As winter cloaks the northern hemisphere in frost, the team at Rock Paper Shotgun, a popular gaming publication, has decided to take their well-deserved winter holiday break. Typically, this time of year is quiet for many industries, and the gaming press is no exception. However, the team at Rock Paper Shotgun has ensured that, though they may be away from their desks, their readers will not lack for entertaining content until the team's return in the New Year.
The staff have humorously noted the cold weather as a reason to abandon their hypothetical treehouse office, as they jest about the expected mishaps of adjusting to writing '2024' on their articles upon their return. They're scheduled to return on the 2nd of January 2024, after what they hope will be a season of festivities and relaxation for themselves and their readers.
Acknowledging the ongoing support from their readership, the Rock Paper Shotgun team has prepared various pre-scheduled content, often referred to as "hashtag content," which will be rolled out during their absence. The content calendar promises to keep their audience engaged and entertained despite the team's physical absence from the workplace.
One of the key scheduled pieces of content is the reveal of their Game of the Year 2023. The anticipation has built up over time through discussions on Discord, hinting that many readers may already have an inkling of the winner. Nevertheless, the publication plans to maintain the suspense, likening the eventual reveal to the tradition of playing charades during the festive season. The team invites their readers to tune in at 1pm GMT for the official announcement, ensuring that the decision aligns with the high quality that fans expect from their Game of the Year selection.
Beyond just the Game of the Year, Rock Paper Shotgun will offer its RPS Selection Boxes. These comprise recommendations of games that staff members felt deserved recognition but may not have been featured on the Advent Calendar or received lesser attention throughout the year. This gesture provides a broader perspective on the year's offerings and shines a light on titles that readers might have missed but are certainly worth exploring.
The publication will also provide a retrospective look into the year with a series of Year In Review roundups. These will include a recap of their Bestest Best reviews, highlighting top-rated games, a selection of the best features published throughout the year, and a guides perspective that recapitulates notable gaming directions and trends of 2023.
Amid the articles and retrospectives, Rock Paper Shotgun is set to release Supporter-funded posts for the general readership, an act of goodwill that allows non-subscribers access to exclusive content previously available only to subscribers. Readers are advised to keep an eye on the Latest feed or explore the From The Archive tag for a trove of reads that subscribers have enjoyed over the past year.
Not forgetting a touch of humor for the season, the publication has also prepared a series of annual Christmas Crackers—puns and jokes that promise to be so bad they're good. They suggest that these cringeworthy but delightful jests will offer daily laughter over the holiday break.
The announcement post concludes with a reflection on the past year and warm wishes for the days ahead. The team, speaking from the past as they schedule their content in advance, extends gratitude to their community for its support and shares a call to engage in the comments about gaming-related resolutions for the year 2024. Sharing their resolution to "play more weird stuff," they encourage their readers to consider their own gaming aims for the coming year.
As the Rock Paper Shotgun team takes their leave, winding down their digital presence for a brief period, they invite readers to enjoy the festivities, engage with the content they've prepared, and share moments of laughter and reflection. Their sign-off is a reminder to cherish the time off and an assurance that, come the New Year, they will be back, refreshed and ready to embark on another chapter in the ever-evolving story of gaming.
