If this were a typical installment of “Downloadable Content,” I would totally be raving about the A24 “Elden Ring” film adaptation and the current trajectory of high-budget blockbuster video game film adaptations. But alas, this is not a typical installment. 

After over two years of writing this column, we’ve finally reached the final issue. Yes, yes, I know, it’s tragic; you will all miss my opinions and musings, which were (almost) always correct. 

In less than a month, I will proudly march across the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism’s graduation stage and receive my Bachelor of Arts Communication degree, ceremonially marking the completion of my chapter at USC, which means that I will also no longer be a Daily Trojan staffer.

It’s a confusing, bittersweet feeling. The Daily Trojan, by all means, defined my college experience. These final few months mark my eighth semester working at DT in some capacity. Starting as a freshman Arts & Entertainment staffer, I rose through the ranks, eventually serving as managing editor last Fall. 

Nearly all facets of my time at USC have been touched or influenced by this paper. I’ve attended numerous concerts and profiled countless talented individuals. I wrote a column about my experience while studying abroad in Rome, Italy. I had the privilege of leading a fiercely independent student journalism operation alongside a wildly talented and humble editor-in-chief. I’ve made some of my closest friends in the DT newsroom. 

The Daily Trojan has undoubtedly changed my life for the better.

But, this isn’t an “Editor’s Epilogue.” This is “Downloadable Content” — so let’s talk about just that.

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been writing “DLC” for around two years. Spanning over 20 installments, “DLC” has watched me grow as a writer, an industry professional and a person. Reading some of my earliest articles in this column fills me with both nostalgia and second-hand embarrassment. Opinions change, writing skills evolve, but I would never take back anything I’ve written; every article is a piece of my journey.

I think it’s somewhat poetic that my final article in the publication that has had such a stark, undeniable impact on my college experience is an installment of “Downloadable Content.” Though I’ve written a myriad of articles spanning a plethora of topics over the past four years, having a platform to write about one of the things in my life I’m most passionate about — video games — has always rendered my column the most enjoyable to produce. 

This column has seen me at my highs and lows: It’s helped me land games internships and given me industry credibility; it’s endured some absolute stinker pieces that I churned out in under an hour. Yet, that’s just the nature of writing a column in the Daily Trojan.

Enough about me. I want to thank anyone who’s taken the time to read my biweekly musings these past few years. No matter who you are — aspiring industry professional, professor, gamer or just a curious student — I am deeply grateful that you’ve trusted me enough to wade through my verbose and sometimes censorious pieces. 

I’m hyperaware that this column usually features examinations of industry trends and the like. But for this final issue, the subject is you, the reader. I want to offer some words of encouragement to anyone who may be interested in pursuing a career in the games industry following their graduation. 

I know that my writing can sometimes come off as ominous, even fire and brimstone, about the state of the games industry. And I won’t sugarcoat it; going into games right now is tough. If you’re not intensely passionate about pursuing a future in the games industry, you should consider other career options. 

However, to those who know that they’re dead set on contributing to the production and evolution of this beautiful, versatile, innovative, influential medium: Dive in headfirst. If you’re going to commit, commit hard. Eat, sleep, breathe the industry. Take any opportunity you can to glean more professional experience and demonstrate your interest in interactive media. Your fervor is an asset.

It’s not going to be an easy career path. In the games industry, job security is consistently shaky, recruiting is purgatorial and corporate interests often stand in the way of artistic inspiration. And yet, despite it all, I wouldn’t choose any other career. The people I’ve met, the friends I’ve made, the projects I’ve worked on, the experiences I’ve had — the bright sides of this industry outshine its dim corners even on the darkest days.

If you’re going to take anything away from my column, let it be this: Video games are the current peak of artistic evolution. They can be frustrating, exhilarating, heartbreaking and uplifting all at once. They’re the Promethean amalgamation of every artistic medium. There’s nothing else like them. If you want to participate in the fun of furthering interactive media’s reach, never let anyone else’s doubt discourage you from that dream. 

And with that, I bid you farewell. If you’re an aspiring games industry professional, please feel free to reach out anytime to chat or for advice on breaking into the industry. Also, if you haven’t already, play “Disco Elysium.” It’ll change your life. Okay, bye!

Aubrie Cole is a senior writing about video games in her column, “Downloadable Content,” which ran every other Friday.