thatgamecompany, the developers behind Journey, Flower and Sky: Children of Light, have released a new video going behind the scenes of the development of Dear Van Gogh, available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Mobile and PC.
The new video includes:
- How thatgamecompany translated Vincent van Gogh’s iconic style into 3D worlds for players to explore.
- How the team was inspired by the many letters exchanged between Vincent, his devoted brother Theo, and sister-in-law Johanna - culminating in a tale of familial bonds, commitment and love.
- How the team navigated the tragic circumstances of Vincent’s mental illness and untimely death, celebrating the artist while confronting the hurdles life presented him.
“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.”
For more, you can watch the full video below.
About:
Step into a living canvas in Dear Van Gogh, where art, emotion and human connection intertwine. Embark on a journey to bring Van Gogh’s masterpieces into the light, traveling inside his paintings to witness his earliest uncertainties, his Paris awakening, and the fragile beauty of his final years.
At the heart of this experience are the letters between Van Gogh and his brother Theo, a decades-long exchange of doubt, wonder and unfailing devotion that made Van Gogh’s art possible in the first place. Through them, players discover the full depth of that bond: Vincent’s lifelong struggles, Theo’s steadfast belief, and a correspondence that became one of history’s most remarkable artistic records.
Guided by Theo’s wife, Johanna, players become quiet witnesses to a life shaped as much by that invisible support as by Van Gogh’s own restless vision. Through her, players learn how the birth of her son inspired Vincent into a new era of painting, along with her tireless work to promote Van Gogh’s paintings after his tragic death at age 37.
Key Gameplay Features include:Dear Van Gogh is available through the Sky: Children of the Light game app on iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam.
- Art Comes to Life: Explore beautiful, playable environments made from Van Gogh's best known paintings, from sunlit fields in the Netherlands to the glowing night skies that only he could imagine. Each and every landscape is a work of art in motion, rendered in his bold, expressive brushstroke style and alive with the emotion he poured into every canvas.
- Witness his Story Unfold: The world knows the legend. Few know the full story. Through hope and ambition, heartbreak and quiet resilience, you’ll meet the people, places, and experiences that formed not only his art but also the man.
- Paint the World with Others: Just as Van Gogh was never truly alone in his creative journey, neither are you. Use Sky’s signature brushstroke mechanic to collaborate with other players, bringing color and light back to the world together. Because some things are simply more beautiful when shared.
- Return to the Real World, Evolved: At the end of the experience, pause and look back at what you just experienced. You’re welcome to reflect on and share what you observed and what moved you. Dear Van Gogh is more than just a game, it is an invitation to see one of history’s greatest artists in a new light, and question everything you thought you knew about the story behind the art.
Sky: Children of the Light released as a free-to-play iOS game on July 18, 2019, receiving critical and commercial acclaim. It earned Apple’s iPhone Game of the Year award in 2019, ‘Best Mobile Game’ and ‘Audience Award’ at the 2020 Game Developers Choice Awards, and ‘Mobile Game of the Year’ at the 2020 SXSW Gaming Awards. Sky later expanded to Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam, hitting 300 million downloads as of 2026.
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