Cyan, the Creator of Myst, Cuts Workforce by Half Amidst Search for New Project Funding

The studio behind beloved VR titles like Myst, Riven, Firmament, and Obduction recently made a tough call: they’ve let go of about half their team, which translates to around a dozen skilled professionals.

Cyan shared a heartfelt statement on this matter:

“Today, we have some regrettable news to deliver. Despite our efforts to avoid such measures, we’ve reluctantly decided to reduce our staffing levels—resulting in the departure of twelve talented members, about half of our team, effective at the end of March.”

The gaming industry currently poses significant challenges, forcing us to balance the long-term survivability of our studio with the immediate demands of game development in 2025. Over the past year, we’ve been candid with our team about these turbulent times and the potential obstacles ahead. While the reduction in staff wasn’t unexpected internally, it remains profoundly upsetting for everyone involved.

We’ve tried to ease the transition for those affected, offering severance packages. We’d like to encourage fellow developers searching for exceptional talent to consider reaching out.

Right now, our primary focus is securing funding for our next venture and stabilizing the studio. We’ve navigated tough waters in the past, rooted in our long history, and we’re genuinely hopeful about continuing to create uniquely Cyan experiences.

A big thank you goes out to our incredible player community for their unwavering support and love.

Interestingly, although Cyan seeks financial backing for its upcoming project, the note doesn’t explicitly highlight VR development. However, as one of the few studios with extensive experience in creating games with hand tracking, it raises an important question: why can’t major players like Apple, Meta, Google, Valve, and Sony provide funding to teams like Cyan, enabling them to craft more VR experiences?