The CEO of Ustwo, the studio behind the beloved puzzle game Monument Valley, just dropped a statement that’s got the gaming industry talking. In comments that feel tone-deaf given the current climate of mass layoffs, the executive dismissed long-term employment as being ‘too romantic’ while emphasizing the studio’s new focus on cutting development costs.
Meanwhile, this isn’t happening in a vacuum. The gaming industry has been brutal for workers lately, with major studios axing thousands of jobs across 2025 and into 2026. From Microsoft‘s cuts at Activision Blizzard to Sony’s PlayStation layoffs, the message has been clear: profits first, people second.
Now we have a CEO openly saying the quiet part out loud. The idea that studios should provide stable employment for their workers? That’s just romantic thinking, apparently. Never mind that these same workers created the games that built these companies in the first place.
The developer community isn’t staying quiet about this one. Over on Reddit‘s PC gaming forum, users are discussing the implications of this mindset shift:
“We’ve Been A Little Bit Too Romantic About The Idea That We Should Have Employees And Give People L” – u/Gorotheninja on r/pcgaming
The thread captures what many developers are thinking right now. When did treating workers like human beings become ‘romantic’? When did job security become something to roll your eyes at?
Notably, Ustwo isn’t some struggling indie outfit. Monument Valley was a massive hit that helped define mobile gaming’s artistic potential. The sequel did well too. This isn’t a studio fighting for survival – it’s a successful company choosing to prioritize shareholders over the people who make their games.
The timing makes this even worse. Game development is already a notoriously unstable career path. Crunch culture burns people out. Contract work is common. Many developers already feel like disposable resources rather than valued team members. Having a CEO openly dismiss job security as naive just pours salt in the wound.
This reflects a broader shift in how gaming companies view their workforce. The romantic notion of game development as a creative collaboration is being replaced by cold corporate efficiency. Workers are becoming line items on a spreadsheet, easily cut when quarterly numbers need improving.
Meanwhile, the human cost of this thinking is real. Experienced developers are leaving the industry entirely. Young talent is reconsidering whether gaming is worth the instability. The brain drain is happening right now, but executives seem more concerned with immediate cost savings than long-term consequences.
The Monument Valley brand built its reputation on thoughtful design and artistic vision. Those games succeeded because talented people cared enough to craft something special. But apparently, caring about the people who create that vision is too romantic for modern business thinking.
Other successful studios should take note. Valve, Nintendo, and smaller outfits like Supergiant Games have shown that treating developers well can coexist with commercial success. Employee retention and job security aren’t romantic luxuries – they’re smart business practices that lead to better games.
The developer community remembers which studios treat people right and which ones don’t. In an industry built on talent and creativity, burning bridges with workers is shortsighted at best.
Looking ahead, this controversy might actually serve as a wake-up call. When executives start openly dismissing worker welfare, it becomes harder to ignore the industry’s problems. The backlash to these comments could push other studios to publicly commit to better employment practices.
Meanwhile, job candidates now know exactly where Ustwo stands on employee stability. Top talent has options in today’s market, and many will choose studios that don’t consider their job security ‘too romantic’ to maintain.
The gaming industry is at a crossroads. Companies can either double down on cost-cutting and treat developers as disposable, or they can invest in the human capital that actually creates great games. Ustwo’s CEO just made it clear which path his studio is choosing.
