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Myst, Riven Developer Cyan, One Of Gaming's Oldest Indies, Lays Off More Staff

Myst and Riven developer Cyan Worlds laid off an undisclosed number of staffers this week, adding to the list that began in March when it laid off 12 people, or "roughly half" of its team.

Cyan announced the layoffs on Bluesky, where it also shared contact and expertise information about the employees in a running Google document the studio started with its last layoff round, with the intent of helping those staffers find new jobs. That document now includes the names of 14 staffers, suggesting this layoff round included at least two developers. However, inclusion in the doc is voluntary, so it's possible that more people have been affected. GameSpot has reached out to Cyan Worlds for more information.

Cyan's March layoffs also included a statement from the studio detailing the tough financial straits it has faced in 2025, which it also posted on Bluesky.

"Industry conditions have forced us into a tricky spot where we are having to weigh the future health of our studio against the month-to-month realities of game development in 2025," the statement said.

"For now, our number one priority is to secure financing for our next project, and to restabilize the studio," it continues. "We've been around for a very long time, and have been through tough times before. Our sincere hope is to continue to be around, and to provide the types of experiences that only Cyan can deliver."

This new round of layoffs comes just two days after the anniversary of Cyan's release of a 3D remake of Riven: The Sequel to Myst, its masterpiece puzzle game first released in 1997. That new release fundamentally reworks the game first released nearly 30 years ago with some new puzzles and elements, while also offering VR support. It follows the 2021 remake of Cyan's most famous and influential game, Myst. Both remakes are currently available at a discount in the Steam Summer Sale.

Cyan has a long history in the games industry, having operated as an independent studio for some 37 years. Myst, first released in 1993, had a massive cultural impact both within and outside of video games, releasing alongside the growing trend of owning a home PC in the U.S. Since then, Myst has spawned four sequels, as well as comics and novels.