Sky: Light Awaits

*Sky: Light Awaits* was the Limited Live and Pre-Global Release Beta version of *Sky: Children of the Light*. The beta testing period ran from December 2017 through July 2019.

Credits to some images from:

* WhattaGameplay on Youtube
* ShiraCheshire on Reddit
* Tara's Sky Journey on Youtube.
* Migz on Youtube

*The Timeline and Aviary content in this page have been added by Tara. The rest is by observation, looking through Youtube videos. A lot of information have been confirmed with ShiraChesrire from their Imgur image collection. If you see anything that is not accurate, please make the correction or send us a DM - Help:Admins and Moderators*

## Timeline of Pre-Global Release Events

* Sky Alpha/Beta testing begins (November 2017)
	+ People who started testing in November 2017 were able to get the Journey costume in game. It was a testing item that was briefly available and then removed from the game later on. The Journey cape is available again through the PlayStation exclusive IAP
* Most of the following milestones are shared with soft-launch:
	+ Load testing of the servers began in January 2018.
	+ Eden was added March 2018.
	+ Aviary (see below) was added May 5, 2018.
	+ Prairie was extended to include Caves, Nest, and Villages in September 2018. Citadel was added to Valley.
	+ Winter Season was introduced December 2018.
	+ First Season of Gratitude was introduced April 2019, with a repeat (which included the Weasel mask) before global release.
	+ The current home island replaced Aviary in April 2019.
	+ Beta reset in June 2019.

* iOS Soft Launch of Sky: Light Awaits (December 2017)
	+ First country was Philippines, later to include Singapore, New Zealand, Sweden, and Norway.

## The "Journey" Cape

Some people who started testing in November 2017, or early on (info is still uncertain), were able to get the Journey costume in game. How people got the Journey cloak is a mystery. It seems to have been available for only a very brief time, very early on and was removed from the game later, after a full Beta reset. This version of the Journey cape doesn't exist anymore. It is also believed that the Journey outfit was only wore by TGC Developers making brief appearances in the game from time to time. The outfit included a cape (cloak), a hooded hairstyle and an outfit (pant) to make players looking like the Journey Wayfarers.

After 5 years (December 2022), with the official launch on PlayStation, a newer version of the Journey Cape has been reintroduced in the Journey Pack, which is exclusive to PlayStation platform, but can be gifted by PlayStation users to friends regardless of platform.

Some images have no credits. Please DM a team member for credits or removal.

A player wearing the Journey cape with the Gratitude ultimate mask - Credit to ShiraCheshireA player wearing the Journey cape with the Gratitude ultimate maskA player, wearing the complete outfit.A player, wearing the complete outfit.A player, wearing the complete outfit. Credit to ShiraCheshire
## Private Home Space

The first iteration of the Home place was a large water-filled area with 6 portals to all Realms and as many candle shrines as the number of friends the player had. The appearance of the statue changed depending on your friendship level. Between the friends candle shrines there was a light shrine where players were able to collect rewards given by your friends (Rainbow candles fragments) "Visit nearby friend statues to send them a Rainbow".

In the front, between the Realm shrines, a shrine to Aviary was added later on.

At the back, there was a large Friendship monument with 2 Sky kids statues, the Wasteland Ancestor and 4 friendship stones showing you different information about friendship levels and threshold to complete.  This was a sort of achievement stone. You'd be given light for completing tasks such as making friends. This monument was later transferred to the Aviary.

Home was usually a single player area. The exception was if someone meditated at the Home stone at the same time you did, at which point they'd appear in Home with you.

Visit ShiraCheshire Imgur image collection for more

TGC promo imageHome during the first iteration of Sky light awaits - Credit WhattaGameplayThe friendship monument at the back - Credit ShiraCheshire
## The Aviary

**Aviary** (also known as The Aviary) was an early version of Home only found in Sky: Light Awaits and Sky Beta, prior to Global Launch.

The Aviary was introduced to the Kingdom of Sky (Sky: Light Awaits Beta) in May 2018. In the early beta and limited live period of development, the player's Home was a mostly private space. It remained until April 2019. (Prior to Aviary was a hub, that looked much like the Social Space of Prairie does today. This was not the Aviary.)

When the player would complete The Eye of Eden, they would return to this place.

The Aviary served as a place to meet up with friends prior to beginning an adventure, much as the Home area does in the current version of the game.

Initially it held no Spirits, but contained the only closet area of the game (where you could change your attire), and portals to every other Realm, including Isle, much as the current Home area does. Eventually three Spirits were moved into The Aviary (from Isle), and then a new Spirit was added to Aviary (No Thank You expression).

The portals to each Realm were very wide but only the Isle Realm was reached via a tunnel and a large pit in the ground. There was darkness to burn, but few candles originally. Players, of course, immediately started climbing the spire of the broken tower, and eventually TGC rewarded those adventurous players by adding candle bunches along the way up, including the very top.

Visit ShiraCheshire Imgur image collection for more images

A view of the Aviary, showing the old Realm portalsAnother version of the portals to Realms in Aviary - Credit WhattaGameplayThe closet in the Aviary - Credit WhattaGameplayFriendship monument - TGC Promo imageBenches in AviaryAviary with entrance to Eden visibleAviary as seen from near the Prairie portalAnother view of the benches and one spirit placeView of the Spirit door in the middle and Achievement monument on the right - Credit ShiraCheshire
### Reasons for Removal

In a livestream in April 2019, thatgamecompany cited several reasons for why they opted for the design choices that led to the updated Home Space in the current game, that resulted in the Aviary being removed.

* Getting the player started more quickly
	+ The portals were moved closer to the player's spawn location on launch, in order to help the player get started more quickly
	+ Friend shrines from old Home was integrated as shrines in the water (then as constellation table later on), to help the player get started in the game more quickly and begin straight into the multiplayer game world, rather than begin in a separate private Home space

* Possible performance issues, but this is reported by players and not by TGC
* There was little to no storage space on old phones

thatgamecompany initially said that they were hoping to bring back Aviary in some way, on a page on Helpshift, which has lead to Project Aviary.

## Isle of Dawn

You started the game in Isle, not Home. There was a simple cutscene of a gold-winged bird flying by, and when it flew over the beach your child would awaken. A lot of "kids" shadows were scattered on the beach and didn't react to you. At first no one knew if they were sleeping or dead. You began life as a shadow, like all those "sleeping" kids laying around.

Players started in the Island that is a bit different than the one we know today but instead of exiting to the vast Isle desert, players were climbing inside a hallway and up to a shrine monument where they would sit and meditate to return to their Private home space. That is where you would receive your first light and finally see what you looked like.

Once you acquired you first light, you were returning to Isle and climb to the top of the Island where there was a large portal. This portal was leading to the Temple as we know today in Isle of Dawn. Instead of flying to the cloud on your way to Daylight Prairie, after viewing the Elder cutscene, four boats were available to bring you to the clouds and to the boat dock located before the social space. Players were getting their first cape in that cave; an orange cape that appears to be today's orange cape available as the Starter IAP pack. Climbing the stairs to the light was leading players to the "hub" (later renamed "The aviary") where an NPC was waiting to great all players with introduction help.

Visit ShiraCheshire Imgur collection for more images

"kids" shadows scattered on the beach - Credit MigzThe Temple from afar - Credit MigzThe Isle mountain entrance - Credit MigzInside the mountain - Credit ShiraCheshireMeditation shrine to "Home" - Credit MigzThe path to the top - Credit ShiraCheshireInside the Temple - Credit ShiraCheshireThe Isle Temple gate - Credit MigzInside or rather outside the Isle Temple - Credit MigzMeditating for the Elder - Credit MigzThe Isle Elder - Credit MigzThe boats to Prairie - Credit MigzFrom inside the boat dock - Credit ShiraCheshireGetting your first cape - Credit Migz
## Plains of Day

"Ring the bells to summon your ride " later changed to "Ring the bells, the Flock awaits" later changed to "Ring the bells, and the Flock will carry you forward".

In sky Light Awaits, **Daylight Prairie** was first introduced as Plains of Day. From the Aviary, players were jumping and flying through the cloud tunnel, but directly into the Village.    The butterfly field, the Caves and Bird nest was added later to the Global live version of the game.

The village looked like the actual Village with a few differences.  There were 2 boats and one of them would circulate around the village and acted as a chatting boat with 4 seats.  The other boat was used to get into one of the island where a spirit was found. At that time, flying was really hard and those boats was a good way to safely enter that cave.  When flying got updated, the boats were removed since it was no longer required. There is still a remnant of the boat, under the first Island at the Village.

Visit ShiraCheshire Imgur Prairie collection for more images

Boat entering a cave with a spirit - Credit WhattaGameplayBoat in Village - Credit ShiraCheshireBoat in Village - Credit WhattaGameplayAnimation in 8 player puzzle - Credit WhattaGameplayThe Village - TGC Sky Preview TeaserThe Village - Credit ShiraCheshireThe cave - Credit ShiraCheshireThe Village - Credit ShiraCheshire
## Weeping Forest

Hidden Forest was first introduced as Weeping Forest. It was accessible from the top of the Temple at the end of Daylight Prairie. The entrance to the Weeping Forest is still accessible via an out of bound in today's game.

Prior to June 2018, Darkness was not giving lights.

In today's end of Forest Temple, two doors are visible but no entry is possible via regular way. The door on the right side was home to a Spirit. Players had to burn a couple of darkness to enter and three large circular buttons was activated simultaneously by 3 players to start the animation for the Spirit. The room on the left was home to a cape shrine.

Visit ShiraCheshire Imgur Forest collection for more images

Old Forest entry - Credit ShiraCheshireA portal to home in Clearing - Credit ShiraCheshireTwo players in the first area - Credit WhattaGameplayIn Forest Brook - Credit WhattaGameplayTunnel with Darkstone before Boneyard - Credit ShiraCheshireTunnel with Darkstone before Boneyard - Credit ShiraCheshireFirst Darkness - Credit WhattaGameplayBoneyard - Credit ShiraCheshireThe Boneyard bridge connected directly to the Temple (no jellyfish) - Credit WhattaGameplayThe door to a Spirit in Temple - Credit ShiraCheshireA spirit in the right room on the final Temple - Credit WhattaGameplay
## Valley

The first version of Valley had no social space and flying from the end of Forest to Valley was leading straight to the slope. Candles were added into the buildings surrounding the slope and the slide itself was not covered. The "ice rink" was a smaller version of the actual rink and on an elevated platform containing water. The water was later changed in ice. The entire area was a clouded area (therefor nothing under the ice) and there was only one exit; leading to the sliding race. Some remnant from this area was preserved, notably the posts with candles at the end of the Citadel (before entering the flying race)  and the Doorway to the race itself that is only visible from the Citadel nowadays. As you may see in one of the images, the famous cannon in today's office, was first introduced in Valley.

The sliding race had a blue side and a red side, and your cape changed depending on which side you chose so you could compete with your friends. Throughout the race, players were collecting butterflies and the more butterflies you collected, the more your flag was filled at the end of the race. It was more of a personal challenge as no rewards were given for players who collected the most butterflies, nor a candle was given for completing the race. Today's Temple features both the red and blue flags on each site of the doors.

Valley was the last level for a brief time, wasteland was still under construction.

The Piano used to be a reward obtained in valley after getting all the spirits. Collecting all the emotes in the level would grant you the piano, which was the only instrument at the time.

Visit ShiraCheshire Imgur Valley collection for more images

The first "Ice rink"- Credit to WhattaGameplayThe office cannon in Valley - Credit to WhattaGameplayCatching butterflies - Credit to WhattaGameplayFlag filling with butterflies - Credit to WhattaGameplayCompleting the butterfly challenge - Credit to WhattaGameplayCatching red Spirit sparks - Credit to WhattaGameplaySpirits at their shrines after successfully bringing red sparks - Credit to WhattaGameplayThe Coliseum - Credit to WhattaGameplayThe old end of race - Credit to WhattaGameplayThe Temple shrine with no candles - Credit WhattaGameplay
## Shores of Manna

The Golden Wasteland was first know as the Shores of Manna.

Players were accessing The Shores of Manna directly from the Aviary to the broken temple area or teleporting from Home. The first area had 2 broken temples, and the wall with the exit was much higher with much more pipes than today. Shrine stones were added to the middle elevated platform for players to change outfit. Shipwreck and Ark was added much later in the Global live version with Seasonal events. There was no crabs in the Shores of Manna.

The Battlefield was resembling today's area except for the missing of the large plant and all darkness. None of the waste water was toxic to players at that time. The Ancient Spirit shrine was located outside of the final gate where today's gate activation button is. Meditating was opening the gate and liberating the Krills at the same time. The Ancient spirit shrine was later moved inside the temple.

Visit ShiraCheshire Imgur Wasteland collection for more images

A view of the exit to the first Krill area - Credit WhattaGameplayOutfit Shrine on the elevated platform - Credit WhattaGameplayExit to the first krill area - Credit WhattaGameplayThe Boneyard - Credit WhattaGameplay4 Sky kids and a Dark Dragon - Credit WhattaGameplayLoosing Emotes after getting attacked by a Dark Dragon - Credit WhattaGameplayThe final shrine before the temple gate - Credit WhattaGameplayEntering the final Temple in Battlefield - Credit WhattaGameplayIlluminated Shrine from inside the final Temple - Credit WhattaGameplay
## Forbidden Vault

The Vault of Knowledge was first introduced as "Forbidden Vault". The first floor before the stairs was just a large room with 4 large columns surrounded by candles, the rest of the levels were basically the same as of today with a few minor difference in sizes and animation. The major difference could be seen in the final level as the large platform was just a ball-shaped land with the Spirit mediation shrine.

Image coming soon

## Eden

Eden was only accessible from the room you reached after meditating atop the Vault of Knowledge (the same room as of today). No other shortcuts were available at that time. The large portal with five buttons to light that we open today was a small two doors entry leading inside the Temple. *(Note from ShiraCheshire: The first area of winds and rocks did exist in an unfinished state for a while before this, accessible only via glitch - it was mostly just some fragments of rocks. However, it also had the pink cape station. This was the only way to obtain the pink cape for a while before it was available officially, making it something of a glitcher's badge of pride.)*

There was only one krill in the pipes section, and the hallway with lights didn't contain any Children of Lights, as it hasn't been introduced in the game yet.

Entering the Point of No Return (*named Hailstorm by players*) was an area full of statues leading to an open lighted door where blue crystals rained down continuously. Getting protection from one light statue to another helped you go further, as well as teleporting to your friend and recharging from them. The goal was to reach the final gate without losing any emotes from the blue crystal rain. **No player died in Eden in this version of the game.**

Visit ShiraCheshire Imgur's Eden images collection on Imgur

Entering Eden - Credit WhattaGameplayWarning before entering Eden - Credit WhattaGameplayA player making its way in the Dragon and Battlefield section - Credit WhattaGameplayLosing an emote result of getting krilled - Credit WhattaGameplayLosing an emote result of getting krilled - Credit WhattaGameplayThe light and statues corridor - Credit ShiraCheshireThe view upon entering the hailstorm section - Credit WhattaGameplayPushing into hailstorm - Credit WhattaGameplayGetting protection from light statue in the blue crystal rain - Credit WhattaGameplayGetting protection from a broken statue in the blue crystal rain - Credit WhattaGameplayRecharging with a friend in the blue crystal rain - Credit WhattaGameplayThe exit - Credit WhattaGameplay
### Orbit

Orbit consisted of only a single room floating high above the planet, with a stone for each Ancestor. When the reward was available, the statue would be replaced with an ancestor. There was a single statue of light in the middle, and sitting on the meditation spot demonstrated any emotes you've upgraded since your previous visit to Eden. "The light you returned was yours forever, no longer threatened by darkness". Tapping on emotes you successfully brought to Eden made up the ancient spirits appeared and claim the ultimate hairstyles we know today. You only needed to save level 1 of each emote for the reward. Gaining multiple levels weren't required for the reward.

Visit ShiraCheshire Orbit image collection on Imgur

Orbit!!! - Credit WhattaGameplayAscending emotes - Credit ShiraCheshireAscending emotes - Credit WhattaGameplayEmotes successfully brought back to Orbit - Credit WhattaGameplay- Credit WhattaGameplay
## Leveling up, Ascending and Losing Emotes

The most dramatic difference between "Light Awaits" and "Sky Children of Light" was the fact that you had to ascend each levels of your expressions in order to gain the next level. Once you acquired level 1, players had to go through Eden in order to earn that level permanently. After the trip to Eden, players would come back and revive the spirit in order to win the next level and then return to Eden to protect it and so forth, until the 4 levels were completely leveled up. After the last level, full protection, in the form of a shield, was added to these fully ascended emotes.

If attacked by a krill, the shield was lost, unless it was immediately picked up on the spot. Shields could be lost similar to emotes and would vanish after completing an Eden run, with the purpose of protecting emotes you hadn't maxed out yet.

Getting to Eden was the hardest part though: players lost emotes on their way to Eden, got hit by rocks, or attacked by krill, so you weren't guaranteed to come back with your full expression ascended nevertheless.

## Reliving Spirits Memories

Spirits were accessible by lighting small meditation stones activated by special candles located around the meditation stones. Those stones were scattered in the Realms; where the spirits are today. All those meditation stones have been moved in the Social spaces that we know today. The first available spirit was the laughing spirit located in the area known as Prairie social space today, hidden behind a two players door. Their appearance was rather primitive and their animation very different from today.

Spirits found in Valley were only available by collecting special red lights hidden in the sliding race.

## Video Gallery

Sky Beta Memories- Our Beloved Aviary (0.3.7-ish) - 5 May 2018Sky Beta Memories- Isle and Aviary (0.3.17) - 12 Sept 2018Sky Beta Memories- Aviary Prairie Home (Walkthrough Beta 0.4.3 - 1)
## Seasons during Sky: Light Awaits

### Winter 2018

    The first season introduced during the game's limited live release was the unnamed Seasonal Event during **Winter 2018**. This Season began on December 20, 2018 and ended January 27, 2019. Five Seasonal Spirits were introduced

### Season of Gratitude (Spring 2019)

The **Season of Gratitude** was introduced in early April of 2019 to the beta, and released to the limited live audience in the middle of April. All Seasonal Spirits and their collectibles were available from the beginning of the season, rather than released week by week as they were in the first Winter Season in 2018.

## References

1. ↑ A bug introduced in Patch 0.19.5 gave the players the ability to bring back the old Aviary friends constellation. Players opened the map shrine at Home a number a specific time, flew into the Wind path and teleported back home would temporary give the ability to use the old Aviary friend constellation in real time.