Journey dev lands funding for next emotionally-charged game

thatgamecompany, the studio behind evocative games such as Flow , Flower and Journey , said it has received $7 million in funding from Chinese equity firm Capital Today and a team of other investors.

The funding will help thatgamecompany ramp up development on its next game, currently in the works. thatgamecompany is recognized in the game industry for its unique games that focus on emotional, inspirational experiences for players.

thatgamecompany's last three games have been released exclusively on PlayStation platforms, due to a three-game deal between the studio and Sony. In 2012, thatgamecompany raised $5.5 million in a funding round, helping the studio gain independence following the end of the Sony agreement.

thatgamecompany is now free to release games on the platforms it chooses. The new funding will be used to scale up production on the next game, as well as establish "infrastructure to self-publish, market, and distribute on our own terms for this next project and beyond," according to a statement from thatgamecompany studio manager Sunni Pavlovic.

She added, "Since finishing Journey , the team has been hard at work to make an emotionally engaging experience centered around human connections for players of all ages and backgrounds."

Capital Today primarily invests in Asia-based businesses ranging from restaurants and snack-makers to underwear retail, according to the firm's investment history.