The Role of Sony in Saving Sword of the Sea

Giant Squid has released its third game, Sword of the Sea, which has garnered a positive critical reception. The game's creative director, Matt Nava, has expressed his satisfaction with the game's reception, stating that the messaging has been clear and people have understood the connection to the studio's previous games. Sword of the Sea shares similarities with Thatgamecompany's Journey, on which Nava served as art director. Both games feature hyper-smooth movement and ambiguous storytelling. However, while Journey faced financial difficulties during development, Sword of the Sea was ultimately saved by Sony's trust in the process and the studio's self-funding efforts. The much-needed financial support came in the form of PlayStation Indies, an initiative dedicated to supporting and funding indie games. Since its launch in 2020, the program has supported over a dozen indie titles, including Pacific Drive, Recompile, and Maquette. Nava praises Sony for having a program like PlayStation Indies, which demonstrates the company's dedication to the artistic aspect of the medium. The support from Sony and the studio's self-funding efforts allowed Sword of the Sea to see the light of day. As part of the deal with PlayStation, Sword of the Sea became a day-one title on PlayStation Plus, instead of being published independently. Nava notes that this decision had both positive and negative consequences, as it allowed more people to play the game but also required the studio to give up some control. The partnership with PlayStation Plus was a learning experience for the studio, and Nava describes it as a "double-edged sword." While it provided the necessary funding and support, it also required the studio to adapt to a new way of working and to navigate the complexities of co-publishing. Nava reflects on the challenges of game development, stating that every game is an act of faith that requires everyone involved to believe in its potential. He notes that the final stages of development are crucial, as they allow the team to make sweeping changes and polish the game. The studio faced additional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced them to adapt to remote work and find new ways to collaborate and come up with new ideas. Nava acknowledges that this was a difficult process, but the team was able to figure it out and complete the game. Looking to the future, Nava is aware of the industry's current turbulence, with many studios facing layoffs and financial difficulties. He admits that this is something the studio is always thinking about and is trying to find ways to make the business more sustainable. Nava concludes by stating that the core team is the most important aspect of the studio, and he is committed to keeping them together. He is determined to find a way to make the business work, despite the challenges, and to continue creating games that the team is passionate about.