Cyan, Creator of Myst, Cuts Workforce by Half Amid Financing Pursuit for New Project

Cyan, the creative force behind iconic VR titles like Myst, Riven, Firmament, and Obduction, recently announced a significant downsizing, letting go of nearly half its workforce, which included about twelve skilled individuals.

Here’s what Cyan had to say about this challenging decision:

“We’re here to share some heartbreaking news: despite our best efforts to avoid such measures, we’ve had to make the tough call to downsize our team. As a result, twelve of our incredibly talented colleagues will be leaving Cyan by the end of March, accounting for nearly half of our staff.”

The statement went on to explain how the ever-evolving gaming industry has put Cyan in a precarious position. Balancing the studio’s future health against the day-to-day demands of game development in 2025 has been no small feat. Over the past year, Cyan has been upfront with its team about the tough road they’re on, alongside the looming challenges. Although the prospect of layoffs was communicated ahead of time, it remains a deeply emotional event for everyone involved.

To help those impacted, Cyan has put together severance packages and encourages other developers in need of exceptional talent to reach out.

Right now, Cyan’s primary focus is securing funding for their next project and ensuring the studio’s stability. Having weathered many storms in the past, Cyan hopes to continue offering unique gaming experiences its fans have come to love.

The team also expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from their dedicated community of players.

Interestingly, while there was no direct mention of VR in their note about seeking funding, Cyan remains one of the few studios proficient in developing games featuring hand tracking technology.

It does make one wonder why major players like Apple, Meta, Google, Valve, and Sony aren’t investing more in teams like Cyan, who are capable of pioneering the next wave of VR gaming.