Thatgamecompany

An American independent game developer known for emotionally evocative titles like Journey.

Vincent Diamante · CC BY-SA 2.0

Thatgamecompany, Inc. (stylized as thatgamecompany) is an American independent video game development company founded by University of Southern California students Jenova Chen and Kellee Santiago in 2006. The company was a developer for Sony Computer Entertainment, contracted to create three downloadable games for the PlayStation 3's PlayStation Network service, and has since secured independent funding.

Quick Facts

Founders: Jenova Chen and Kellee Santiago
First game: Flow (originally a Flash-based browser game before being ported to PlayStation)
Key platform: PlayStation (Sony Interactive Entertainment partnership; Flow debuted as a Flash game)

Lore & Background

The company's third game, Journey, was released in March 2012 on the PlayStation Store. After the game was released, as the company began work on another project, several employees left for other opportunities. Chen attributes the exodus to the end of Thatgamecompany's three-game contract, and to the fact that the company had run out of money, mandating an unpaid hiatus to all employees until the revenue from Journey came in. Once the money from Journey began to arrive, Thatgamecompany brought back several of the employees affected by the cash flow problems, and some new developers.

Reader's Guide

Journey is a downloadable game for the PlayStation 3, released on the PlayStation Store in March 2012. It was developed by a team of fourteen and was in development for three years. The game achieved both critical and commercial success, becoming the fastest-selling game to date on PlayStation Store in North America and Europe.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What was their first released game?

The company launched its debut title called Flow, which pioneered the flow genre by prioritizing atmosphere over competitive mechanics. This early work set the stage for their future projects centered on player connection.

Why is Journey considered a flagship title?

Journey stands out as their most renowned project because it successfully utilized silence and gameplay to convey emotional storytelling without words. It exemplifies their philosophy that less is more when evoking specific feelings within the audience.

Which platform partner supports their games?

Thatgamecompany maintains a key partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment, making PlayStation consoles their primary home for releases. This collaboration has helped distribute their unique style of interactive art to a global audience.

What players say: Player verdict on Journey — Rotten Tweets