Myst Online may be all but dead as a commercial project, but fans of the long-running adventure series could still save their muse, should they wish to.

Apparently, Myst owners Cyan Worlds will make all the code and assets for the failed open source, allowing anyone and everyone to have a go at continuing the game's development.

GameTap were backing the project, but it was dropped in early 2008 amid concerns over whether it could pay-off, and while Cyan have since tried to continue the project as a going concern they too have now thrown in the towel and opened the project wide.

One data server will be maintained in order to give the community a central point of reference, while anyone can now setup a Myst Online server, Cyan having dished out all the tools, game code, et al.

"We've poured so much into UruLive, and it has touched so many, that we could not just let it wither and die. We still have hopes that someday we will be able to provide new content for UruLive and/or work on the next UruLive," Tony Fryman, Cyan boss, offered.

By Luke Guttridge