Ustwo games shifts gears: contractors to lead development amidst netflix exit
The venerable Ustwo Games, known for titles like Monument Valley, is pivoting dramatically. CEO Maria Sayans has confirmed a strategic shift: relying heavily on contractors to drive future development, rather than maintaining a traditional full-time staff. This move comes as a direct consequence of Netflix’s removal of their games and a broader contraction in lucrative licensing deals.
A reset button for pc and console
Sayans outlined the rationale in an interview with Game Developer at London Games Fest. The studio’s ambitious plans for revitalizing the Monument Valley IP on PC and consoles—originally envisioned with budgets exceeding £7-£10 million per project—proved financially unsustainable. The abrupt Netflix departure served as a stark wake-up call, revealing a critical gap between aspiration and fiscal reality.
“We quickly realized that the scope for a safe break-even on PC and console was simply out of reach with our previous development models,” Sayans stated. “Projects like Alba or Assemble With Care would require dramatically reduced budgets – budgets that are achievable with external collaborators operating in the current market landscape.”
London’s cost barrier
The challenge isn’t simply about scaling back; it’s about fundamentally altering the operational structure. Ustwo’s established production cycles, typically spanning three to four years, and costing upwards of £7 million, are now deemed unfeasible. The reality of operating in London, with associated employee benefits and pensions, creates a significant cost disadvantage compared to smaller, more agile studios based elsewhere.
“There are teams out there, doing really impressive work on PC for significantly less,” Sayans explained. “We’re essentially priced out of competing on a level playing field.”
A shift in philosophy
This isn’t just a tactical adjustment; it’s a philosophical one. Ustwo has historically embraced a commitment to long-term employee stability, a practice Sayans now acknowledges as a miscalculation. “We’ve been a little too romantic about the idea of having employees and providing long-term job security,” she conceded. “That approach, while well-intentioned, ultimately limited our ability to adapt and leverage the expertise of external partners.”
Looking ahead, Ustwo anticipates a future dominated by contractor-led development. “Moving forward, we’ll see a core team complemented by contractors, which is something I genuinely dislike about the industry,” Sayans admitted. “I spent 20 years in this field and those of us who joined in the early 2000s benefited from a stability that’s becoming increasingly rare.”
Luke Reilly, Senior Editor at IGN, contributed to the reporting. You can find him on Bluesky.
“Ultimately,” Sayans concluded, “we need to be pragmatic. The days of expecting to deliver AAA-level experiences for £7 million are over. We’re building for the future, and that future demands a leaner, more adaptable approach.”