Thatgamecompany—the indie studio behind Journey, Flower, and Sky: Children of the Light—is expanding into publishing with the launch of its new arm, Thatgamepublisher.
The move reflects a growing industry trend of successful indie developers reinvesting capital into smaller creators. Co-founder Jenova Chen explained to GamesIndustry.biz that the pivot comes down to shifting distribution networks and a desire to support artistic innovation.
Key Highlights
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Strategic Pivot: Fueled by ongoing success, Thatgamecompany is leveraging its resources to fund like-minded developers rather than rapidly expanding its internal staff.
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Signed Projects: The publisher has already signed a "couple" of unannounced titles.
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Modern Distribution: Chen highlighted how player communities and content creators now drive game discoverability far more effectively than traditional gaming media outlets or store storefronts.
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Core Mission: Thatgamepublisher aims to support creators who are pushing new emotional frontiers and building meaningful, community-driven experiences.
By establishing Thatgamepublisher, the studio joins a growing list of independent developers—such as Palworld developer Pocketpair—that are utilizing their financial success to champion the next generation of indie games.
What We Know So Far
TBA confirmed that the game is being built for TBA, with improved visuals, new mechanics, and environments designed around the storybook theme.
We wanted to create a world that feels like stepping into a storybook — full of wonder, surprises, and discovery around every corner.
— TBA
