The Great Apple Arcade Exodus: Why Ustwo’s Pivot Should Worry Every Mobile Gamer
The Bottom Line: Ustwo Games, the creative powerhouse behind Monument Valley and Assemble with Care, is officially shifting its strategy toward PC-first development and away from subscription models. We believe this marks a definitive end to the "Golden Era" of Apple Arcade, signaling a future where the service prioritizes live-service filler over premium, artistic experiences.
We’ve been tracking the mobile gaming space for two decades, and the news that Ustwo is weaning itself off Apple Arcade and Netflix is a massive blow to the platform’s prestige. This isn't just a minor shift in dev focus; it’s a hard pivot from the studio that essentially defined the "premium" mobile game. When Apple Arcade launched in 2019, Assemble with Care was the standout day-one drop—it proved that touchscreens could deliver thoughtful, human-centered design rather than just another gacha-lite dopamine loop.
Now, CEO Maria Sayans has confirmed the studio is moving on. The reason? The "mobile developer" label has become a cage. Ustwo wants to be seen as a top-tier indie studio, and in the current meta, that means winning on Steam and consoles first, not being buried in a subscription tab.
The Ustwo Catalog: Where to Play Them Now
Our analysis of the current landscape shows that while these titles are still available, their longevity on subscription services is now on a timer. If we look at the removal of Assemble with Care in 2023, the precedent for "vanishing" classics is already set.
| Game Title | Current Platform | Status/Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Monument Valley 1 & 2 | Apple Arcade / App Store | Stable (Legacy Gold) |
| Alba: A Wildlife Adventure | Apple Arcade / PC | High Risk (Likely to go PC-exclusive) |
| Monument Valley 3 | Netflix Games | Contractual Lock-in |
| Assemble with Care | Steam / PC | GONE from Apple Arcade (2023) |
Why This Matters for the "Meta" of Subscription Services
We’ve seen this movie before. When high-profile developers start complaining about "platform dependencies," it usually precedes a mass exodus. Last year, we saw Badland Party and The Otherside quietly scrubbed from the Apple Arcade menu. When the anchors of a service—the games that give the platform its identity—start eyeing the exit, the service itself begins to pivot.
Our analysis suggests Apple Arcade is entering a "Maintenance Phase." Instead of funding experimental, artistic risks like Monument Valley, we expect to see a surge in "Plus" versions of existing App Store hits and reliable, grind-heavy live services. It’s a safer bet for Apple, but a huge loss for players who valued the platform for its curated, high-art feel.
- The PC-First Pull: Steam offers direct-to-consumer sales and a more "hardcore" audience that values premium price tags over subscription pennies.
- The Perception Gap: As Sayans noted, the industry still looks down on "mobile-only" devs. To be a major player in 2026, you need a presence on PC.
- The Volatility of Subscriptions: Netflix’s recent "subscription shuffle" has shown developers that being a pawn in a streaming war is a risky long-term play.
Our Expert Take: Play Them While You Can
We aren't being alarmist; we're being realistic. The current trend suggests that "Premium Mobile" is a dying breed. Ustwo is moving to where they are heard most directly, and that’s the PC market. This move creates a massive vacuum in the Apple Arcade lineup that "quick hit" puzzle games simply won't fill.
If you haven't finished Alba or the Monument Valley expansions on your iPad yet, we suggest you prioritize them in your backlog. The era of the "artistic mobile exclusive" is closing, and we’re likely looking at a future where the best mobile games are simply ports of titles that found success on PC first.