thatgamecompany
thatgamecompany business and news from across the web.
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How to run an indie game studio: Part 2, Defining your future
Business coach Martijn van Zwieten outlines how indie game studios can define a long-term future goal, known as a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG), to guide all future decisions. This article, part two of a series, details an exercise for teams to collaboratively establish a 5-10 year vision and then set yearly goals to achieve it.
Evening Reading - September 25, 2026
This week's gaming news roundup includes reviews for Ace Combat 8: Wings of the Hawk and Fareidolia, updates on Hell is Us and Dawngazer, and details on Hearthstone card reveals and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. The article also highlights new Shackmaps content, weekend download deals, and a live performance celebrating Hades II's anniversary.
Sky Children of the Light takes fans behind the scenes of its recent Van Gogh event
thatgamecompany has released a behind-the-scenes video detailing the development of the recent in-game event in Sky: Children of the Light that celebrated artist Vincent van Gogh. The video explores how the developers translated Van Gogh's post-impressionist style into 3D, the narrative inspiration drawn from his letters, and their approach to acknowledging his struggles with mental illness.
I've got a soft spot for cozy games with flying in them and these are my 4 favorites
The author expresses a fondness for cozy games that feature flying mechanics, highlighting Promise Mascot Agency and A Short Hike as prime examples. The article discusses how freedom of exploration, particularly through actual flight rather than just gliding, enhances the cozy game experience.
The MOP Up: Hearthstone hosts Azeroth’s Most Wanted
Hearthstone's Patch 36.4 introduces new Class Sets, an Arena season, and event rewards. This roundup also covers updates and events from various other games including No Man's Sky, Grim Dawn, ARC Raiders, Diablo, and Myth of Empires: Throne. Ubisoft is forming a player council for testing, and Thatgamecompany is expanding its publishing efforts.
Journey maker thatgamecompany announces thatgamepublisher
thatgamecompany, known for games like Sky: Children of the Light and Journey, has announced the launch of its new publishing division, thatgamepublisher. The new arm will invest profits from Sky: Children of the Light into publishing "emotionally ambitious games" and is open to teams of any size and projects at any stage. This move follows a trend of successful indie developers launching their own funding initiatives to support other studios.
Journey studio Thatgamecompany launches Thatgamepublisher to champion games that "move people through play"
Thatgamecompany, known for games like Journey and Sky: Children of the Light, has launched a new publishing arm called Thatgamepublisher. This initiative aims to champion "emotionally ambitious games" and support creators exploring new emotional frontiers in the medium. Led by Jenova Chen and SJ Xue, the publisher will offer full-service support, including funding, marketing, and community management, with a focus on games that can create meaningful emotional connections with players.
Games for Change Festival to expand and move to new cities
The Games for Change Festival will expand its reach by hosting events in new cities during odd-numbered years, starting with Arizona in 2027 in partnership with Arizona State University. The festival will return to New York in even-numbered years and will resume a three-day schedule due to increased attendance. This expansion aims to include more creators, developers, educators, and researchers in the G4C community.
South of Midnight and Consume Me win big at the 2026 Games for Change Awards
The 2026 Games for Change Awards celebrated games with social impact, with South of Midnight and Consume Me taking home multiple awards including Game/Experience of the Year and Indie Breakout, respectively. The ceremony, held during the Games for Change Festival in New York City, highlighted titles from 42 countries, recognizing achievements in narrative, gameplay, community empowerment, environmental impact, health, learning, and emerging media.
South of Midnight wins Game and Experience of the Year at Games for Change Awards 2026
Compulsion Games' South of Midnight was named Game and Experience of the Year at the 2026 Games for Change Awards. The ceremony also recognized Hexecutable's Consume Me for Best Narrative and Best Gameplay, and Paintbucket Games' The Darkest Files for Best in Learning. Jenn Panattoni received the Vanguard Award for her significant contributions to the industry, including establishing the Xbox Social Impact team.
Sky: Children of the Light Kicks Off the Artsy Dear Van Gogh Event
thatgamecompany has launched the 'Dear Van Gogh' event in Sky: Children of the Light, allowing players to explore 3D recreations of Vincent van Gogh's iconic artworks and environments. The event focuses on the support Van Gogh received from his family, particularly his brother Theo and sister-in-law Johanna, highlighting their role in his artistic journey and legacy. Players can experience this interactive event now on mobile devices.
Sky Children of the Light’s wholesome Van Gogh experience is live today on all platforms
Sky Children of the Light has launched its interactive Vincent van Gogh exhibit, allowing players to explore 3D recreations of his iconic paintings and learn about his life through his correspondence with his brother Theo. The free-to-play experience is available on all platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, Meta Quest 3, Steam Deck, and ASUS ROG Ally.
Games for Change Reveals 2026 Festival Speakers as Global Leaders Gather to Reimagine Play
Games for Change has announced additional speakers for its 23rd annual festival, themed "Reimagining Play," taking place July 21-22, 2026, in New York City. The event will feature leaders from UNICEF, thatgamecompany, and Annapurna, among others, discussing how games drive social impact and innovation beyond entertainment. The festival will include panels, a new Playtest Lab for early-stage works, and the Games for Change Awards.
Sky Children of the Light holds a multi-week bash to celebrate its seventh anniversary
Sky: Children of the Light is celebrating its seventh anniversary with a multi-week in-game event featuring cinema programs, rooftop parties, minigames, developer meet-and-greets, and concerts until July 23rd. The celebration also includes the return of Traveling Spirits in July, the Days of Sunlight event from July 31st to August 20th, and the Sky Creator Awards on July 11th.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?
Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
Games for Change Announces 2026 Special Award Winners
Games for Change has announced the special award winners for its 2026 awards, recognizing significant contributions to social impact in gaming. Jenn Panattoni will receive the Vanguard Award, thatgamecompany the Industry Leadership Award, and SpecialEffect the Giving Award for their work in advancing social causes through games and technology.
21 years ago, Valve passed on a chill game pitched as "the opposite" of GTA San Andreas, Journey creator says: "We only publish games with guns, our players like to shoot"
In 2005, Valve rejected a game pitch called 'Cloud,' which was designed to be the opposite of violent titles like Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Jenova Chen, co-founder of Thatgamecompany, revealed that Valve stated they 'only publish games with guns.' Despite the rejection, Cloud was eventually released for free, and Thatgamecompany has since found success with peaceful games like Journey.
Evening Interviews
Thatgamecompany is celebrating its 20th anniversary, reflecting on its journey from an anti-Columbine school project to a company known for its artistic and emotional games. The article discusses the studio's evolution and its impact on the gaming landscape.
Thatgamecompany's 20-year journey from anti-Columbine school project to a celebration of Van Gogh
Thatgamecompany, co-founded by Jenova Chen, celebrates 20 years of creating emotionally resonant games like Flow, Flower, Journey, and Sky: Children of the Light. The studio's journey began as an anti-violence project and evolved into a platform for artistic expression, overcoming financial struggles and shifting industry trends. Their latest venture, 'Dear Van Gogh,' is an immersive experience within Sky: Children of the Light, exploring the life of Vincent Van Gogh.
Sky: Children of the Light Set to Drop a New Interactive Event Dear Van Gogh
Thatgamecompany's Sky: Children of the Light is launching a new interactive event titled 'Dear Van Gogh' on July 17, 2026. This event will explore the life, art, and relationships of Vincent van Gogh through exploration, storytelling, and interactive environments inspired by his paintings. The experience highlights his correspondence with his brother Theo and the support of Theo's wife, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger.
