Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the wildly popular social deduction title Among Us and for developing the critically acclaimed I Expect You to Die series, has reportedly begun a round of staff reductions. The news emerged after several employees posted about the layoffs on LinkedIn, prompting coverage by industry outlet Game Developer. The first public indication came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who shared that the company had carried out its inaugural layoff round on a Friday.
The manager clarified that they themselves were not among those let go and added a poignant note about the broader context: "This isn’t a result of anything you did or failed to do. Our sector is currently losing ground dramatically, and the impact is being felt far beyond just game development." Marketing director Dwayne Waite Jr. also weighed in, confirming that the cuts affected members of the marketing department.
He listed four individuals who were directly impacted, providing a human face to the numbers. In addition, the studio’s senior public‑relations manager posted further details, naming colleagues from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams who were part of the reduction. Compiling the various LinkedIn updates suggests that roughly fourteen employees have been affected in total.
This figure is notable given that Schell Games’ own LinkedIn profile lists the company size as ranging between 51 and 200 staff members, indicating that the layoffs represent a measurable percentage of the workforce. One of the affected public‑relations staff members 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.
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 sentiment captures both the personal loss felt by those departing and the gratitude for the collaborative experiences they shared. The layoffs are particularly striking because they run counter to the public stance taken by Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has long advocated against job cuts. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separates financial risk from the risk to 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. 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." This earlier declaration made it clear that Schell intended to shield his team from the volatility that often accompanies the gaming business. The recent cuts therefore raise questions about what changed in the studio’s financial landscape or market environment to force a departure from that principle. While the exact reasons were not disclosed, industry analysts point to a broader trend of contraction across the gaming sector, with many mid‑size studios facing funding shortfalls, shifting consumer preferences, and heightened competition from both traditional publishers and emerging indie developers.
The timing of the layoffs also coincides with a period of heightened uncertainty in the wider entertainment and technology markets. Inflationary pressures, rising development costs, and the lingering effects of supply‑chain disruptions have collectively strained many companies’ balance sheets. For a studio like Schell Games, which balances original intellectual property with contract work for educational and corporate clients, a dip in either revenue stream could translate into tighter cash flow and, ultimately, difficult personnel decisions. Beyond the immediate impact on the fourteen individuals, the layoffs may have ripple effects on the studio’s culture and project pipeline.
Schell Games has built a reputation for creating immersive, narrative‑driven experiences that blend gameplay with learning outcomes. Losing members of the art, design, and visual‑effects teams could delay ongoing projects or require the remaining staff to take on additional responsibilities, potentially affecting the quality or timeline of upcoming releases. From a broader perspective, the situation underscores a paradox within the gaming industry: while blockbuster titles generate massive profits, many smaller and mid‑size studios operate on thin margins and are highly susceptible to market swings.
Even companies led by visionary founders with strong ethical commitments can find themselves forced to make hard choices when external pressures mount. The response from the remaining staff appears mixed. Some have expressed confidence in the studio’s leadership and optimism that the company will emerge stronger, while others have voiced concerns about job security and morale.
The public‑relations manager’s farewell message, however, reflects a common theme in the industry—pride in one’s contributions despite an abrupt ending. GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the layoffs and to seek clarification on how the company plans to navigate the current challenges while staying true to its stated values. Until a formal statement is released, the community will continue to watch closely, hoping that the studio can sustain its creative output and uphold the workplace principles that Jesse Schell has championed in the past. In summary, Schell Games’ recent staff reductions mark a significant moment for a studio that has long positioned itself as both a creative force and a responsible employer.
The layoffs affect roughly fourteen employees across multiple departments, reflecting broader industry pressures that have forced even well‑intentioned leaders to reconsider their staffing strategies. As the gaming sector continues to evolve, the balance between financial viability and employee security remains a delicate and ongoing conversation.