As the frosty air ushers in the holiday spirit, the digital corridors of Rock Paper Shotgun, a popular gaming news and reviews website, become quiet as the team takes its well-deserved winter break. With the end of the year upon us, the website's staff have prepared a festive farewell while ensuring their readers aren't left in the lurch during the holiday season. While physical offices and treehouses may grow cold, the hearts of the Rock Paper Shotgun community are warmed by the promise of future content, even as the staff puts down their pens until the new year.
Unwilling to leave their audience without entertainment and insightful reads, the Rock Paper Shotgun team has meticulously slated an array of gaming-related content to fill the virtual pages of the website during their absence. This content schedule, like a stuffed holiday stocking, is brimming with gifts and surprises for dedicated gamers.
One eagerly awaited piece is the final door on the website's Advent Calendar, which is set to reveal the Game of The Year for 2023. This announcement is a long-standing tradition, and while some eagle-eyed members of the community suspect they know the outcome, the reveal is undoubtedly a highlight of the year— the crown jewel of the holiday season's gaming discussions.
But the team knows that not every game can make the esteemed GOTY list, and for those underappreciated gems, they have crafted the RPS Selection Boxes. These serve as honorable mentions of a sort, where each staff member champions games that narrowly missed a spot on the Advent Calendar or otherwise were edged out of the limelight. From December 26th onwards, readers will have the opportunity to explore these curated selections and maybe find a new favorite among the alternatives.
Additionally, retrospectives are a crucial part of ringing in the new year, and Rock Paper Shotgun aims to prevent any reader from becoming "unmoored in time." They've prepared insightful wrap-ups, such as the Bestest Best reviews of the year, top feature articles, and a fascinating look from the guides' section at what shaped the gaming landscape in 2023. These pieces not only celebrate the year's successes but also provide a comprehensive look back at where the gaming world has journeyed over the past twelve months.
Beyond these scheduled pieces, Rock Paper Shotgun is making a gracious move by unlocking several Supporter-funded posts for all readers. These posts, which can be found via the "From The Archive" tag, are a testament to the website's community-driven spirit and its commitment to inclusive access to premier gaming content.
For the holiday humorists, the annual Christmas Crackers will continue to deliver groan-worthy jokes each day of the break. With a promise of humor so awfully good it's embarrassing even for the schedulers, these quips are bound to spark laughter and eye rolls alike, perhaps providing a bright spot in the quiet moments of the winter holidays.
As the year closes, the Rock Paper Shotgun team reaches out from the past, with messages scheduled and tweets timed, while likely indulging in festive treats and pondering the prospects of the year 2024. The pause in their routine brings an opportunity for reflection, both for the staff and the community, inviting everyone to share their gaming resolutions for the upcoming year. With a personal goal to "play more weird stuff," the invitation to converse and contemplate is extended to the entire Rock Paper Shotgun readership.
As the holidays take full swing, the Rock Paper Shotgun team expresses heartfelt gratitude for the support and companionship of their readers. With the promise to reunite on January 2nd, 2024, the message is clear: enjoy the festivities, delve into the scheduled content, and cherish these final days of the year. The bond between the website and its audience is marked by a mutual appreciation, and with that sentiment, Rock Paper Shotgun bids its users a temporary adieu, only to return in the new year refreshed and ready for more gaming adventures. The virtual doors may be closed, but the spirit of the gaming community continues to thrive through the collective joy and passion for the pixelated worlds they adore.
