The Browser Company announced on Tuesday that it is weighing its options, including a potential sale or open-source release, for its Arc Browser as it redirects resources towards developing its new AI-powered browser, Dia.

When The Browser Company unveiled Dia in December 2024, it acknowledged that Arc was overly complex for many users and expressed its desire to create a more universally appealing product. Since then, the company has continued to release bug fixes and security updates for Arc but has ceased developing new features for the browser.

In a recent blog post, The Browser Company’s CEO, Josh Miller, noted that the Arc browser encountered a “novelty tax” issue, where its uniqueness and experimental nature, although charming, also contributed to its complexity and lack of cohesion in core features and values.

“For many users, Arc was too different, requiring too much new knowledge for too little benefit […] Furthermore, Arc lacked unity in its fundamental features and principles. Its experimental nature was part of its appeal but also its complexity,” Miller explained.

The Browser Company does not intend to completely discontinue Arc but is exploring alternatives, including a potential sale or open-sourcing. However, Miller highlighted the challenge of open-sourcing the browser, as it is built upon the Arc Development Kit, an internal SDK that is also integral to the company’s new browser, Dia, and thus, a valuable intellectual property that the company is hesitant to release.

“While we would ideally like to open-source Arc in the future, doing so meaningfully would necessitate open-sourcing ADK as well. Given that ADK remains central to our company’s value, this is not a decision we can make lightly. It doesn’t mean it will never happen, though,” Miller stated.

It’s worth noting that numerous Arc Browser users have been advocating for the company to make Arc an open-source project.

The Browser Company’s Dia browser is currently in the alpha testing phase. Although a wider release date has not been announced, the company has stated that it will make Dia available for testing to Arc members.