Kellee Santiago Leaves ThatGameCompany

The studio co-creator will not be there for ThatGameCompany's next game, which is already in development.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Kellee Santiago, co-founder and president of developer ThatGameCompany, announced today that she'll be leaving the studio she help build. ThatGameCompany, just released their critically acclaimed third game, Journey, a few weeks ago.

Santiago told Gamasutra that the split was amicable, and that she's leaving the company to look for a new challenge: 

"After doing these three games, I think it was a really great opportunity for all of us to look at what we've learned and what I've taken from that experience, and go forth and take it into new arenas."

Though she wasn't prepared to discuss her plans for the future, Santiago said that upcoming announcements were "likely". According to Gamasutra, More TGC staff may be making similar announcements in the near future.

Santiago's departure is likely the first in a series of major shifts for ThatGameCompany. The studio has just fulfilled a three-game exclusivity agreement with Sony made six years ago, giving it more freedom than ever to pursue new opportunities.

TGC co-founder Jenova Chen wished Santiago all the best in her future endeavors in a statement on behalf of the company: 

"While we want to continue the path of Thatgamecompany, Kellee has found a new direction in her career. Though our path in the future may be different, as TGC begins our next project, we wish Kellee a good journey and that our paths may cross again."

ThatGameCompany has apparently begun working on its next project, though there's currently no information on the game or any potential publishing partners.

[Via Gamasutra]

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