Ustwo Games, developer of Monument Valley, announced a shift toward using more contractors and focusing on Steam for future projects. CEO Maria Sayans stated that providing long-term job security to full-time employees had been a mistake, particularly after challenges with Monument Valley 3. The London-based studio plans a core team with growth via contractors.
Ustwo Games is moving away from large full-time staff and toward a model relying more on contractors. In an interview with Game Developer, CEO Maria Sayans explained, “We’ve been a little bit too romantic about the idea that we should have employees and give people long-term job security.” She noted that during peak production of Monument Valley 3, contractors made up a low percentage of the workforce, a ratio the studio aims to change going forward. The team, based in London, grew to 40 people at its height for the project. Monument Valley 3 launched as a Netflix subscription exclusive on mobile devices but was removed from the service six months later in 2025 after Netflix shifted its gaming strategy. Sayans reflected on industry changes, saying, “I’ve been in the industry for 20 years, and those of us who joined in the early 2000s, we had it very good. You want to be able to give that kind of stability […] but I think that’s a shift in how we want to work with people going forward.” The studio's previous titles include the 2014 puzzle game Monument Valley, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, and Desta: The Memories Between. Sayans, a member of the Ukie Board, indicated the pivot also includes targeting PC platforms like Steam. The studio faced union-busting accusations in 2019, which it denied.
