The game's concept was born out of a series of emails between writer Kenichi Nishi and Japanese electronic/classical musician Ryuichi Sakamoto regarding the Gaia hypothesis, a proposed ecological model by James Lovelock which claims that life on Earth exists as a self-sufficient network of mutualistic relationships.

Sakamoto devised the game's scenario from these conversations, with Nishi developing them into the game's plot. Sakamoto additionally provided the game's soundtrack, composing thirteen songs using methods designed to compliment the naturalistic setting and enigmatic presentation.