Steam Decks, Spiders, and the Siren Song of XCOM: Diving Into Our Mates' Gaming Weekends
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Dive into the wonderfully chaotic weekend gaming plans of the Rock Paper Shotgun crew, as Jeff playfully dissects their struggles with puzzle bosses, the allure of XCOM Ironman runs, the joy of a proper PC setup, and the spiritual enlightenment found (or not found) with a Steam Deck.
Right, listen up, mates! You know that age-old question, the one that pops up every Friday like a particularly insistent NPC with an urgent quest: "What are you playing this weekend?" It’s more than just idle chatter, isn't it? It’s a digital divination, a peek behind the curtain into the very soul of a gamer. And when I stumbled upon the Rock Paper Shotgun crew’s recent musings on this very topic, I couldn't help but lean in, like a curious wizard peering into a scrying pool.
(Original article by James Archer for Rock Paper Shotgun, published on Oct. 18, 2025, titled "What are we all playing this weekend?" – you can find the full piece over at rockpapershotgun.com. Go on, give it a gander.)
First off, James Archer, the Hardware Editor himself, is off gallivanting in India, specifically Dharamshala – the mountain town where the Dalai Lama hangs his hat. And what’s on his mind? Not Nirvana, not spiritual enlightenment, but whether the Dalai Lama would approve of his Steam Deck. *Bloody brilliant*, I say! This, right here, is the glorious, irreverent heart of modern gaming. Even when you’re on a spiritual quest, the portable powerhouse in your backpack is calling. It’s a testament to how deeply gaming integrates into our lives, isn't it? Our digital companions travel with us, prompting us to ponder the deepest philosophical questions… like, “Is this Wi-Fi good enough for a quick dungeon run?” It also gently reminds us that even hardware editors, the guardians of our silicon dreams, need a proper break from the pixel mines. Good on ya, James.
Then we’ve got Edwin, caught in the eternal gamer’s dilemma. His serene *Silent Hill f* playthrough—a game I'm convinced will be a masterclass in psychological horror—was rudely gatecrashed by *Battlefield 6*. It’s like trying to brew a delicate potion only for a dragon to burst through your lab wall. And the kicker? He’s stuck on a boss with an "annoying puzzle element," tempted to just dial down the difficulty. Sound familiar, mate? We’ve all been there, staring down a brain-teaser boss, wondering if our pride is worth another hour of head-smashing frustration. But then, the left-field request: "adventurous and not necessarily scary games about spiders, and spiderishness." Now *that's* a niche. It just goes to show the delightful randomness of a gamer's desires. From high-stakes horror to military shooters, and then a sudden craving for arachnid adventures. The digital multiverse truly offers everything, if you just know what you're looking for (or, in Edwin's case, if you ask the internet).
Jeremy, meanwhile, is living the ultimate adult-gamer side quest: "Unpacking Desktop Computer From Boxes and Sticking My GPU Back In." Ah, the sacred ritual! The moving day blues, exacerbated by weeks of relying solely on a Steam Deck for 'work stuff'. While portable gaming is undeniably a marvel – a genuine game-changer for digital nomads and commuters – there’s just something about a proper desktop, isn’t there? The towering rig, the multiple monitors, the sheer *power*. It’s like moving from a trusty magical satchel to a full-blown wizard's tower. The cleansing of dust bunnies and keyboard crumbs? That's just part of the initiation rite, a necessary sacrifice to the PC gaming gods. I reckon many of us have faced that same struggle, patiently awaiting the return of our glorious battle stations.
Now, Callum. Oh, Callum, you speak to the very core of every gamer’s internal struggle. His entire weekend hinges on "whether I let the darkness win." On one hand, a cart full of tasty indie horror (CloverPit, House of Necrosis, It Has My Face) promising fresh scares and innovative jumps. On the other, the "hunger," the "sweetly seductive whisper" of *XCOM 2*. Not just *XCOM 2*, mind you, but the irresistible urge to start another 70-hour *Ironman run*. He describes it perfectly: the game speaking to him "like the Green Goblin mask," goading him into watching his hapless squad get melted after a 98% hit chance misses. This, friends, is the siren song of the truly punishing strategy game. It's not just about winning; it's about the glorious, inevitable failure, the meticulous planning, the desperate gambles, and the sheer *addiction* to that strategic loop. It's a special kind of masochism that only a true gamer understands, and Callum is clearly hearing its call loud and clear. My money’s on the darkness winning, mate. It usually does with XCOM.
Then we’ve got James (again!), confessing he still hasn't returned to *Hades 2* since its 1.0 launch. That’s a common tale, isn't it? The joy of Early Access, then the wait for full release, and then... life happens. But what drew him back? Edwin’s spider query, leading him to remember his preference for Arachne over the "overpreened bums in the actual Greek pantheon." This is the kind of character-driven attachment that keeps us coming back to games. The lore, the personalities, the subtle choices in character design – they matter. It's not just about gameplay mechanics; it's about the digital relationships we forge, even with mythical figures. And hey, I'm with James on this; some of those gods really do need to pull their socks up.
And finally, Mark, with the cryptic whisper of an "Embargoed review thing here. Yackings about it coming soon." A brief, tantalising glimpse behind the industry's closed doors. It's a reminder that while we're all off on our personal digital adventures, there's a whole machine working behind the scenes, preparing the next wave of experiences, carefully guarded until the moment of revelation. The life of a game journalist, eh? Always on the precipice of discovery.
What these weekend gaming plans reveal, beyond the individual choices, is a wonderfully chaotic tapestry of player habits. From the deep immersion of an *XCOM* playthrough to the nomadic flexibility of a Steam Deck, from niche genre cravings to the universal frustrations of a puzzle boss. It showcases the genuine, unvarnished passion for gaming that exists outside of corporate PR speak and buzzword bingo. It's about the personal connection, the challenge, the escape, and yes, sometimes, the sheer bloody-mindedness of trying to beat that one boss. It’s what makes this whole gaming caper so endlessly fascinating.
So, what about you, then? Are you wrestling with an unyielding boss? Setting up a new rig? Or are you, like Callum, feeling the irresistible pull of a 70-hour commitment? Whatever it is, embrace the chaos, chase the fun, and maybe, just maybe, send a picture of your Steam Deck to your local spiritual leader. You never know what kind of wisdom they might impart.
Tags: Gaming Habits, PC Gaming, Indie Games, Steam Deck, Game Culture
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun