Designing Social Play for Sky - Children of the Light

Explore social design lessons from Sky: Children of the Light in this 2020 GDC Summer talk by thatgamecompany's John Hughes. Delve into the game's play structure, early prototyping, and the definition of social play. Discover the heart economy, outfits, and social gameplay loop. Learn about teaching social mechanics, growing relationships, and launching beta servers. Examine social gameplay beyond gifting, cooperative social play, and techniques for encouraging natural interactions. Gain insights on removing the designer's presence and allowing organic player experiences to flourish.