As winter's chill sets in and the year winds down, the team at Rock Paper Shotgun has packed up their virtual treehouse and set out for a festive hiatus. The pause in their usual operations comes with a reminder to their readers and PR contacts alike: they're officially on winter break and won't be available for correspondence until the new year. Yet this doesn't mean silence from the beloved site. The team has curated a trove of scheduled content to keep their community entertained over the holiday period.
On the brink of the break, Rock Paper Shotgun teases their audience with the eagerly anticipated Game of the Year award for 2023. Set for a grand reveal on a Saturday afternoon, the title, though being "the worst kept secret in gaming" according to community discourse, promises to uphold the holiday spirit with its traditional unveiling. This event is illustrative of the jocular tone and camaraderie the site is known for, as they liken the reveal to a game of charades—another seasonal classic.
Adding to the anticipation, the site will not leave its readers' game appetites unsatisfied. They have prepared a festive assortment dubbed the RPS Selection Boxes, which are a series of staff picks highlighting games that might not have made the illustrious Advent Calendar but still deserve commendation. Starting on the 26th, this feature provides a podium for the undeserved and grants them the honor of honorary mentions—or "hon. menchies," as the team playfully labels them.
The site also offers retrospection in the form of RPS Year In Review roundups. These introspective pieces help readers contextualize the past year in gaming, reminiscing the highs and pondering the surprises like Hi-Fi Rush that graced 2023. Comprehensive lists celebrate the revered Bestest Best reviews and the crucial guides that shaped gamers' experiences over the past twelve months.
In a gesture of goodwill and community spirit, Rock Paper Shotgun has made Supporter-funded posts accessible to all their readers. These special features, accompanied by an archive, underscore the site’s dedication to not just their subscribers but to the broader gaming community as well, offering a deep dive into coveted content previously limited to supporters only.
Moreover, the team behind Rock Paper Shotgun has concocted a series of Christmas Crackers—jovial, pun-laden treats that embody the spirit of the season with exceptionally "awful" jokes, set to be a daily dalliance into festive humor. These lighthearted jests are a testament to the site's charm and its connection to the gaming community, equally ready to celebrate the medium as to poke fun at it.
As readers browse through the scheduled holiday content, the Rock Paper Shotgun team teases with glimpses into their real-time holiday experiences, sharing their anticipations and opening a dialogue with their community. They invite fans to share their gaming resolutions for 2024 in the comments, engaging in a collective reflection on the past year and setting personal goals for the new one. The editor’s own resolution, to "play more weird stuff," mirrors the eclectic and expansive taste that Rock Paper Shotgun showcases throughout the year.
While the team at Rock Paper Shotgun steps away from their keyboards and into the realm of festive indulgence, they sign off with heartfelt gratitude for their readership's support and encouragement. With promises of returning on January 2nd, the pause in regular programming is but a brief intermission, expecting to greet its audience with renewed energy and heads hopefully clear of any leftover holiday fog.
Rock Paper Shotgun's winter break schedule embraces the end of one year and the beginning of another, peppering the holidays with their unmistakable humor, reflections, and of course, a continuous love for the world of gaming. As the team takes a breath and looks toward the future, they leave behind a veritable digital feast for their audience to enjoy during the winter festivities.
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