Ustwo Games Hit Hard: Layoffs Signal Major Shift! What's Next?

Ustwo Games, the studio behind the visually stunning and emotionally resonant Monument Valley, is making some significant changes. The company has announced layoffs affecting four employees as it shifts its focus towards becoming a "PC-first" developer.

Ustwo Games Hit Hard: Layoffs Signal Major Shift! ...

News of the redundancies trickled out through social media, with a post on Bluesky mentioning that a senior artist who had been with Ustwo for almost a decade was among those let go. While never easy to hear about job losses, this news does seem to stem from a larger strategic pivot for the studio. I've always admired Ustwo's commitment to beautiful, thoughtful game design, so I'm definitely curious to see what this new direction brings.

The move towards PC game development isn't exactly a surprise. Earlier this year, Ustwo Games CEO Maria Sayans publicly stated their intention to prioritize PC over mobile. While Ustwo has built a solid reputation with premium mobile titles, they've also ported several of their games, including Assemble with Care and Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, to PC and consoles with considerable success. It seems they're now looking to double down on that broader market reach and tap into the more robust capabilities of PC gaming.

Sayans explained the rationale behind the shift earlier this year, noting that being seen as a "mobile-first" developer can limit possibilities on PC and console. “What has changed more recently is shifting our focus to ‘PC first’ in our future titles, rather than mobile first," she said in an interview. "This stems from a realization that there is a ceiling to how much you can do on PC and console when you are perceived as a mobile-first game, and that you make compromises both in product design and go-to-market strategies when mobile is your lead platform.” It's a fair point. Building from the ground up for PC allows for more ambitious designs and avoids potential compromises later down the line.

It's always a gamble when a studio makes such a significant change in direction. There's a risk of alienating their existing fanbase who appreciate their mobile offerings. However, given Ustwo's track record of creating compelling and artistic experiences, I'm optimistic that they can successfully navigate this transition and produce something truly special in the PC gaming space. Hopefully, this shift will ultimately lead to even more innovative and engaging games from the studio. We'll be keeping a close eye on what Ustwo cooks up next.