Selvom Journey blev mødt med nærmest universel ros (inklusiv en Årets Design-pris fra GR), da det udkom sidste år, var det ikke nogen lykkelig historie for alle indblandede. Eksempelvis ikke for studiet bag. I et interview med Polygon forklarer producer Jenova Chen, at det var en hård fødsel, mildest talt:
"I wouldn't say that the development of Journey was a successful example of game development. We bankrupted the company", siger han.
Om mulighederne for at tjene penge siger Chen endvidere: "I think to have a financial success, that is going to change everyone, it has to be much bigger than a game on the Playstation platform".
Det er også årsagen til at Thatgamecompanys næste spil vil udkomme på flere formater, for at kunne bevise at man kan tjene penge på kunstneriske spil:
"I run into a lot of lost and frustrated students who study games to work on great art, but then find there is no place for them. I feel responsible for them because I showed them that is possible, but there is no place for them. My resolution is to create a big financial success".