From Mobile Phenomenon To PC First
Back in 2014, Monument Valley became a breakout hit on mobile. Its impossible architecture, Escher style illusions, and short but satisfying puzzle levels made it a must play on phones and tablets. Over time it made its way to PC, along with its sequels and other titles from its developer, Ustwo Games.
Now the studio is changing course in a big way. After years of being seen primarily as a mobile developer, Ustwo is officially moving to a PC first strategy for its future games. That is a notable shift for a team best known for premium mobile experiences, and it is good news for PC players who want more creative indie titles built with computers in mind from day one.
Ustwo CEO Maria Sayans recently explained the change in an interview. The team realized that leading with mobile was holding back what they could do on PC and console. When a studio is viewed as mobile first, it can impact both game design and how those games are marketed and supported on platforms like Steam and other PC storefronts.
In other words, if you are always building for phones first, you end up making compromises when those same games arrive on PC later. Ustwo wants to break out of that box.
Why Ustwo Is Moving Away From Mobile First And Subscription Platforms
A key moment behind this strategy shift was the rocky launch and short lifespan of Monument Valley 3 on Netflix. The game originally released as a Netflix exclusive in December 2024, backed by a strong marketing push from the streaming giant. For a while, that looked like a solid way to get a premium puzzle game in front of a massive audience.
Only six months later, Netflix informed Ustwo that Monument Valley 3 would be removed from the service. It was not the only title to disappear at that time, suggesting a broader change in Netflix's content priorities. But for Ustwo, it highlighted the risks of tying their games to subscription platforms where they do not control long term availability.
When a game is pulled from a service, it can instantly lose visibility, momentum, and a chunk of its audience. For a developer that spends years building a carefully crafted experience, that is a harsh outcome. It is easy to see why Ustwo would want more control over how long their games remain playable and where players can find them.
That experience, combined with similar concerns around Apple Arcade and other mobile first deals, pushed the studio to rethink its entire approach. Rather than making titles for Netflix or Apple Arcade first and then porting to PC later, Ustwo now wants to design their games as multiplatform projects from the start, with PC as the foundation.
By doing this, they can ensure that PC players are not treated as an afterthought. Instead of waiting for ports months or years later, new releases will be planned with PC in mind right from day one.
What PC First Means For Future Ustwo Games
Maria Sayans summed up the new philosophy clearly. Ustwo now views PC as the base platform where they can build stronger and more direct relationships with their audience and community. That matters a lot in the current PC gaming landscape, where indie games live or die based on word of mouth, community feedback, and long term support.
Launching on PC first opens up several advantages for both the studio and players.
- Better input and UI design PC games can be built around mouse and keyboard or controller from the start instead of trying to adapt touch focused interfaces to desktop later.
- Fewer technical compromises PC hardware allows for higher resolutions, better effects, and more complex systems without being bound by strict mobile performance and battery constraints.
- Community driven updates Releasing on platforms like Steam gives Ustwo easy access to player reviews, forums, and feedback that can guide updates and patches.
- More stable availability Instead of being locked behind a subscription catalog that can rotate games out, PC releases can stay purchasable and playable for years.
For players who only know Ustwo from Monument Valley, it is worth remembering that the studio has already experimented with deeper and more ambitious experiences. They created a surreal turn based tactics game set inside a character's mind, and a nature themed photo adventure that ties into real world environmental causes. Those are exactly the kinds of games that can thrive on PC, where players often look for unique mechanics and storytelling rather than just quick mobile sessions.
By committing to PC first development, Ustwo is effectively signaling that its future catalog will be built for a more traditional gaming audience, including people playing on desktops, gaming laptops, and handheld PCs like the Steam Deck. It also positions the studio to sit more comfortably alongside other respected indie developers who treat the PC as a primary platform rather than a side project.
For PC gamers, this is a win. It means more thoughtful puzzle games, strategies, and experimental titles that are no longer constrained by the expectations of mobile storefronts and subscription bundles. And for Ustwo, it opens the door to building a stronger and more lasting presence in the indie PC scene.
If you enjoyed Monument Valley on your phone years ago, keep an eye on what Ustwo does next. The same creative minds that turned impossible architecture into a mobile classic are now aiming their future projects squarely at PC first players.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/puzzle/after-netflix-pulled-the-rug-from-under-monument-valley-3-six-months-after-launch-its-developer-says-its-a-pc-first-studio-we-can-build-more-direct-relationships-with-our-audience-and-community/
