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

The team responsible for creating popular VR games such as Myst, Riven, Firmament, and Obduction has experienced a significant change, as they bid farewell to about half of their workforce, including twelve talented professionals.

In a heartfelt statement, Cyan explained their decision: “Today, we’re sharing some difficult news. Despite doing everything we could to prevent this, Cyan has had to make the tough call to reduce our workforce by twelve skilled team members, which constitutes about half of our staff, effective at the end of March.”

Cyan continued, discussing the challenges they face: “The current industry conditions have placed us in a challenging position, making us weigh the long-term health of our studio against the unpredictable nature of game development as we head into 2025. Over the last year, we’ve been open with the Cyan team about the rough seas ahead. Although the layoff was anticipated, it doesn’t make it any less painful for all involved.”

The statement went on to add, “We have tried to soften the blow by providing severance packages to those affected, and we urge other developers in the industry seeking top-notch talent to get in touch.”

Looking to the future, Cyan shared their primary focus: “Right now, our main goal is to secure funding for our upcoming project and stabilize our studio. We’ve weathered storms in the past, and we sincerely hope to continue offering the unique experiences that only Cyan is known for.”

Cyan concluded with gratitude, saying, “We’re forever thankful for the immense love and support from our amazing player community.”

Interestingly, while Cyan didn’t directly address VR in their note about seeking funding, they stand as one of the few studios with expertise in developing titles utilizing hand tracking.

It’s puzzling why leading tech giants like Apple, Meta, Google, Valve, and Sony aren’t stepping up to support teams like Cyan in creating more VR experiences.