Cyan, the creative minds behind iconic VR titles like Myst, Riven, Firmament, and Obduction, recently faced a significant challenge. They had to let go of about half their team, which translates to roughly twelve exceptionally skilled individuals.
In a heartfelt announcement, Cyan shared, “Today, we bring you some unfortunate news. Despite our best efforts, we’ve had to make the difficult decision to cut down our team size, saying goodbye to twelve talented colleagues by the end of March.”
The reasoning behind this tough choice? The ever-evolving landscape of the gaming industry. Cyan explained, “The current conditions have placed us in a tight spot, forcing us to balance the long-term health of our studio with the immediate challenges of game development in 2025. Over the past year, we’ve been very open with our team about the rough patches we’re navigating and the obstacles ahead. So, while the layoff news wasn’t a complete shock, it has been, and continues to be, very upsetting for all of us.”
Trying to cushion the blow for those affected, Cyan has provided severance packages and is reaching out to the wider developer community. “If you’re in the market for top-tier talent, please consider reaching out,” they urged.
As Cyan looks to the future, their main focus now is securing funding for their next venture and stabilizing the studio. Known for their resilience, the team is hopeful about their future. “We’ve weathered tough times before and hope to continue delighting our fans with the unique experiences only we can offer.”
The studio expressed gratitude for the ongoing support and enthusiasm from their player community.
Interestingly, while the announcement didn’t directly mention VR, it’s worth noting that Cyan is part of a select group with expertise in developing VR games with advanced hand-tracking features. It raises the question: why aren’t tech giants like Apple, Meta, Google, Valve, and Sony stepping in to support teams like Cyan to produce more groundbreaking VR content?
