Cyan
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersMead, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Cyan does
Cyan, Inc. (also operating as Cyan Worlds, Inc.) is a privately held interactive entertainment company founded in 1987 in Mead, Washington, by brothers Rand and Robyn Miller. It self-describes as the world's oldest surviving still-independent video game studio. Cyan develops and publishes premium puzzle-adventure games built on Unreal Engine 5.3.2, with a portfolio centered on the Myst franchise (Myst 1993/2020, Riven 1997/2024, Myst III–V, Uru) and supported by spiritual successors Obduction (2016) and Firmament (2023), plus legacy titles (The Manhole, Cosmic Osmo, Spelunx) and the Myst Trilogy eBook. Its games are designed as dual-mode experiences playable in both flat-screen and VR, leveraging OpenXR, ray tracing, Apple Silicon hardware acceleration, and platform-specific features such as Meta Quest hand tracking.
The studio's business model is B2C premium one-time purchase, with no subscription offering. Current-generation remakes (Myst 2020, Riven 2024) sell for $34.99 across Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, Mac App Store, PlayStation Store, Xbox/Microsoft Store, Meta Quest Store, and Humble Bundle. Distribution is global with no geographic restrictions. The company is supplemented by a self-published eBook line, a still-active free online product (Myst Online: Uru Live / MOULa), a publishing arm (Cyan Ventures) that has co-developed titles with studios like Pontoco, and a long-tenured community channeled through Discord, the Cyan Insider newsletter, social media, and the annual Mysterium event. The company is operationally led by Development Director Hannah Gamiel and Creative Director Eric A. Anderson, who took the reins in 2019, and has experienced workforce reductions in 2024–2025 alongside broader industry layoffs.
Cyan firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cyan
- Legal name
- Cyan Worlds, Inc.
- Website
- https://cyan.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cyan industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Games / Interactive Entertainment
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (51321)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Web3/Blockchain Game Studios (MPAFAAAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Metaverse & Social Virtual Worlds (BPAMAKAF)
Keywords
Where Cyan is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mead
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cyan business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Game Sales (Premium Titles): One-time purchase model for games sold on digital storefronts (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, Mac App Store, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Meta Store) and physical retail. Games like Myst (2021) and Riven (2024) sell at $34.99 each.
- eBook Sales: Digital book sales of The Myst Trilogy omnibus ($19.99) on Amazon Kindle and Apple Books. Previously out of print since 2018.
- Legacy Game Re-releases: Sales of classic titles including The Manhole Masterpiece Edition, Cosmic Osmo, Spelunx, realMyst: Masterpiece Edition, and legacy Myst/Riven games on modern platforms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Myst and Riven remakes priced at $34.99 each |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | The Myst Trilogy eBook - $19.99 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Bundled collections available |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cyan product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cyan develops, publishes, and sells immersive puzzle adventure video games, most notably the Myst franchise and its modern remakes, alongside newer original titles such as Obduction and Firmament. The company builds its games using Unreal Engine and ships them across PC, console (PlayStation, Xbox), and VR (Meta Quest, PS VR2) platforms as premium one-time purchases. Cyan also sells a digital Myst Trilogy eBook and maintains a free online persistent world, Myst Online: Uru Live (MOULa).
Product overview
Cyan is the world's oldest surviving independent video game studio, founded in 1987 by brothers Rand and Robyn Miller. The company produces immersive adventure games with a focus on exploration, puzzle-solving, and rich worldbuilding. The product portfolio centers on the iconic Myst franchise, which includes the original Myst (1993), its sequels Riven (1997), Myst III: Exile (2001), Myst IV: Revelation (2004), and Myst V: End of Ages (2005). Modern offerings include the Myst (2020) and Riven (2024) ground-up remakes built on Unreal Engine, Obduction (2016), and Firmament (2023). Cyan specializes in dual-mode games playable in both flatscreen and VR. The portfolio also includes classic titles (The Manhole, Cosmic Osmo, Spelunx), the Myst Trilogy eBook, and the free online Uru experience (MOULa). Games are distributed through Steam, GOG, Mac App Store, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Store, Xbox/Microsoft Store, Meta Quest, and mobile platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Myst (2020) Modern remake of the 1993 classic Myst, rebuilt in Unreal Engine with free 3D traversal, HDR, ray tracing, 4K support, and full VR mode. Targets adventure-game enthusiasts and VR players.
- Riven (2024) Real-time 3D remake of the 1997 sequel to Myst with expanded narrative, new visuals, and dual flatscreen/VR support on PC, Mac, Meta Quest, PS5, and Xbox. Targets adventure-game and VR players.
- Firmament Original surreal adventure game in which players awaken in abandoned Realms, accompanied by The Mentor, and use the Adjunct tool to operate devices across three immersive worlds. Supports flatscreen and VR.
- Obduction Spiritual successor to Myst in which players are transported to a patchwork alien world and must find their way back. Built on Unreal Engine with flatscreen and VR support.
- Myst III: Exile Third installment of the Myst saga in which players pursue Saavedro across five Ages, with 360-degree panoramic environments. Updated with a 2.0 patch for modern platforms.
- Myst IV: Revelation Fourth Myst installment in which players explore four Ages to uncover the fate of Atrus' sons, with FMV cutscenes and voiced journals.
- Myst V: End of Ages Final Myst saga entry in which players explore four new Ages and wield mysterious slates to communicate with an ancient species, concluding the D'ni narrative.
- Uru: Complete Chronicles Standalone Uru release that lets players explore the underground D'ni civilization in full 3D, including To D'ni and The Path of the Shell expansions; the free online MOULa version remains available.
- Classic Cyan Games (The Manhole, Cosmic Osmo, Spelunx) Collection of Cyan's earliest HyperCard-based interactive experiences, including The Manhole (1988), Cosmic Osmo (1989), and Spelunx and the Caves of Mr. Seudo (1991), re-released on modern digital storefronts.
- Myst: Masterpiece Edition Remastered version of the original 1993 Myst with improved graphics and features, sold alongside the 2020 ground-up remake.
- The Myst Trilogy eBook Digital omnibus collecting the first three Myst novels (The Book of Atrus, The Book of Ti'ana, The Book of D'ni) with updated copy, lore, and hand-drawn illustrations, sold on Amazon Kindle and Apple Books.
- Myst Online: Uru Live (MOULa) Free online persistent world based on Uru, letting players journey through surreal Ages together, with entirely new Ages available only online. Still available for free at mystonline.com.
Quantifiable outcome
- Myst held record as best-selling PC game of all time for nearly a decade until 2002
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cyan
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cyan technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Cyan partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- OrangeminorOrange partnered with Cyan to launch a new cybersecurity service. The partnership leverages Orange's position as a major telecom operator and the strategic relevance of cybersecurity offerings.
- PontocominorCyan Ventures (Cyan's publishing brand) partnered with indie studio Pontoco to release The Last Clockwinder, a cozy sci-fi VR puzzler, with additional BizDev support from Robot Teddy.
- Robot TeddyminorRobot Teddy (known for Among Us, SUPERHOT) provided BizDev support for The Last Clockwinder partnership with Pontoco.
- Numinous GamesminorCyan Ventures collaboration with Numinous Games on AREA MAN LIVES (AML) project, a radio drama-style interactive experience.
- City LightsminorCyan Ventures collaboration with City Lights on AREA MAN LIVES project.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Cyan competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Annapurna Interactive: Annapurna Interactive publishes premium narrative-driven indie games (Stray, Outer Wilds, What Remains of Edith Finch) — closely comparable in target audience, premium pricing model, and emphasis on artistic adventure titles.
- Playdead: Creator of Limbo and Inside, two critically acclaimed puzzle-adventure games with no dialogue and minimalist storytelling — directly comparable to Cyan's narrative-puzzle, no-combat design philosophy.
- ustwo games: Maker of Monument Valley and Assemble with Care — premium mobile/VR puzzle-adventure games with strong artistic identity, directly comparable to Cyan's premium, artistic adventure positioning.
- Giant Sparrow: Developer of What Remains of Edith Finch, a narrative exploration adventure — comparable genre, premium one-time pricing, and focus on atmospheric worldbuilding.
- Fullbright: Independent studio behind Gone Home and Open Roads — narrative exploration-first games with no combat, premium pricing, and small-team development model.
- Resolution Games: VR-native game studio (Demeo, Cook-Out, Angry Birds VR) — comparable in VR-first development and emphasis on premium VR experiences across Meta Quest and PSVR2.
- Schell Games: Independent studio specializing in VR and narrative adventure games (I Expect You To Die, Until You Fall) — comparable VR development capabilities and premium positioning.
- Double Fine Productions: Adventure game studio (Psychonauts, Brütal Legend) — long-running independent developer with classic franchise IP and adventure-game focus, comparable to Cyan's franchise heritage.
Broad incumbents
- Devolver Digital: Major indie publisher of premium narrative and experimental games (Hotline Miami, Inscryption) — broader incumbent in the indie premium-game space where Cyan operates.
- Lucasfilm Games: Disney-owned entity that has revived classic adventure-game IP (Monkey Island, Indiana Jones) — comparable strategy of leveraging iconic 1990s adventure IP through modern remakes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cyan social profiles
Digital presenceCyan financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cyan leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Cyan funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cyan M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cyan
What does Cyan do?
Cyan develops, publishes, and sells immersive puzzle adventure video games, most notably the Myst franchise and its modern remakes, alongside newer original titles such as Obduction and Firmament. The company builds its games using Unreal Engine and ships them across PC, console (PlayStation, Xbox), and VR (Meta Quest, PS VR2) platforms as premium one-time purchases. Cyan also sells a digital Myst Trilogy eBook and maintains a free online persistent world, Myst Online: Uru Live (MOULa).
Is Cyan a public or private company?
Cyan is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cyan founded?
Cyan was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cyan based?
Cyan is headquartered in Mead, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cyan make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Game Sales (Premium Titles) is the primary driver. The others are eBook Sales and legacy Game Re-releases.
Who are Cyan's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Annapurna Interactive, Playdead, ustwo games, Giant Sparrow, Fullbright, Resolution Games, Schell Games and Double Fine Productions. Broad incumbents are Devolver Digital and Lucasfilm Games.
Does Cyan have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cyan.
What industry is Cyan in?
Cyan's product category is Video Games / Interactive Entertainment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAO, Web3/Blockchain Game Studios, with a secondary code of BPAMAKAF, Metaverse & Social Virtual Worlds. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.