As the cold winter breeze stirs and festive lights twinkle, Rock Paper Shotgun (RPS), a beloved source for video game enthusiasts, is also slipping into the warmth of a winter hiatus. The website is buttoning up its proverbial treehouse and taking a well-earned break to enjoy the holiday season. The absence will start now, but fret not, RPS has ensured that their audience will still have plenty to dive into even as the staff members step away from their keyboards and emails until the New Year.
The holidays come with traditions, and RPS is no stranger to them. As they embark on their vacation, they leave behind a trove of content scheduled to entertain their community. The engaging journey begins with the anticipation of the year's final flourish - the Game of the Year 2023 announcement. Speculations arise, whispers float through Discord channels, but loyal followers are urged to return for the grand reveal set to unmask itself in a ceremonial fashion.
While RPS closes its doors for the year, they decided to share with their readers one last gift, the 'RPS Selection Boxes.’ These bundles of joy contain games that individual staff members wish to commend - those that narrowly missed a spot or deserve a moment in the spotlight. The selection boxes offer a personal touch, each game a hidden gem that the staff felt should not go unnoticed.
Beyond game recommendations, RPS has compiled a series of 'Year In Review' roundups. These retrospectives are aimed at grounding the audience in the passing year's essence. From highlighting the Bestest Best reviews to identifying the trends that directed the year's gaming narrative, RPS provides a comprehensive look back at the year. They remind readers that time is but a construct, especially apparent when reflecting on games like Hi-Fi Rush that feel like they belonged to another era, yet were a part of this very year's adventure.
Subscribers who have contributed to the Supporter program will find a nod in their direction as well. Supporter-funded posts, previously exclusive, will be made available to all. These posts can be located under the 'From The Archive' tag amidst the website's latest offerings, presenting an opportunity for broader readership to experience the depth and quirks of the RPS community content.
True to the spirit of holidays jolliness, RPS doesn't miss the chance to engage in the pun-laden tradition of Christmas Crackers. With what promises to be an exceptional batch this year, atrociously wonderful jokes will sprinkle daily across the break period, offering a chuckle or a groan, depending on the reader's appreciation for holiday humor.
As the final pieces of content queue up for the audience's pleasure, the RPS team takes a moment to engage with their readership from their temporal cocoon in the past. The ask comes simple yet profound: to share gaming resolutions for the upcoming year 2024 alongside their own commitment to 'play more weird stuff’ - a reminder that exploration and curiosity are vital ingredients in the gamer's recipe for joy.
The sentiment is one of shared experiences, gaming resolutions, and heartfelt thanks. Like all good things, the year's narrative at RPS draws to a close, but not without a laden table of content treats and the promise of reuniting on January 2. Until then, the Rock Paper Shotgun team leaves behind not just scheduled posts but a sense of community, excitement for the year ahead, and hopes that readers find the seasonal period full of joy, relaxation, and of course, great gaming. See you next year, with fresh experiences and maybe even a yearning for those hilarious Christmas crackers jokes.
