On the occasion of thatgamecompany's 20th anniversary, CEO and Creative Director Chen Xinghan revealed that the team is developing a new project. Discussing the long-term operation of Sky: Children of the Light, he stated that the team hopes to let the game embody healing, companionship, and human connection, and that future updates should continue to serve this core purpose.
Seven years since its launch, Sky: Children of the Light has surpassed 300 million registered users worldwide. Chen Xinghan believes that facing a continuously expanding player base, the team's significant challenge is to safeguard the game world over the long term. He also mentioned that, compared to victory/defeat outcomes and instant rewards, the emotions the game aims to convey require players to invest time and experience them together with another person.
Taking daily quests as an example, Chen Xinghan believes that quests should give players a reason to return, rather than just having them complete a checklist; each season's content also needs its own emotional starting point, conclusion, and memorable moments. Non-verbal interactions in the game, such as holding hands and lighting candles, allow players to assist each other and build shared experiences.
Regarding emergent gameplay mechanics like "ground clipping" developed by players, Chen Xinghan stated that the team observes what needs these unexpected usage patterns reflect. Discussing collaborations with creators or works such as Van Gogh, he said the selection criterion is whether players can share the emotions within them.
As for the new project currently in development, Chen Xinghan said it will build on the team's twenty years of experience and venture into new creative territories for the studio. He did not disclose the project's name, genre, or release schedule.