Why Journey’s last song was the hardest for Austin Wintory to compose
Composer Austin Wintory says the final track for *Journey*, “Apotheosis”, was the most difficult piece of the game’s score to create. Its challenge reflected the importance of concluding the game’s emotionally intense journey in a way that satisfied both Wintory and the development team.
In an interview with Polygon, Wintory explains that the project’s opening music came to him almost immediately after he joined it, whereas the ending required far more work to perfect. The article frames the soundtrack as central to *Journey*’s lasting impact, with “Apotheosis” needing to convey the culmination of the player’s experience.
- “Apotheosis” was Journey’s hardest track to compose.
- The opening song came together far more easily.
- The ending needed to match the game’s emotional climax.
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Journey is a video game released in 2012, developed by Thatgamecompany. Players guide a robed traveller across a vast desert towards a distant mountain, with little dialogue and a focus on music, visuals and movement.
Austin Wintory composed the game’s score, including “Apotheosis”, the music heard near its conclusion. The development team worked with him to shape how the music would accompany the game.
The score helps set the mood and mark the traveller’s progress, so the ending music had to fit the experience built up over the game. Wintory’s account describes why bringing that musical journey to a close took more work than composing its opening.