In 1987, brothers Rand and Robyn Miller started a new company called Cyan, Inc., named for the open blue sky of possibility. The dream was to create a new kind of software for children that would allow them to explore and freely express their creativity. The first of these “digital storybooks” was The Manhole, followed by Cosmic Osmo and Spelunx. 

In 1993 Cyan released Myst, a surreal adventure with a deeper story and characters the player could learn about through exploration. The public response was nothing short of phenomenal. To date, sales for Myst and its sequel Riven have sold in excess of 15 million copies worldwide. Myst also holds the honor of being the best-selling video game of the 20th century; a record that was not surpassed until 2002.

Following Robyn’s departure from Cyan in 1999 to pursue other projects, Rand continued to keep the dream alive - pushing the possibilities of interactive storytelling forward. In 2003, Uru (Myst Online) allowed players to join the adventure of a lifetime in the caverns of D’ni, a neverending world which let players connect and explore together. It spawned a thriving community and is still available to explore for free.

Since the release of 2016’s Obduction, Cyan has specialized in using Unreal Engine to bring their unique brand of experiences to modern audiences.

In 2019, Cyan began transitioning to new leadership with Hannah Gamiel (Development Director) and Eric A. Anderson (Creative Director) taking the reins of the company, and continuing its mission into the future. This led to fully re-built, from-scratch modern remakes of both Myst and Riven, as well as 2023’s Firmament – all of which are playable in both traditional flat-screen and VR modes, for maximum immersion.

Today, Cyan carries on the dream that began in 1987: A studio focused on delivering incredible, immersive game experiences while maintaining a one-of-a-kind, collaborative atmosphere.

To the best of our knowledge, Cyan is the world’s oldest surviving still-independent video game studio.