Kotaku
A video game news and culture site.
Kotaku at a glance
Kotaku is an entertainment & streaming website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #402 in the country. It was founded in 2004 by Nick Denton, Brian Crecente and is headquartered in New York, NY, USA. Today Kotaku is owned by G/O Media. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 25 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through digital advertising, affiliate commerce. Its closest rivals include ign.com, polygon.com, gamespot.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 23.5 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 24.3 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 25 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 26.5 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct63%
- Organic search21%
- Social8%
- Referral5%
- Paid3%
Audience & demographics
- Men54%
- Women46%
- Age 18-2428%
- Age 25-3429%
- Age 35-4421%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 7.5 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| kotaku | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| watch online | Top 10 | High | — |
| live stream | Top 10 | High | — |
| subscription price | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 74% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading entertainment & streaming apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- kotaku.com
- Sector
- Entertainment & Streaming
- Owner
- G/O Media
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Nick Denton, Brian Crecente
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- New York, NY, USA
- Employees
- 30+
- Ownership
- G/O Media controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $15 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $15 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Kotaku operates an entertainment and streaming service focused on United States. A video game news and culture site. Revenue comes mainly from digital advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Digital advertising
- Affiliate commerce
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #402 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading entertainment & streaming site in United States
- Global rank
- 3000
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ign.com | ≈ 15 million / month | #403 class competitor | — |
| polygon.com | ≈ 11.2 million / month | #404 class competitor | — |
| gamespot.com | ≈ 7.5 million / month | #405 class competitor | — |
What is Kotaku?
Kotaku (kotaku.com) is an entertainment and streaming service serving users in United States. A video game news and culture site. It ranks #402 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the entertainment & streaming category.
Who owns Kotaku?
The site is operated by G/O Media, founded by Nick Denton, Brian Crecente. The company was established in 2004 and is headquartered in New York, NY, USA. It employs around 30+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Kotaku at roughly 25 million visits per month, about 0.8 million per day. Around 74% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 6.9 pages per visit with an average session of 14 min.
How Kotaku makes money
Revenue comes primarily from digital advertising, alongside affiliate commerce.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include ign.com, polygon.com, gamespot.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 2004
Kotaku is founded in New York, NY, USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its entertainment & streaming offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #402 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Large local content library
- Live sports or exclusive originals
- Works across mobile, web and TV apps
- Affordable local pricing tiers
Cons
- Content rotates out of the catalogue
- Ad-supported tier interrupts playback
- Rights restrictions limit some titles
- Streaming quality varies on weak connections
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Kotaku?
Kotaku is operated by G/O Media. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Kotaku headquartered?
Kotaku is headquartered in New York, NY, USA.
When was Kotaku founded?
Kotaku was founded in 2004 by Nick Denton, Brian Crecente.
How many employees does Kotaku have?
Kotaku employs approximately 30+ people.
What is Kotaku's revenue?
Kotaku's revenue: ≈ $15 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Kotaku's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include ign.com, polygon.com, gamespot.com.
How does Kotaku make money?
Mainly digital advertising, affiliate commerce.
Is Kotaku publicly traded?
No — Kotaku is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by G/O Media.
How many visitors does Kotaku get?
Third-party estimates place Kotaku at roughly 25 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 74% mobile traffic.
Is Kotaku safe?
Kotaku is an established entertainment & streaming site founded in 2004 and ranked #402 in United States; use the official domain kotaku.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementskotaku.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos