What Are We All Playing This Weekend?

Julian Benson, the Editorial Director at Rock Paper Shotgun, is recovering from a series of demanding trips to Spain, Sweden, and Germany, which were capped off by a cross-country bicycle ride. Now that he is feeling better, Benson is focusing on Star Wars: Zero Company. He has been playing the game in short sessions at the start and end of each day to advance his galactic campaign. He aims to complete the majority of the title over the weekend to prepare for an upcoming review.

Benson's review of Star Wars: Zero Company will also address broader industry issues. He plans to discuss the game in the context of Electronic Arts' new ownership, as well as the recent news that 80 percent of the development studio's staff were placed on furlough just weeks before the game was launched. Outside of his time in the virtual galaxy, Benson intends to spend his weekend baking a ginger and orange treacle tart.

Other members of the editorial team are exploring different virtual worlds. James is attempting to secure access to the closed beta for Wardogs. Rather than focusing on the combat elements of the game, James is interested in the logistics side, expressing a desire to spend his time transporting cargo crates to the frontlines using an old truck. He notes that this slower, non-violent gameplay style offers a welcome escape.

Edwin has secured a gaming laptop from the Gamer Network management to conduct reviews, which he plans to use to test visually demanding 3D titles. Among the games on his list is Blood of Dawnwalker, and he also intends to complete Pathologic 3. Edwin has asked readers for recommendations of other high-end, contemporary games to test on his new hardware, jokingly asking if franchises like Silent Hill or Jak & Daxter are still active.

Jeremy is also spending his weekend with Blood of Dawnwalker, a title he reports enjoying immensely. He describes his character, Coen, as a gentle family man who hopes to eventually retire to a swamp with his wife, Anca. Despite this peaceful outlook, Jeremy's character does not hesitate to fight back against corrupt guards. He recently defeated the guards holding Mert the Miller captive using only basic starting equipment.

Meanwhile, Ollie and his friends are returning to the multiplayer shooter The Finals after a significant break. Ollie describes the game as being just as chaotic and entertaining as he remembered. He hopes that re-learning the game's mechanics over the weekend will allow his group to perform better. In contrast, Callum left a note for the team indicating he would be spending his weekend outdoors in the woods with friends rather than playing games.

Finally, Mark is taking a complete break from video games this weekend following two consecutive weekends dominated by vampire-themed titles. Instead of sitting in front of a screen, he is traveling to a field near Darlington to watch car racing. Mark joked about his plans to apply plenty of sunscreen to protect himself during the brief moments of sunshine expected during the outdoor event.