Jenova Chen
Reporting and statements that mention Jenova Chen.
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Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley launch Nova Games Foundation to fund young designers
Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley have launched the Nova Games Foundation, a philanthropic program offering grants to young game designers. The foundation will provide $100,000 grants annually to 20 designers, with some eligible for up to $500,000, and includes mentorship from industry veterans. Recipients retain game ownership and can choose their own publishers and platforms.
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.
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.
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.
thatgamecompany Announces “Dear Van Gogh” a New Interactive Experience within Sky: Children of the Light
thatgamecompany announced "Dear Van Gogh," a new interactive experience within its game Sky: Children of the Light, launching July 17, 2026. This experience will allow players to explore the life and art of Vincent van Gogh through his paintings and personal relationships. The feature will be available on iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam.
thatgamecompany Unveils New Collectible 245-Page Art Book Celebrating Sky: Children of the Light
thatgamecompany has announced a new 245-page art book, "The Art of Sky: Gratitude To Nesting (2019-2024)," celebrating the first five years of Sky: Children of the Light. The book features unreleased illustrations, developer commentary, and dives into the creation of major in-game seasons and events. It is available for pre-order and will be released in Summer 2026, with each copy including a special chip to unlock in-game content.
Journey's creator feels that by proving "videogames can make people cry," they influenced the industry embracing games about "serious, emotional subjects" like The Last of Us and God of War
Jenova Chen, president of thatgamecompany, believes their games like Journey influenced the industry to embrace titles with serious, emotional subjects, citing examples like The Last of Us and God of War. Chen feels this shift, driven by player demand, has been a positive growth for the industry, and thatgamecompany continues to explore emotional experiences and social dynamics with their current game, Sky: Children of the Light.
World of Warcraft was a "savior" for the creator of Journey, and "beautiful moments" between Horde and Alliance players inspired his own games
Jenova Chen, founder of thatgamecompany, revealed that moments of cooperation in World of Warcraft inspired the multiplayer design of his games, Journey and Sky: Children of the Light. He found solace in the MMO during a lonely period in the US, experiencing wordless interactions with other players that led him to create games fostering judgment-free connections.
Crying over Final Fantasy 10 was one of the moments that inspired the creator of a PS3 classic to make games: "It's so beautiful and it's so melancholy"
Jenova Chen, the designer behind games like Flower and Journey, has revealed that his decision to pursue game development was partly inspired by the emotional impact of Final Fantasy 10. He described a moment where he was moved to tears by the game's story and characters, likening the experience to how impactful art can change one's perspective on life.
Thatgamecompany celebrates 20 years with Sky Children of the Light goodies and teases for a multiplayer future
Thatgamecompany is celebrating its 20th anniversary, reflecting on its mission to create impactful and artistic video games. The studio is releasing themed in-game accessories for Sky Children of the Light, inspired by its earlier titles flOw and Flower. The company also teased ongoing development for new projects while continuing to support Sky Children of the Light with new content and community initiatives.
thatgamecompany Marks 20 Years of Emotional Storytelling Through Play
thatgamecompany is celebrating its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of creating emotionally resonant interactive experiences. Founded in 2006, the studio is known for its artistic and accessible games like flOw, Flower, Journey, and Sky: Children of the Light, with the latter surpassing 300 million downloads. CEO Jenova Chen expressed pride in the studio's legacy and its ongoing mission to showcase video games as an art form for connection and healing.
The best game design programs, ranked by The Princeton Review 2026
The Princeton Review has ranked the top undergraduate and graduate game design programs for 2026. The rankings highlight institutions based on factors such as faculty expertise, graduate employment rates, and alumni success. The article also touches on the role of AI in game development and provides examples of student projects.
