Immerse Yourself in Van Gogh’s World in Sky: Children of the Light
thatgamecompany, the studio behind Sky: Children of the Light, has released a new behind-the-scenes video exploring Dear Van Gogh, an interactive experience that brings the work and life of Vincent Van Gogh into Sky’s world.
The five-minute video takes a closer look at how the team transformed Van Gogh’s iconic artistic style into explorable 3D environments. Rather than simply displaying his paintings, Dear Van Gogh lets players experience his world through art direction, music, movement, and interactive game design.
The team also discusses the letters exchanged between Van Gogh, his brother Theo, and Theo’s wife Johanna. These personal writings helped shape an experience centered around family, devotion, and the people who supported the artist throughout his life.
“Reading the letters [between Vincent and Theo], I immediately started to cry to hear a story about a painter that focuses on these unconditional, unsung heroes,” said Jenova Chen, CEO and Creative Director of thatgamecompany. “It was tremendous to see how our game can actually influence other younger generations to rediscover one of the greatest artists in the world.”
The developers also address the difficult parts of Van Gogh’s story, including his struggles with mental illness and his untimely death, while focusing on the relationships and artistic legacy that shaped his life.
Dear Van Gogh launched on July 17 as a standalone experience within Sky: Children of the Light. The game is free-to-play on iOS, Android, PC via Steam, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch, and has surpassed 300 million downloads since its 2019 release.
With Dear Van Gogh, thatgamecompany has found a thoughtful way to introduce a new generation of players to Van Gogh’s art and the story behind it.