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Cavanagh first unveiled ''VVVVVV'' on his blog in June 2009. The game had been in development for two weeks, and Cavanagh estimated that the game would be finished in another two, "but hopefully not much longer."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://distractionware.com/blog/2009/06/vvvvvvvv-preview |title=VVVVVVVV Preview |first=Terry |last=Cavanagh |date=2009-06-10 |publisher=Distractionware |access-date=2010-12-01 |archive-date=2012-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308214845/http://distractionware.com/blog/2009/06/vvvvvvvv-preview/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A follow-up post published in July 2009 included screenshots of the game and an explanation of the game's gravity-flipping mechanic. Cavanagh wrote that ''VVVVVV'', unlike some of his previous work such as ''Judith'' and ''Pathways'', would not be a "storytelling experiment", but rather "focused on the level design".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://distractionware.com/blog/2009/07/when-its-done |title=When It's Done |first=Terry |last=Cavanagh |date=2009-07-15 |publisher=Distractionware |access-date=2010-12-01 |archive-date=2012-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308214859/http://distractionware.com/blog/2009/07/when-its-done/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The game was first shown publicly at the 2009 [[Eurogamer Expo]], which gave Cavanagh the opportunity to collect feedback from players.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://distractionware.com/blog/?p=1019 |title=Eurogamer Expo 2009 |first=Terry |last=Cavanagh |date=2009-11-05 |publisher=Distractionware |access-date=2010-12-01 |archive-date=2011-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725230842/http://distractionware.com/blog/?p=1019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2009, a beta version of ''VVVVVV'' which had been given to donors was [[Internet leak|leaked]] on [[4chan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://distractionware.com/blog/2009/12/final-push |title=Final Push |first=Terry |last=Cavanagh |date=2009-12-07 |publisher=Distractionware |access-date=2010-12-01 |archive-date=2012-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308215335/http://distractionware.com/blog/2009/12/final-push/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The visual style of ''VVVVVV'' is heavily inspired by 8-bit computer games from the 1980s, especially ''[[Jet Set Willy]]'' and ''[[Monty on the Run]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/intervvvvvview-i-vvvvvv-i-developer-terry-cavanagh|title=Intervvvvvview: VVVVVV Developer Terry Cavanagh|access-date=26 September 2021|date=January 18, 2010|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925232251/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/intervvvvvview-i-vvvvvv-i-developer-terry-cavanagh|url-status=live}}</ref> which is referenced by the element of collecting difficult-to-reach shiny objects and most notably the naming of each room; Cavanagh aimed to create a game "that looked and felt like the [[Commodore 64|C64]] games I grew up with." He eventually entrusted naming the rooms to ''[[QWOP]]'' developer [[Bennett Foddy]], who created every room name in the final version.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://distractionware.com/blog/2010/01/down-under |title=Down Under |first=Terry |last=Cavanagh |date=2010-08-01 |publisher=Distractionware |access-date=2013-09-08 |archive-date=2013-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821160246/http://distractionware.com/blog/2010/01/down-under/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The game's music is heavily dependent on [[chiptune]] elements. Swedish composer Magnus Pålsson scored the game, and released the original soundtrack in 2010, titled ''PPPPPP''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dabi |first1=Gideon |title=PPPPPP: Soundtrack to VVVVVV Makes Me CrazYYYYYY (RevieWWWWWW) |url=https://www.originalsoundversion.com/pppppp-soundtrack-to-vvvvvv-makes-me-crazyyyyyy-reviewwwwww/ |access-date=July 13, 2025 |work=Original Sound Version |date=January 20, 2010}}</ref>
Cavanagh also considered this game an opportunity to indulge in his "retro fetish". He has said because he lacks the technical prowess to make more modern-looking games, he instead focuses on making them visually interesting; additionally, he finds this to be made easier by "work[ing] within narrow limits".<ref name="indiegames" /> ''VVVVVV'' was the first game which Cavanagh sold commercially. While his previous games were all released as freeware, due to the size of ''VVVVVV'' compared to his previous work, Cavanagh felt that he "couldn't see [himself] going down that route."<ref name="indiegames" />[[File:Sad Elephant room in the game vvvvvv.jpg|thumb|right|The Sad Elephant near Space Station 2]]
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