As snow blankets the ground and festive lights glimmer on streets, the well-known gaming website Rock Paper Shotgun has decided to take a much-deserved winter break. The team has packed their bags, shut down their computers, and sent out a friendly reminder to their audience and PR representatives that they'll be out of office until the start of the new year—specifically, until January 2, 2024.
But before the staff bundled up and stepped out into the wintry air, they left their readers with some parting gifts. Anticipating the holiday void that could be felt by their absence, Rock Paper Shotgun made sure their community wouldn't feel left behind in a gaming world that's always buzzing with news and updates.
Firstly, they've set the stage for the grand unveiling of Game Of The Year 2023. This reveal has been keenly awaited, almost like a countdown to the new year, and is to take place the day after they've called for the winter break. The team has playfully nudged at the audience, poking fun at the fact the winner might be an open secret, yet they hold onto the tradition of the reveal with a sense of charm and nostalgia.
Adding to the holiday cheer, the team has carefully curated a collection called the RPS Selection Boxes. These are the games that didn't make it to their Advent Calendar but deserve a notable mention. The staffers have chosen these personal favorites, which they felt were overlooked or narrowly missed out on making an official list. These Selection Boxes are set to sprinkle surprise and variety over the days following Christmas, no doubt giving gamers insight into lesser-known treasures and personal staff picks.
The website does not just focus on the past but also looks forward, with a series of Year In Review roundups. The intention is to provide a coherent narrative of the year gone by in gaming, summarizing the highs and lows, the best reviews, features, and the trends that shaped the gaming guides of 2023. There's the reflective piece on Hi-Fi Rush and other memorable moments that the team, in retrospect, will lay out for their readers, weaving the story of the year in gaming.
For the supporters of the site and those who value in-depth content, Rock Paper Shotgun is unlocking a series of Supporter-funded posts. These posts will be freely available for all readers, allowing a glimpse into the exclusive content usually reserved for their supporters. It's a gesture that not only appreciates the existing community but also extends a friendly hand to potential new members.
Every day of their holiday break is flavored with an element of humor, courtesy of their annual Christmas Crackers. Readers can expect a daily dose of groan-worthy jokes, which, as the staff says, is them truly outdoing themselves in the humor department. They tempt their audience with promises of embarrassing quality and even throw in a teaser about a certain Star Trek-themed jest.
As playful and spirited as their sign-off message is, there's also a sincere note of gratitude and camaraderie extended to their readers. Crediting their community for being part of their journey, Rock Paper Shotgun does what it does best – creating a sense of united passion for gaming, even as they take a temporary step back from the digital world.
Engaging the readers further, they leave behind a question about gaming resolutions for the upcoming year. It's a thoughtful touch, encouraging dialogue and contemplation among their audience about their gaming goals and aspirations for 2024.
With their warm sign-off and a heartfelt see-you-soon, Rock Paper Shotgun demonstrates that a winter break is more than just time away; it is a time of regrouping and appreciating the year that has passed. As we all step into the tranquility of the season, the team's journey into their winter holidays may very well mirror our own contemplative respite, stirring excitement for the new possibilities that 2024 will bring in the world of gaming.
