Sky: Children of the Light, an adventure game developed by the creators of Journey, was originally launched on iOS in 2019. Since then, it has expanded to Android, Switch, and PlayStation. The game has witnessed substantial growth in its audience, and with a PC launch on the horizon, its future looks promising.
We recently had the opportunity to chat with Art Director Cecil Kim from thatgamecompany to gain insights into the studio’s plans for the upcoming year, the future of Sky, as well as their journey so far, including achieving a Guinness world record at last year’s Gamescom.
PocketGamer.biz: Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to thatgamecompany?
Cecil Kim: After graduating from the Art Center in 1996 with a BFA, I worked as a freelance illustrator and storyboard artist for feature films and commercials at Imaginary Forces in Hollywood. Later, I transitioned to working at Square on multiple titles, including Final Fantasy IX, before joining Santa Monica Studios as a visual development lead for the original God of War trilogy. I first met Jenova Chen while collaborating on Journey’s development. In 2011, I founded my own game design and art solutions company, Section Studios. Following the closure of the company, I met Jenova again and was drawn to Sky’s unique creative vision, leading to my decision to join thatgamecompany and pursue the next chapter of my career.
Cecil Kim mentioned that “Sky’s animation, sound and music are equivalent to AAA game quality.”
Cecil Kim
Sky: Children of the Light was initially released on mobile in 2019. What was your experience during the launch phase?
While I joined shortly after the mobile release of Sky, I observed the exciting momentum the game had generated within the community and among Journey fans, earning acclaim as the best iOS game in 2019 by Apple. Its enchanting visuals and unique gameplay made it a truly magical mobile experience, allowing us to reach a global audience on a larger scale.
Since then, the game has expanded beyond mobile onto PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. There’s also a PC release on the horizon; can you provide more details on that?
We believe that Sky’s captivating art style translates seamlessly onto larger screens. The transition to console platforms and now the upcoming PC release has been an intentional progression. The PC port has presented unique technical challenges, and we saved it for last. With our successful audience tech debut for Aurora Concert, we are excited to welcome PC gamers into our immersive online experience. Sky currently holds a Guinness World Record for having 10,000 concurrent players on screen, and we look forward to leveraging our innovative multiplayer tech in more social gatherings.
Cecil Kim said, “We are all born with compassion and care for others in our hearts, so we don’t want to limit our players to a single platform.”
Cecil Kim
How important is cross-platform gaming for thatgamecompany, and can we expect future titles to be available across various platforms?
We believe that our games appeal to a broad audience, irrespective of the platform. Emphasizing emotional impact, our games foster meaningful connections between players, providing a sense of tranquility, love, and camaraderie. By embracing cross-platform play, we aim to eliminate platform limitations and create a cohesive experience for all players.
What are the team’s current focuses? Is it more content for Sky or something else?
We have exciting new content lined up for Sky in 2024. Our emphasis is on enhancing user-generated content features to empower our players and foster deeper connections within the game. We have dedicated substantial efforts to refining our audience tech, aiming to recreate the magic of thousands of players engaging together in the game, and we are eager to transform the Aviary into a premier social hang-out space for our players.
Any hints about the future and what to look out for?
We are gearing up to release the Sky art book, chronicling eight years of the game’s development stories and the artists’ creative journeys. Additionally, we have been working on “Sky: The Two Embers,” a creative animation project set for release later this year. The world of Sky is rife with mystery and wonder, and through creative animation, we aim to share the history of the world and the stories of its characters. We believe our fans will be delighted by this endeavor!
