End of the Cyan Worlds?

According to unofficial reports, Washington-based developer Cyan Worlds - the studio behind the hugely successful Myst series of PC games - is facing imminent closure, with the majority of staff being laid off last Friday.

The company has yet to issue a statement but reports say the majority of Cyan World's 40 staff members were made redundant on Friday. One employee wrote on his blog: "Almost all of Cyan Worlds was laid off today, including me."

"It's sad to see a company with such talented people basically expire," the entry continues. "I don't blame anyone for it happening."

It is thought that co-founder Rand Miller and president Tony Fryman are still acting as a 'skeleton crew' for the company, but no publishing deals are lined up at present. Cyan Worlds had already completed work on Myst V: End of Ages, to be published by Ubisoft on September 20 in the US.

The original Myst was released in 1994 and went on to become the most popular PC title of all time until The Sims stole its crown in 2000. Sequels sold well, but Cyan World's online adventure game Uru: Ages Beyond Myst, released in 2003, was not well received by critics or consumers.