Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the hit party game Among Us and for producing the critically acclaimed I Expect You to Die series, has reportedly begun a round of employee layoffs. The news surfaced after several staff members posted about the cuts on LinkedIn, prompting coverage by Game Developer magazine.
The first public indication of the reductions came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who shared a LinkedIn update on a Friday morning. In the post, the manager wrote, “Schell Games had their first ever layoffs today,” noting that they themselves were not among those let go. The manager went on to explain that the layoffs were not tied to individual performance, stating, “This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do.
Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging.” The marketing division also felt the impact. Dwayne Waite Jr., Schell Games’ marketing director, confirmed that members of his team were part of the downsizing and even listed four employees who were directly affected. Meanwhile, the studio’s senior public relations manager added further names from the art, design, and visual‑effects departments, painting a broader picture of the cuts across multiple disciplines. Based on the information gathered from these posts, it appears that roughly fourteen individuals have been impacted.
The company’s LinkedIn profile lists its total headcount as ranging between 51 and 200 employees, suggesting that the layoffs represent a modest but still significant percentage of the workforce. One of the affected employees, the senior public relations manager, expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a follow‑up post.
“I won’t pretend this isn’t a disappointing way to end this chapter, especially after almost six years,” they 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.” This sentiment reflects a common theme among those leaving the studio: a sense of gratitude for the collaborative environment, even as they lament the abrupt conclusion to their tenure. The layoffs are particularly noteworthy because they run counter to the public stance long held by Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separated financial risk from employment risk.
He said, “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. 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 suggested that the studio would prioritize staff security even in the face of financial uncertainty, opting to absorb monetary losses rather than lay off personnel. The recent round of cuts therefore raises questions about what has changed in the company’s financial landscape or in the broader market that forced a departure from that policy. Industry analysts point to a number of external pressures that could be influencing the decision.
The video‑game sector has been experiencing a prolonged downturn, with many publishers reporting reduced revenue, delayed releases, and tighter budgets. The lingering effects of the pandemic, shifting consumer habits, and increased competition from both large publishers and indie developers have created a challenging environment for mid‑size studios like Schell Games. In addition, rising costs for talent, technology licenses, and marketing campaigns have squeezed profit margins across the board.
Within this context, Schell Games may have found itself needing to recalibrate its staffing levels to align with projected cash flow and upcoming project pipelines. The studio’s portfolio, while diverse, includes a mix of original intellectual property and contract work for external partners. Fluctuations in contract volume or delays in client approvals can have a direct impact on the studio’s ability to sustain its full complement of employees. The public relations manager’s farewell message also hinted at the emotional toll of such decisions.
“Walking away proud of what I accomplished” underscores the dedication many employees have shown over the years, while the acknowledgment of disappointment highlights the personal cost of corporate restructuring. For a company that has cultivated a reputation for a collaborative, employee‑focused culture, the shift may also affect morale among remaining staff, potentially influencing future recruitment and retention. Schell Games has not yet issued an official statement addressing the layoffs beyond the individual LinkedIn posts. GamesIndustry.biz has reached out for comment, but as of the time of writing no response has been received.
The silence leaves room for speculation about whether the company plans additional rounds of reductions, whether it will pivot its development strategy, or if it intends to stabilize its workforce once new projects come online. In summary, Schell Games, a studio celebrated for its innovative contributions to both casual and immersive gaming experiences, has entered a difficult period marked by its first ever layoffs. Approximately fourteen employees across engineering, marketing, art, design, and visual effects have been let go, reflecting broader industry challenges and a possible shift away from the company’s previously stated commitment to protecting jobs at all costs.
While the immediate impact on those individuals is clear, the longer‑term implications for the studio’s culture, project pipeline, and market position remain to be seen.