Abrupt shifts in platform strategy have cooled Ustwo Games’ enthusiasm for the mobile gaming market.
Ustwo Games, the creative force behind the acclaimed Monument Valley series, is fundamentally restructuring its release model, pivoting from mobile roots toward a “PC-first” strategy. While the first three chapters of the franchise were initially conceived for mobile before their eventual PC ports, the studio now intends to flip this development hierarchy.
Speaking with MobileGamer.biz, Ustwo Games CEO Maria Sayans explained that the company is actively seeking to reduce its reliance on the strategic pivots of platform holders like Apple and Netflix.
This decision was largely catalyzed by the tumultuous experience surrounding Monument Valley 3. The game debuted on Netflix on December 10, 2024, only to be unexpectedly delisted just six months later in June 2025. For the studio, the removal came as a “total shock,” especially considering their long-standing collaboration and the significant marketing resources invested. At the time, Netflix purged dozens of titles from its catalog following a shift in content policy, a move that drew sharp criticism from developers and subscribers alike.
Sayans noted that while partnerships with Apple and Netflix previously provided a stable and profitable foundation for expansion into other areas, the landscape has changed by 2026. She emphasized that being tethered to third-party strategies hinders long-term planning, as it keeps the developer “one step removed from its own audience.”
In the wake of its removal from the Netflix service, Ustwo Games retooled Monument Valley 3 and launched it as a standalone title on iOS and Android in December 2025.
Sayans further highlighted that while the premium mobile market might still be viable for specific categories, it can no longer sustain large-scale development budgets. Consequently, while mobile platforms will remain part of the studio’s ecosystem, they will no longer serve as the primary focus for new projects.
Source: iXBT.games