As winter draws in and the chill fills the air, Rock Paper Shotgun (RPS), the beloved gaming news outlet, has announced they're taking a well-deserved break. But fear not, avid readers and gaming enthusiasts, the team at RPS ensures you won’t be left in a lurch. Although the writers are taking a hiatus, they’ve prearranged a collection of content to keep their audience entertained and informed during the year-end festivities.
RPS is well-aware of the connectivity of the modern world, where the expectation to remain consistently engaged can feel overwhelming. They cheekily acknowledge that they've received emails from public relations representatives even as they're about to lock up the proverbial treehouse for a seasonal break. It's worth noting that the team humorously admits to preferring warmth over the bracing cold associated with treehouse accommodations during winter, thus their offices won’t reopen until the 2nd of January 2024.
As the RPS crew prepares to hibernate through the colder days, they leave behind a treasure trove of content. Readers are assured that, although live correspondence may temporarily cease, they still have numerous articles and features to look forward to. A key highlight promises to be the reveal of the Game of the Year 2023, an event they somewhat playfully note many of their Discord community may already have an inkling about. Nonetheless, the anticipation for the official announcement, set for a grand reveal on the final day of their Advent Calendar, is a cherished tradition.
Beyond the excitement of the Game of the Year, the RPS team has also prepared "Selection Boxes" filled with personal staff picks. These fall under the games that didn’t quite make the official lists but are nonetheless shining gems recommended by individual writers. It's a chance to showcase a diversity of titles—one for each day starting from the 26th of December—that readers might have missed or that the staff felt deserved an honorable mention.
Taking a reflective look at the year, RPS has compiled various Year in Review roundups. These roundups serve as a way to anchor the gaming community in time, reminiscing about the highs and lows of the gaming world over 2023. Expect to see lists that range from the Bestest Best reviews, a spotlight on notable features, and trends that defined the year from the perspective of their dedicated guides team.
In an act of festive generosity, RPS opens the doors to their treasure hoard of posts funded by supporters, making them available for all readers. These can be found under the "From the Archive" tag, among other posts that are typically exclusive. It's a move that showcases the website's commitment to its community and allows all readers a peek behind the curtains into content they might not have seen otherwise.
For those in need of a laugh—or perhaps a groan—in tune with holiday traditions, RPS isn’t holding back on their annual Christmas Crackers. These tidbits, replete with what the team describes as "just awful" jokes, are set to be a quirky daily indulgence throughout the break. They hint at one with a Star Trek theme, teasing the readers' curiosity without giving it all away.
As RPS signs off for the year, the writers share a moment of reflection from the past, even as they're about to engage in the practical details of scheduling and planning social media for the content they've teased. They encourage their readers to engage with them through comments, sharing gaming-related resolutions for the upcoming 2024. The team shares their own, which stands as a testament to their enduring passion for gaming: to play more weird stuff.
Rest assured, even as RPS goes quiet for a time, the underlying message is clear: the community and its enthusiasm for gaming remain at the heart of what they do. Readers are left with the anticipation of returning in January for another year of gaming coverage and camaraderie, along with a call to enjoy the festive season and thanks for the shared moments of the past year.
