Rock Paper Shotgun's weekend gaming column invites readers to share what they're playing as the week winds down. The piece opens with the author's personal schedule, complaining about attending a summer wedding in London during oppressive heat. While the column typically showcases reader submissions and staff picks for games across all platforms, this excerpt focuses on the author's life commentary rather than gaming recommendations.
The "What Are We All Playing This Weekend" series functions as a community engagement piece. Rock Paper Shotgun uses it to highlight both mainstream releases and indie titles that capture players' attention during downtime. The column traditionally covers PC gaming heavily, though coverage spans consoles and mobile as well. Past editions have featured everything from AAA blockbusters to niche indie projects gaining traction among the gaming community.
This particular excerpt doesn't specify which games are being highlighted, but the column's format typically balances staff recommendations with reader participation. The piece serves as a temperature check on what the gaming audience actually cares about week-to-week, rather than focusing purely on review scores or critical consensus. It's a casual space where players discuss their current backlog, ongoing multiplayer sessions, and hidden gems they've discovered.
For gaming media, these community-focused columns drive engagement and foster discussion in comments sections. They acknowledge that gaming extends beyond major releases and reviews. Players juggle multiple titles, return to old favorites, and discover unexpected experiences based on peer recommendations.
The heat-stricken author's predicament aside, the column represents Rock Paper Shotgun's effort to stay connected with its audience's actual gaming habits rather than dictating what they should play based on hype cycles or marketing momentum.