Journey earned major recognition, but its development pushed Thatgamecompany into a cash crisis. In a 2013 interview with Dean Takahashi, cofounder Jenova Chen described a release delayed by about a year, six months in which staff received half salaries, and the company running out of money around the time it shipped the game to Sony. GamesBeat’s account uses the language of bankruptcy, but it does not document a formal bankruptcy filing or court proceeding.
How Journey’s delay strained Thatgamecompany’s finances
Chen told Dean Takahashi that the team had expected to ship Journey about a year earlier than it did. According to Takahashi’s February 8, 2013 GamesBeat interview, staff got by on half salaries for six months. The account then says the company ran out of money around the time it shipped the game to Sony.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Journey: Collector's Edition [PlayStation 4, PS4] [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nfQhi5+tL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Journey: Collector's Edition [PlayStation 4, PS4] [video game] | $79.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Journey To The Savage Planet PS4 - PlayStation 4 | $24.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
JEU Console 505 GAMES Journey to Savage Planet PS4 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Journey to the savage planet - PS4 | $66.02 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Little Nightmares - Complete Edition PS4 (PS4) | $22.92 | Buy on Amazon |
The delay was intended to give the game enough polish. GamesBeat reported that an earlier release would have left Journey unpolished. That choice meant extending development despite the studio’s limited finances; the interview does not state the size of the shortfall or give a sales figure. Read the GamesBeat interview.
What “went bankrupt” means in this account
The headline’s wording can sound like a formal legal event, but the reported facts establish a cash crisis, not a court-confirmed bankruptcy. GamesBeat says the company ran out of money and describes staff being idled. Neither that interview nor the other cited source documents a bankruptcy petition, insolvency proceeding, or court ruling. It is therefore more precise to say that the studio ran out of cash and paused work than to claim it formally entered bankruptcy.
#1 Best Overall
- 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)
Why Chen thought the game was worth the cost
Chen described Thatgamecompany’s goal as emotional rather than merely commercial. As quoted by Takahashi, he said: “The mission statement of Thatgamecompany, after all these years, is that we want to create timeless interactive entertainment that makes positive changes to the human psyche.”
The studio’s production effort was substantial for a short game. GDC Vault’s listing for Chen’s 2013 talk, Designing Journey, says the game took three years to develop and describes it as a two-hour game. The session description says it covered concept development, design iteration, the emotional arc, and production lessons; it is an event summary, not a direct quotation from Chen. See the GDC Vault session listing.
Rank #2
- 2-PLAYER ONLINE CO-OP: Play solo or bring a friend. Onward to adventure!
- EXPLORE, FIGHT & CATALOG: Survey 4 different Biomes on Planet AR-Y 26. Scan and catalog alien flora and fauna at your own pace.
- Discover 30+ creatures, each with unique behaviors, threats, and abilities. Complete player-driven quests while uncovering hundreds of collectibles and secrets along the way.
- UPGRADE TO ADVANCE: Access new areas by upgrading your tools including a laser pistol, a rocket pack for boost jumps, rocket boots for swift descents and more. Your trusty 3D printer will turn any old space trash you discover into useful items!
- UNCOVER THE MYSTERY: Are you truly alone? Solve the mystery to complete your survey of the planet.
What recognition followed the release
GamesBeat reported that Journey received eight awards from 11 DICE nominations, including Game of the Year and Best Game Director for Chen. Those are the awards reported in that 2013 account, not a claim that the game won every outlet’s game-of-the-year honor.
The interview also records a personal response that helped explain the project’s significance to Chen. Recalling a letter, he said: “That letter made it all worth it.” The article does not establish that acclaim erased the studio’s financial difficulties or provide figures that would quantify the game’s commercial performance.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Little Nightmares
- Little Nightmares Secrets of The Maw Expansion Pass
- PLAYSTAYTION
- Embark on a Grim Adventure: Immerse yourself in an interactive dark whimsical tale that will confront you with childlike fears and question any preconceived idea you had.
- Visit the most Intriguing Dollhouse: Explore a disturbingly charming world set apart by its distinctive art signature, offering a prison to escape from and a playground to revel in.
Rank #3
- GAMING CONSOLE
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
