Journey creator Jenova Chen recently revealed in an interview that World of Warcraft was his “life saver.” The developer shared how interactions between Alliance and Horde players in WoW helped him rediscover his passion for game development during creative blocks and personal struggles.
How World of Warcraft Influenced Journey
According to the creator, he witnessed countless unexpected acts of kindness in World of Warcraft—players from opposing factions often showed friendship that transcended faction boundaries. These heartwarming moments helped him realize that games are more than interactive tools; they can be platforms for emotional connection. This insight directly shaped Journey’s core design philosophy: enabling meaningful interactions between strangers without the need for words.
The Developer’s Personal Journey
The creator revealed that his time in World of Warcraft coincided with one of the most challenging periods of his life. The positive experiences he had in the game helped rebuild his confidence in interactive media and inspired him to create a world where strangers could naturally form emotional connections. The unique co-op design in Journey—where players can help each other without ever speaking—was largely born from these experiences in Azeroth.