Full Breakdown
Ustwo Games Shifts to Contractor Model to Cut Development Costs
5/1/2026, 10:13:29 PM
Pivot to PC/Console Development
Ustwo Games announced a pivot to “meaningful single-player experiences” on PC and consoles, after Netflix removed *Monument Valley 3* and mobile publishing deals dried up.
Background
Netflix’s decision left Ustwo without a publishing partner for its flagship IP. Earlier mobile releases had depended on deals that “no longer materializing,” prompting the studio to explore Steam, Nintendo Switch, and other PC/console platforms.
Leadership and Partnerships
Maria Sayans leads Ustwo, known for *Monument Valley*, *Alba: A Wildlife Adventure* and *Assemble with Care*, now distributing on Steam and Switch after Netflix’s exit.
Budgets and Staffing
Recent titles cost £7–£10 million and require three-to-four-year cycles. The studio employs under 30 full-time staff, down from about 40 during *Monument Valley 3* development. Ports moved “hundreds of thousands of units,” and Sayans notes that pricing a game at £5 versus £10 is “negligible” for core fans yet essential for covering costs.
Official Statements
Sayans said lowering budgets is essential for long-term sustainability. She outlined a plan to keep a small core team while expanding capacity through contractors and co-development partners, noting that “contractors were always a relatively low percentage of our employee base” and that this balance will shift. She advocated launch prices with discounts, arguing that “pricing [a game] too low is playing with the sustainability of the team.”
Criticism
Players have criticized the move as a step away from job security, calling it “not going to be a very popular thing with players.” Concerns were raised that launch prices could alienate consumers and that reliance on contractors reflects a trend that undermines stable employment in game development.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We've been a little bit too romantic about the idea that we should have employees and give people long-term job security,” — Maria Sayans, CEO, Ustwo Games
- “If we did something like Alba or Assemble With Care, we would have to do that for a lot less money,” — Maria Sayans, CEO, Ustwo Games
- “Pricing [a game] too low is playing with the sustainability of the team, right? So, if in doubt, price it a little bit higher because you can always discount later,” — Maria Sayans, CEO, Ustwo Games
- “There are people doing really, really well in those spaces on PC for much smaller budgets, that we will never be able to achieve because we're based in London and have employees with pensions and so on.” — Maria Sayans, CEO, Ustwo Games
Outlook
Ustwo will keep a core team under 30 and use contractors for growth. The studio will continue porting existing titles while developing new PC/console releases, using launch pricing and discounts to improve cash flow and sustain output.
