Schell Games, the development studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the viral hit Among Us and for producing the popular I Expect You To Die series of virtual‑reality puzzles, has reportedly begun a round of staff reductions. The news emerged after several employees posted about the layoffs on LinkedIn, prompting coverage by Game Developer and other industry outlets. According to the reports, the first wave of cuts started on a Friday, marking the first time the studio has ever had to let people go.
The studio’s principal engineering manager shared a candid update, noting that while he himself was not among those affected, the decision was not tied to any individual performance. "This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do.
Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging," he wrote, emphasizing that the broader market conditions were the driving force behind the move. The marketing division was also hit, as confirmed by marketing director Dwayne Waite Jr., who identified four members of his team who were part of the layoff. Additional details came from the senior public relations manager, who listed colleagues from the art, design, and visual‑effects departments who were let go. When all the names were compiled, it appeared that roughly fourteen employees in total were impacted by the cuts.
This figure is notable given that Schell Games’ LinkedIn profile lists the company as employing between 51 and 200 staff members, suggesting that the layoffs represent a small but significant percentage of the workforce. One of the affected employees, the senior public relations manager, expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a reflective post. "I won’t pretend this isn’t a disappointing way to end this chapter, especially after almost six years," she wrote. "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." Her words capture a common sentiment among tech and creative professionals who find themselves caught in the cross‑currents of a volatile market: a sense of loss tempered by gratitude for the collaborative experiences and achievements that defined their tenure.
The layoffs are particularly striking because they come on the heels of a public stance taken by Schell Games’ founder and CEO, Jesse Schell, who has long positioned the studio as an employer that deliberately shields its staff from financial turbulence. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separates the financial risk of a game’s development from the risk to employees’ livelihoods.
"At the heart of it all is choosing not to put jobs at risk," he said. "We’ll put cash at risk when we make a game, but we don’t put jobs at risk. 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." Schell’s comments reflect a broader industry conversation about how studios balance fiscal responsibility with employee security, especially in a sector that has seen fluctuating revenues, shifting consumer preferences, and the lingering aftereffects of the pandemic‑driven boom and bust cycles. Many developers have been forced to reassess staffing levels as revenue streams from traditional console releases, mobile games, and emerging technologies like virtual reality have become less predictable. The timing of Schell Games’ layoffs also aligns with a wider trend of contraction across the gaming sector. Over the past year, several mid‑size and indie studios have announced similar workforce reductions, citing factors such as rising development costs, increased competition for talent, and a slowdown in consumer spending on entertainment.
Analysts note that while the overall market remains robust, the distribution of revenue is becoming more concentrated among a handful of blockbuster titles, leaving smaller studios to navigate tighter margins. In response to the situation, GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for comment, seeking clarification on how the recent cuts reconcile with the company’s previously stated commitment to protecting jobs. As of now, no official response has been published, leaving the community to speculate on whether the layoffs represent a temporary adjustment or signal a longer‑term shift in the studio’s operational strategy. For the employees who remain, the future may involve a period of re‑organization and a renewed focus on core projects that can sustain the studio’s financial health.
The company’s portfolio, which includes both original intellectual property and collaborative projects with partners, could provide a diversified revenue base that helps mitigate future shocks. However, the experience serves as a reminder that even studios with strong leadership and a clear philosophical stance on employee welfare are not immune to the broader economic forces that shape the gaming landscape.
In summary, Schell Games’ recent staff reductions underscore the precarious nature of the current gaming environment. While the studio’s leadership has historically championed a protective approach toward its workforce, the reality of a market that is "hemorrhaging" has forced difficult decisions.
The affected employees have expressed both sorrow at the abrupt ending of their chapters and pride in the contributions they made, reflecting the complex emotions that accompany such transitions. The industry will be watching closely to see how Schell Games navigates this challenge and whether its future actions will align with the ideals previously articulated by its founder.