As the year winds down, and the cold winter air sets in, the team over at Rock Paper Shotgun (RPS), a well-regarded gaming website, has announced that they are embarking on their winter holidays. This break is a time for rest and celebration, but the RPS team has made sure to leave their readers with plenty of content to enjoy while they are away. They are scheduled to return on the 2nd of January, 2024, when they will resume their regular publishing schedule and activities.
During their break, RPS reassures its readers that they will not be left in a content drought. They have pre-scheduled a series of posts that will go live throughout their absence. This includes the unveiling of their Game of the Year for 2023, which will be revealed in the final door of their Advent Calendar. The anticipation is palpable among their community, with many speculating about potential winners, although the RPS staff jests that the outcome seems to be an open secret among their readers.
After the excitement of the Game of the Year announcement, readers can look forward to RPS's Selection Boxes. Each day from the 26th of December, a new Selection Box will be published. These feature games that the staff members felt deserved a spotlight but didn't quite make it into their Advent Calendar. Dubbed "hon. menchies" by the staff, these selections provide readers with additional gaming recommendations and highlight titles that the RPS team feels are worthy of attention.
In addition to celebratory posts, RPS will also publish Year In Review roundups to provide readers with retrospectives on the year in gaming. These will include lists of the best reviews, features, and guidebooks that defined the RPS experience over the year. One surprising reminder in this content is the acknowledgment of Hi-Fi Rush, a game that made a significant impact in 2023, among other memorable titles and gaming moments.
Support isn't overlooked during the holiday season either. The RPS team is making Supporter-funded posts accessible to all readers during their break. This is not only a generous gesture but also an opportunity for everyone to delve into content that was previously exclusive. Readers are encouraged to explore these posts as they become available, as well as the "From The Archive" tag that showcases other supporter posts for a comprehensive dive into hidden gems.
A lighter tradition that RPS maintains is the annual Christmas Crackers, which will also continue during the break. This series, fondly and humorously described as "just awful" by the staff, brings daily jokes to the readers—ensuring laughter and groans in equal measure. Readers can expect a new cracker joke every day of the break, which should serve as comic relief and a playful reminder of the RPS community's camaraderie.
The warmth of the holiday message from the RPS team extends to their readers globally, as they encourage everyone to share their gaming-related resolutions for 2024 in the comments. From "play more weird stuff" to other personal goals, this interaction fosters a sense of community and shared passion for gaming as everyone heads into the new year.
As readers make their way through the content scheduled for the winter break, they are reminded of the hard work and dedication that the RPS team puts into their website year-round. This break is a well-deserved rest for a team that continually delivers quality content, engaging reviews, and thorough gaming guides. As 2023 comes to a close, RPS signs off, thanking their readers for their support and participation, leaving them with good wishes, and the promise to return, refreshed and ready, in 2024.
