

I think it happens to some degree for most games, but the worst fandoms in particular that I've noticed are the Zelda and Fromsoft fans. God forbid you don't think every game from their respective franchise is 11/10 perfect or that you don't play the game the "right" way", because otherwise they'll act like you personally killed their mother and pissed on the ashes.