No one can afford to make Myst games anymore
The Death of the Middle: Why 'Myst' Games are Now Financially Impossible
In the 1990s, the puzzle-adventure phenomenon Myst was a juggernaut, shifting over 6 million units. Its impact was so profound that WIRED once attributed the mass adoption of CD-ROM technology to the game's success. Until 2002, when The Sims broke the record, Myst stood as the most successful PC title in history.
Fast forward to today: after a legacy of four sequels, a spinoff, and five remakes, the architects of this world attempted to launch a new chapter.
The Tragedy of Project Anglerfish
The latest venture, codenamed Anglerfish, promised a darker pivot for the series. In this iteration, the player is a captive in an alien realm, tormented by a volatile writer. The antagonist was brought to life via high-end motion capture and voice acting by Noshir Dalal (celebrated for his roles in Ghost of Yōtei, Horizon Forbidden West, and Red Dead Redemption 2).
Despite the pedigree, the project hit a wall.
“Even the publishers who felt passionate about the project couldn't get their higher-ups to let the money flow,” explains Eric A. Anderson, co-studio head and creative director at Cyan Worlds—the longest-running independent studio in the U.S.
The Pitch Process
Cyan Worlds didn't go in empty-handed. They followed a rigorous path to secure funding:
- Develop a fully playable demo (4 months of work).
- Pitch to 12+ publishers at the Game Developers Conference (GDC).
- Present at the D.I.C.E. Summit (where their Riven remake was nominated).
- Secure a funding agreement between 10 million.
The result? While the demo was praised, the checks never arrived. Consequently, Anglerfish was shelved, and Cyan was forced to lay off 12 employees—roughly 50% of their workforce.
The "Double-A" Extinction Event
According to John Eternal (formerly of PlayStation's partner development), a few years ago, this project would have been an "easy yes." Today, however, the "Double-A" (AA) market is evaporating.
The industry has split into two extreme poles, leaving the middle completely hollowed out.
The Gaming Budget Spectrum
| Tier | Typical Budget | Examples | Funding Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triple-A (AAA) | $200M+ | GTA VI, The Last of Us | Massive Corporate Capital |
| Double-A (AA) | 15M | Myst (Proposed) | Publisher-backed / Mid-market |
| Micro-Indie | < $1M | Blue Prince, Balatro | Personal savings / Ad revenue |
For instance, the Myst-inspired Blue Prince was funded not by a publisher, but by developer Tonda Ros using personal savings and income from a Magic: The Gathering website. Ros only sought publishers after the game was finished, specifically for porting and marketing.
Why the Money Vanished
The collapse of the mid-market isn't just about taste; it's about macroeconomics.
1. The Interest Rate Shock
When interest rates were near zero, investors were emboldened to take risks. When the Fed benchmark climbed above 5% in 2023, the venture capital (VC) landscape shifted violently.
The drop in VC funding for gaming can be visualized as:
This represents a collapse of over 75%. Publishers became conservative, stretching their remaining cash to survive higher borrowing costs.
2. The "Slot Machine" Strategy
Publishers are no longer interested in steady, mid-budget bets. Instead, they are hunting for "black swans"—low-cost games that explode into global hits.
John Austin (founder of Pontoco) notes that publishers are essentially pulling a slot machine, hoping for another Balatro—a game made by one person in their spare time that earned millions within an hour of release.
3. The "Slop" Problem
Discovery on platforms like Steam has become a nightmare. The rise of generative AI has flooded the market with low-quality content.
With over 18,000 games on Steam now disclosing AI usage, Doug North Cook (CEO of Creature) argues that users are simply "checking out" because of the sheer volume of "slop."
Searching for a New Path
The traditional publisher deal is dying, but some are finding alternative routes. Outer Wilds (2019), another mid-budget title influenced by Myst, succeeded through a blend of crowdfunding and strategic investment.
Masi Oka, founder of Mobius Digital, suggests that developers must now look toward non-traditional funding initiatives, such as:
- Midgame Fund
- Blue Ocean Games
- Outersloth
For now, the dream of a high-fidelity, mid-budget puzzle epic remains on ice, a casualty of an industry that can no longer afford the middle ground.