As visions of owning a farm and occasionally hiring myself out as a bounty hunter danced in my head, I wondered what form the game would take. Would it be the Cowpoke Simulator 20XX that I wanted it to be? Or was is going to be Grand Theft Auto: Online with horses? The short and easy answer is a resounding “yes” to the latter.

As I searched for ways to help, I stumbled upon an event called Play for Planned Parenthood. Organized by Megan Embree, a project manager in the gaming industry, she launched Play4PP “to raise money and awareness for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and create a community of gamers who want to drive change through doing what they love.”

Luckily, when I finally got around to it, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice speaks for itself. Purely as a technical showcase, the game  is breathtaking - especially when taking into consideration just how small the team that worked on this was.

Playing through Automata now, I can appreciate the game's combat style - more Bayonetta than Dark Souls - and past the opening, its pervasive sense of sadness and desolation, conveyed through the bleak environments, excellent musical score and philosophy-tinged dialogue and story.

It's safe to say that the improvements, the gameplay and the intriguing mystery will have me completing Mass Effect: Andromeda to see how far the game has come and learn what potential it actually has.

On this, the five year anniversary of Grand Theft Auto Online, let’s take a look back on the past, present, and future of Rockstar’s landmark foray into open world multiplayer gaming.

Gather around while I tell you a tale of great sadness and woe involving my experience with the PlayStation 4.