Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of Among Us and for the popular I Expect You to Die series, has recently been forced to reduce its workforce. According to a report published by Game Developer, a wave of LinkedIn updates from employees at the studio revealed that the layoffs began on Friday of last week.
One of the first messages to surface was posted by the studio’s principal engineering manager, who wrote, "Schell Games had their first ever layoffs today." The manager clarified that they themselves were not among those whose positions were eliminated. In the same post they added a broader perspective on the situation, stating, "This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do.
Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging." The news was corroborated by the studio’s marketing director, Dwayne Waite Jr., who confirmed that the cuts also impacted the marketing department. He went on to name four colleagues who were directly affected.
Additional details emerged from the senior public relations manager, who listed further names from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams. Compiling the information from these posts suggests that roughly fourteen employees have been let go. Schell Games’ LinkedIn page lists the company’s size as falling somewhere between 51 and 200 staff members, which means the layoffs represent a noticeable percentage of the overall headcount. One of the affected employees, the senior public relations manager, expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a heartfelt comment: "I won’t pretend this isn’t a disappointing way to end this chapter, especially after almost six years.
But I’m walking away proud of what I accomplished during my time with the company, and I’m grateful for the people I got to build with." The timing of these reductions is particularly striking given the public stance of Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has long spoken out against job cuts. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell emphasized that the studio separates financial risk from the risk to its employees. He explained, "At the heart of it all is choosing not to put jobs at risk. We’ll put cash at risk when we make a game, but we don’t put jobs at risk." Schell further elaborated on the philosophy behind that statement, noting that even if a proprietary title fails to generate revenue, the studio would still avoid laying off staff.
"Even if our own IP brings in zero dollars, we still haven’t put any jobs at risk – we still have a path forward where we’ll be able to keep people on. So, in a lot of ways, it’s a choice," he said. The recent layoffs appear to contradict that ethos, prompting industry observers to wonder what pressures forced the studio’s hand.
While the exact financial details have not been disclosed, the broader video‑game market has been experiencing a period of contraction, with many publishers and developers reporting reduced revenue streams, delayed releases, and a general slowdown in consumer spending. This macro‑economic environment has been described by insiders as a "bleeding" or "hemorrhaging" of the sector, echoing the words used by the engineering manager in his LinkedIn post. Analysts point out that mid‑size studios like Schell Games, which sit in the 51‑200 employee bracket, are especially vulnerable. They lack the deep pockets of large publishers but also do not have the lean, project‑based structures of smaller indie teams.
When cash flow tightens, the decision to cut staff can become a survival tactic, even for companies that have previously championed job security. In addition to the financial pressures, the studio’s recent project slate may have contributed to the decision. While Schell Games has enjoyed success with titles that blend educational content and immersive gameplay, the market for such experiences has become increasingly competitive. New entrants, shifting platform preferences, and the rising cost of high‑quality 3D production all add layers of complexity to budgeting and forecasting.
The public relations manager’s note about walking away proud also highlights a cultural aspect of Schell Games that many employees have praised over the years: a collaborative, supportive environment that encourages creativity. Even as the company faces these difficult choices, the sentiment expressed by departing staff suggests that the internal culture has left a lasting positive impression.
GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the layoffs, but as of now no response has been published. The situation remains fluid, and it is unclear whether the company will implement further reductions or if this marks the extent of the current restructuring. In summary, Schell Games, a studio renowned for its innovative contributions to both mainstream and educational gaming, has announced its first round of layoffs, affecting approximately fourteen employees across engineering, marketing, art, design, and visual‑effects. The move comes amid a broader industry downturn that has been described as a "hemorrhaging" of revenue and opportunities.
While the layoffs appear at odds with CEO Jesse Schell’s previously stated commitment to protecting jobs, the challenging economic climate and the pressures of maintaining a mid‑size development operation likely played a significant role in the decision. The affected staff have expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride, underscoring the strong community that the studio has built over its more than six years of operation.