Thatgamecompany co-founder developing new business models to expand the industry

Since Kellee Santiago, the co-founder of Journey developer thatgamecompany, left the company last year, she's been working to develop "new business models and opportunities" in the industry, according to a report in RVA News.

Though Santiago didn't elaborate on her specific projects, she cited the surge in digital distribution and said that "more people will be able to make games" because the technology required will become more accessible and make independent development easier.

Santiago left thatgamecompany in March 2012, saying that the period after finishing Journey "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." She is currently serving as a judge of the Indie Speed Run game jam, alongside Markus "Notch" Persson (Minecraft), Ron Gilbert (Maniac Mansion, The Cave) and others.

Thatgamecompany producer Robin Hunicke confirmed the same day as Santiago that she'd left the developer to work with Tiny Speck on its 2D MMO Glitch. The game shut down in early December.