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From Journey’s sand to a new studio
Nava was art director on Journey, and described his role plainly: “I designed the look and feel of it.” He worked with lead engineer John Edwards on the game’s sand shaders, while emphasizing that the final look of the sand came from the team’s collective work.
After Journey shipped, thatgamecompany dispersed. Nava made The Art of Journey, then set out to build a new studio and development team around what he had learned. He formed Giant Squid in Santa Monica to make ABZÛ. These details come from his account in Dean Takahashi’s GamesBeat interview, published June 10, 2015 and updated June 18, 2025. Read the GamesBeat interview.
Why make the next world underwater?
Nava saw ABZÛ as a deliberate change in mood and movement. He characterized Journey as a desert game “void of life”; for his next project, he wanted green, energy, and animation. “After that, I was thinking, ‘I want to make something green. I want to make something full of life and movement. Everything you touch should be animating.’” Underwater environments offered room for vibrant scenes and lush kelp forests, with motion throughout the world.
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![Journey: Collector's Edition [PlayStation 4, PS4] [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nfQhi5+tL._SL160_.jpg)
- Import Version - Game fully playable in English - Box in Nordic
- PLEASE NOTE : Region Free / Compatible with US PS4 (only DLC may requires to create an european PSN account)
The contrast was not simply desert versus ocean. Nava’s description points to a different kind of visual experience: Journey’s sparse, largely lifeless landscape gave way to an environment intended to feel dense, colorful, and constantly moving.
Exploration without scuba-management mechanics
Nava did not want ABZÛ to center on scuba simulation, equipment, air gauges, or upgrades. He and lead engineer Brian Balamut had gone scuba diving and came away with the impression that, once underwater, the equipment and instruments receded from attention. They wanted the game to convey immersion in a new environment rather than make players manage the apparatus of diving.
Rank #2
- Includes three full games: Journey, Flower, and flOw
- Bonus content includes the original soundtrack for all three games, three exclusive mini-games from thatgamecompany, a 30 minute documentary about Journey, Creator Commentary play throughs of all three games, exclusive Journey PSN avatars and much more
In Nava’s description, the diver has no air tank and faces no danger, so players can swim as long as they want and lose themselves in the world. “We wanted to get at that, get at the magic you feel when you’re diving and exploring a new environment.” This was the design intention he explained in the interview, not a claim about every mechanic or every version of the finished game.
Color and light as emotional tools
Nava described color and lighting as ways to shape how the underwater world feels. Light would illuminate the water, and different light sources could create distinct color environments. He also identified lighting and fog as tools for influencing the player’s emotional mood. These are his stated aims for the game’s visual design, rather than independently verified technical specifications.
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Rank #3
- [ Kids Handheld Game Console Built-in 400 Retro Games ] - This handheld gaming console is pre-installed 400 nostalgic 8-bit games such as puzzles, arcades, shooting, racing, fighting and adventure games. Kids are able to cultivate skills such as hand-eye coordination, thinking, and problem-solving while playing these games.
- [ Rechargeable and Long Battery Life ] - This video game console is equipped with an 800mAh rechargeable battery, which supports up to 5 hours of continuous playing. And 1-2 hours for fully charged. No more worring about replacing batteries while electricity runs out. Remember to charge it when you receive the package.
- [ Portable and Travel-friendly ] - This mini handheld video game console is carfted with 2.8" color screen and compact size, which makes it portable to be in your pocket, handbag. Keep you entertained when outdoor in airplanes, camps, journey or travelling......
- [ Support TV Output ] - This handheld game console supports TV output, there is an AV cable in package, you are able to connect this gaming console to TV and enjoy hours of fun
- [ Perfect Gift for Gamers of All Ages ] - If you are looking for unique gift for kids, this mini handheld game console is a good option, for birthdays, Christmas or other special occasion, offering endless fun and entertainment wherever kids go.
The people and plans behind ABZÛ in 2015
At the time of the interview, Nava said Giant Squid had 10 people and planned to remain small. He named Brian Balamut as lead engineer. Austin Wintory, who had composed Journey’s music, was composing for ABZÛ as well. Nava said 505 Games understood the game better than the publishers the team had spoken with, which made the publisher a sensible choice in his view.
He also said in June 2015 that the game’s scope then looked slightly larger than Journey’s, with a desire to let players dive deeper. He described PlayStation 4 and PC as planned platforms and said the team was aiming for a first-half 2016 release. Those were development-era plans, not current platform, release, or retail information; the interview does not establish present-day availability or studio headcount.
Rank #4
- [ Kids Handheld Game Console Built-in 400 Retro Games ] - This handheld gaming console is pre-installed 400 nostalgic 8-bit games such as puzzles, arcades, shooting, racing, fighting and adventure games. Kids are able to cultivate skills such as hand-eye coordination, thinking, and problem-solving while playing these games.
- [ Rechargeable and Long Battery Life ] - This video game console is equipped with an 800mAh rechargeable battery, which supports up to 5 hours of continuous playing. And 1-2 hours for fully charged. No more worring about replacing batteries while electricity runs out. Remember to charge it when you receive the package.
- [ Portable and Travel-friendly ] - This mini handheld video game console is carfted with 2.8" color screen and compact size, which makes it portable to be in your pocket, handbag. Keep you entertained when outdoor in airplanes, camps, journey or travelling......
- [ Support TV Output ] - This handheld game console supports TV output, there is an AV cable in package, you are able to connect this gaming console to TV and enjoy hours of fun
- [ Perfect Gift for Gamers of All Ages ] - If you are looking for unique gift for kids, this mini handheld game console is a good option, for birthdays, Christmas or other special occasion, offering endless fun and entertainment wherever kids go.
What Nava hoped players would take away
Nava’s comments connect the artistic change to the intended experience: a world with enough life, color, and movement to invite unhurried exploration. As he put it, “The goal is to create an experience that’s lasting and meaningful for players.” The interview presents that as an aspiration, not a measurable outcome.
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