Journey, the PlayStation indie game developed by ThatGamingCompany, finds a new home on iPhones for $4.99 thanks to publisher Annapurna Interactive. The game has been on a bit of a journey itself coming to the PlayStation 4 in 2015 and Microsoft Windows in 2019, after initially releasing on PS3.
The most recent release is available now on Apple’s digital marketplace, which means it can be played on iOS and Apple TV.
Journey is told without dialogue, meaning everything is transmitted through gameplay and environmental storytelling techniques. The player starts by standing on a sand dune in a beautifully crafted world. The sun shines on the ground making the sand sparkle. The character starts walking with no music, just the sound of feet pressing against the sand.
The character will continue to explore and uncover new elements about the world. The gamer learns more about this character as they go on. They learn they can jump, chirp, and collect fragments to make their scarf bigger. The music starts to kick in, which is arguably one of the most peaceful gaming soundtracks.
Journey by @thatgamecompany is now available on the App Store // https://t.co/3X3xR5avMG pic.twitter.com/UZkMMwNOgN
— Annapurna Interactive (@A_i) August 6, 2019
The game is minimalist but has depth. It won a total of 118 awards, which is Guinness World Record and has the distinction of being the first video game nominated for a Grammy.
Now more people can experience a game that was once a PlayStation 3 exclusive. The iOS release will keep the original game intact, only making modifications for mobile controls.
This release illustrates ThatGameCompany’s new tactic of focusing on mobile platforms going forward. Their most recent game, Sky: Children of the Light, is only available for iOS with an Andriod release coming soon.
There are currently no plans for an Andriod release of Journey, but it’s likely to follow suit with Sky: Children of the Light and become available on multiple devices.
