# No One Can Afford to Make ‘Myst’ Games Anymore

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/no-one-can-afford-to-make-myst-games-anymore/
- Published: 2026-08-05T10:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-05T11:04:50+00:00
- Original publisher: Wired
- Original article: https://www.wired.com/story/no-one-can-afford-to-make-myst-games-anymore/
- Topics: Software

## Key points

- Cyan Worlds failed to secure funding for new Myst game Anglerfish despite positive publisher reception, resulting in layoffs
- Video game industry's mid-budget tier ($2–15M) has collapsed as publishers focus on blockbusters or minimal-cost projects instead
- Remaining developers must drastically cut game scope or close operations entirely

## Summary

Cyan Worlds, creators of the iconic 1990s puzzle adventure Myst, produced a fully playable demo for a new entry called Anglerfish, featuring motion-captured performance by Red Dead Redemption 2 actor Noshir Dalal. Despite positive feedback during pitches to a dozen major publishers at industry conferences, the studio could not secure the $1–$10 million budget needed to complete development, forcing it to shelve the project and lay off half its staff.

The failed pitch reflects a broader crisis in video game funding. The industry traditionally operated across three tiers: massive triple-A productions exceeding $200 million, solo-developer micro-indie projects under $1 million, and a middle market in the $2–$15 million range. That middle tier has largely vanished as publishers have consolidated their strategy, shifting away from mid-budget bets toward either blockbuster gambles or minimal-cost experiments, leaving developers to either drastically reduce scope or close entirely.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.