thatgamecompany, the developer behind 'Journey' and 'Sky: Children of the Light', has launched a new publishing label, thatgamepublisher (TGP), expanding into the publishing business.

On August 25, thatgamecompany announced that TGP will support "emotionally ambitious games" that move players' emotions through play. Rather than prioritizing specific genres or commercial viability, the label's main criterion is what emotional experience a game delivers through interactivity.

TGP will leverage the experience thatgamecompany built while developing 'flOw', 'Flower', 'Journey', and 'Sky: Children of the Light'. Believing that a game's emotional core is not finalized during initial planning but takes shape through prototyping and iterative development, the label aims to support creators so they can preserve the unique direction of their work.

Scope of support includes funding, production planning, platform and launch strategy, marketing, community management, and long-term IP development. There are no restrictions on developer size or project development stage; anyone from solo developers to teams managing AA-level budgets can participate, and ideas at the prototype stage are also eligible for review. There are also no restrictions on genre or release platform.

The publishing initiative will be funded using revenue generated from 'Sky: Children of the Light'. thatgamecompany Co-Founder, CEO, and Creative Director Jenova Chen explained the background of the business, stating that it is a natural choice for a successful indie studio to reinvest funds earned from a hit into other games and creators they understand well.

TGP has already signed publishing deals for multiple projects. However, specific details such as title names and release schedules have not yet been disclosed.