Kotaku has shared its guidelines for freelance writers interested in contributing to the publication. The outlet emphasizes a preference for original stories with unique angles, exclusive insights, or deep dives that readers cannot easily find elsewhere.
While Kotaku receives many pitches for reviews and previews, these are often declined due to high competition. Instead, the publication seeks reported scoops, investigative pieces, fascinating interviews, essays, and feature stories that offer a distinct perspective. Examples provided include interviews that unearth long-forgotten game development insights, dramatic narratives from within online gaming communities, developer accounts of troubled projects, or profiles of ambitious modding groups.
Freelance pitches should include the story idea, an estimated word count, a proposed timeline, a sample headline, and a clear explanation of why the story is compelling, essential for Kotaku's readership, and not readily available through a quick search. Writers are also required to submit links to one or two strong samples of their previous work, whether published on major websites or personal blogs, to demonstrate their ability to execute the proposed idea.
Submissions can be sent to [email protected] or directly to individual staff members. Kotaku also advises that follow-ups are acceptable if a response is not received promptly, though not every pitch is guaranteed a reply.
Permanent rates begin at $50 for short news posts (300-450 words) and $150 for short features (750-1,000 words), which include basic research and some original sourcing. More in-depth articles requiring multiple interviews, extensive research, or significant hands-on time with a game can command up to $300, with rates for other submissions being negotiable on a case-by-case basis. Kotaku explicitly states that it does not accept work produced by or drafted with the assistance of AI agents.