by James Michael Parry

Well, what a 10 years it's been.

We've seen a lot of change in the gaming industry, the media industry, and the entertainment industry as a whole, but one thing hasn't change - we all still love gaming.

While we've had some comings and goings over the years, everyone who I've been lucky enough to work with around here has been an absolutely. That goes for everyone I've met at events, from on-the-spot interviews at EGX to loads of launch events for titles filled with passionate developers and marketing and publishing hounds, who invited us to check out what they had to offer.

We've been invited to castles, cocktail bars, and ball pits, and every time we've found people who love what they do. No matter how it turns out in the end, it's always been worth it.

I'm not sure exactly how many reviews, news articles, features and Team Talks we've done, but along the way we must have covered almost every topic you can imagine.

There's been milestones, both professional (I did finally finish BioShock) and personal (I'm a dad now, so I'm looking forward to introducing our youngster to games in due course), and our team has spanned the globe a few times. Not to mention those who came to spend time with us for a while who went on to bigger and better things - as we always knew they would.

So why now? Well, besides a few IRL changes, it got to the point where we all felt we didn't have enough time to really devote to this place, and while we've been doing the same old thing, the ways that people find games has changed so much.

We all strived to deliver an honest impression of the games which came across our virtual desks, and I think we did that. It wasn't glamorous, but I always felt so lucky that anyone would trust us to try out something before it was released to the masses.

I should have a long list of thank yous to individuals, but I'll keep it to the core boys who made this place what it eventually became: Sam Sant, Rob Holt, Chris Brand and Liam Andrews - all of them are amazing at what they do and I am so grateful they spent even a minute helping out with this wild experiment that grew out of GamesRadar deciding to close the Official Xbox Magazine forums way, way back when.

This isn't goodbye forever. I still plan to do gaming-related things here and there and if you want to keep up with me then Twitter (I will never call it X) or BlueSky are probably the best places nowadays.

The site will stick around for now - not least because we've paid for the domain for a while longer yet - but don't expect to see any more updates from us.

Finally, thank you for your time and support in checking out what we were about. Whether this is the first thing you've seen and are wondering what all the fuss is about, or you've been finding and reading the few bits and pieces we have managed to write in the past couple of years - thank you, always.

Look after yourselves and your loved ones, and hold on tightly to the games who are passionate about - even if everyone else seems to be busy on Fortnite or Roblox, or whatever "the kids" are playing these days.

Have fun and all the best.

James Michael Parry and Team PTC

by Team PTC

​@pass_controller

To enter, you'll need to do the following:

1. Follow us on Twitter @pass_controller
2. Like the competition tweet
3. Retweet the competition tweet

Simple as that! Of course, if you'd like to tell us in your retweet about your favourite fitness or rhythm game then feel free.

To find out more about the game, head to their Quest store page.

The closing date for the competition is Wednesday 8 February. Good luck.

by James Michael Parry

Hear about how both Steph and James struggled with the Astrologer class, how they managed to get to grips with all aspects of the game, from its challenging difficulty and its epic boss encounters, to riding Torrent the spirit horse and avoiding wolves raining from the sky.

Sit back and relax as Steph and James take you on a journey through The Lands Between, and for those of you who are still on the fence about giving the game a try, give a unique insight into what falling in love with the game is really like.

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with future episodes, as well as catch up on a host of videos from the archives.

by Sam Sant

@SlamShotSam

​A John Wick Hex Steam key is this week's giveaway prize.

​Based on the popular action film franchise, John Wick Hex is a strategy game that slows down combat to illustrate the titular protagonist's lightning-fast reflexes. Think along the same lines as Superhot and, of course, Superhot VR.

Compose and execute an efficient attack plan to channel and embody the eponymous hitman, portrayed on the big screen by Keanu Reeves. Just note that the Cyberpunk 2077 star doesn't actually feature in Bithell Games' (The Solitaire Conspiracy) adaptation outside of his approximate likeness.

Got what it takes to eliminate targets with surgical precision? Enter via Gleam below for a chance to win John Wick Hex on PC. It's also available to purchase for £15.49 on Steam.

​Good luck!

by Sam Sant

@SlamShotSam

A Guts and Glory Steam key is this week's giveaway prize.

​Anyone else remember playing Happy Wheels instead of doing their work at school? If so, Guts and Glory will be potently nostalgic. Essentially a 3D evolution of that game's simple 2D concept, father and son must navigate deadly obstacle courses without meeting a brutal end.

​Featuring hysterical ragdoll physics and gory dismemberments, anyone with a dark sense of humour will find themselves cackling with glee. Same applies to the in-game level editor, which allows players to create devious tracks responsible for ruining fun family outings.

​Enter via Gleam below for a chance to win Guts and Glory on PC. It's also available to purchase for £11.39 on Steam.

​Good luck!

by Sam Sant

@SlamShotSam

A Steam key for Katana Zero is this week's giveaway prize.

​Katana Zero is a deadly action-platformer with a gorgeous neon hue. Players must "slash, dash and manipulate time" in order to conquer high-speed levels packed with one-hit kill combat scenarios.

Fans of the excellent Hotline Miami series will find a lot to love here, with the game scoring an "Overwhelmingly Positive" user review average on Steam.

Got what it takes to become a katana-wielding assassin? If so, enter via Gleam below for a chance to win Katana Zero on PC. It's also available to purchase for £11.39 on Steam.

​Good luck!

by Sam Sant

@SlamShotSam

This week's giveaway prize is a Ring of Pain Steam key.

​Ring of Pain is a creepy and quizzical card game in which players must escape the eponymous circular structures. Ring dungeons are randomly generated and serve as standalone puzzles, challenging players to loot, sneak and stab their way to victory in turn-based roguelike action.

​Its unique gameplay pairs with a dark narrative to encourage players (and their weirdo companions) to reach the end. But, will you be able to escape the Ring of Pain or will the creeping horrors have their way?

Enter via Gleam below for a chance to win Ring of Pain on PC. Additionally, the game is available to purchase for £15.49 on Steam.

​Good luck!

by Sam Sant

@SlamShotSam

A Kingdom Come: Deliverance Steam key is this week's giveaway prize.

​Set in the Holy Roman Empire, Kingdom Come: Deliverance (KCD) is a realistic open-world RPG. There are no magic spells or monsters here, while the player isn't cast as an unstoppable hero. Instead, survival is a struggle throughout Henry's story-driven quest to avenge his parents' death.

KCD is a unique blend of survival, simulation and narrative. It makes generally  mundane tasks into tales worth telling, providing that players stick with the experience when the going gets tough.

Got what it takes to survive Bohemia in the face of invading forces? Enter via Gleam below for a chance to win Kingdom Come: Deliverance on PC. The game's also available to purchase for £25 on ​Steam.

Good luck!

by Sam Sant

@SlamShotSam

​A Moonglow Bay Xbox key is this week's giveaway prize!

​In Bunnyhug and Coatsink's Moonglow Bay, players take on the role of an amateur angler. Over the course of the game, users become fine fisherman with the help of friends and family.

Along the way, relationships flourish and the titular town's community come together. It's a relaxing experience with some pleasant messaging, which is something a lot of people will appreciate right now. It's entirely playable solo, though there is also local co-op support.

Fancy taking a chilled out trip? Enter via Gleam below for a chance to win Moonglow Bay on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One. It's also available to purchase via the Microsoft Store and Steam, plus is available at no additional cost to Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

​Good luck!

by Sam Sant

​@SlamShotSam

An Amnesia: Rebirth Steam key is our Halloween game giveaway prize!

​The latest entry in Frictional Games’ iconic horror series, Amnesia: Rebirth tasks players with surviving the harsh Algerian desert. 

Players must avoid spending time in darkness for the sake of their sanity, but also shelter from the blistering heat of the boiling sun. Gameplay quandaries don’t end there, however; forging ahead is a must to save protagonist Tasi Trianon and her dependant, though doing so leads to some terrifying monster encounters.

While Amnesia: Rebirth is an excellent horror game, its compelling narrative and puzzles are worth experiencing by anyone. This is where Adventure Mode comes into play, transforming the game into a non-horror title accessible to everyone.

Looking to enjoy some emotionally impactful scares this spooky season? Enter via Gleam below for a chance to win Amnesia: Rebirth on PC. Alternatively, it’s available to purchase for £23.79 on Steam.

Good luck!