As the holiday season chills the air and families gather around warm fires, Rock Paper Shotgun (RPS), the popular online gaming publication, has announced that they are taking their annual winter break. The team won’t be manning their posts until the new year, which means if you send an email now, it won’t be read until 2024. However, there's a twist; the virtual treehouse may be closed, but the RPS team has left a trove of content to keep their readers entertained during their absence.
While many ushers of the digital world are tempted to unplug completely, RPS is doing something a little different. The team has carefully planned a selection of pieces that will be published throughout their winter hiatus. This means that the website will maintain an active pulse, despite its creators enjoying a well-deserved rest.
First and foremost on the agenda is the much-anticipated Game of the Year 2023 reveal. Although some readers speculate they know the winner through communal detective work on Discord, the official announcement is set to be a prominent event, a celebration that aligns perfectly with holiday traditions like playing charades. The reveal is scheduled for tomorrow at 1 pm GMT.
In addition to the Game of the Year unveiling, RPS promises to provide various 'Selection Boxes,' which are personal game recommendations from the staff. These aren't just any games; these are the titles that staff members felt were robbed of their rightful place on the Advent Calendar, or simply didn't make the final cut for various reasons. These hidden gems of the gaming world offer a chance to discover something new and will be shared daily starting from December 26th.
Looking back over the year, there’s reflection over the games that have marked 2023. RPS has created several 'Year In Review' roundups, offering a unique perspective on the year's gaming landscape. For instance, one might find it hard to believe that Hi-Fi rush was released this year, but Ed from RPS is set to provide a refresher on all the 'Bestest Best' reviews of the year. Other roundups include a selection of the best features and a guide-centric view of what defined the year in gaming.
In an act of holiday generosity, RPS is unlocking a collection of Supporter-funded posts for all readers. These posts, along with others under the 'From The Archive' tag, offer a glance into previously exclusive content, allowing everyone to delve deeper into the thoughts and musings of the RPS team.
And if all of this was not enough to keep their audience satisfied, RPS has also scheduled seasonal levity with their annual Christmas Crackers—one for each day of the break. These snippets of humor, ranging from delightfully witty to cringe-worthy, are set to bring a dose of holiday cheer (or at least elicit a groan).
As the present turns into the past and the future awaits, the RPS team looks forward to returning in the new year, but not before ensuring their readers have plenty to engage with over the festive period. They express their gratitude for the support and engagement over the past year and extend warm holiday wishes to everyone.
Finally, in the spirit of looking ahead, they pose a question to the readers: What's your game-related resolution for 2024? The RPS editor shares theirs, which is to 'play more weird stuff,' a repeating theme that seems to indicate a joyful pursuit of the unconventional in gaming.
As the break unfolds, the RPS team urges readers to indulge in the array of content available, to explore new and interesting games, and to enjoy the holiday festivities. They promise to reunite with their readership, hopefully, not too hampered by the aftermath of New Year's celebrations, on January the 2nd, 2024. Until then, the digital pages of Rock Paper Shotgun are sure to offer stories, reviews, and chuckles to keep the gaming conversations going.
