Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the hit party game *Among Us* and for developing the critically acclaimed *I Expect You to Die* series, has reportedly initiated a round of staff reductions. The news surfaced after several employees posted about the layoffs on LinkedIn, prompting coverage by the industry outlet Game Developer. The first public indication of the cuts came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who wrote that the company was undergoing its inaugural round of layoffs.
The manager clarified that they themselves were not among those let go, and they added a candid note to explain the broader context: “This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do. Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging.” The phrase underscores a sentiment that the downturn is not limited to a single firm but reflects a systemic strain affecting the entire gaming ecosystem.
Further confirmation arrived from Dwayne Waite Jr., Schell Games’ marketing director. Waite identified that the marketing department was among those impacted and listed four specific individuals who were part of the layoff wave. In addition, the studio’s senior public relations manager contributed additional names from the art, design, and visual effects teams, painting a picture of a cross‑functional reduction that touches creative, technical, and promotional areas alike. Compiling the publicly shared information, observers estimate that roughly fourteen employees have been affected by the cuts.
This figure is notable when placed against the company’s own LinkedIn profile, which indicates a workforce ranging from 51 to 200 people. Even at the lower end of that range, the loss of fourteen staff members represents a meaningful percentage of the team, especially for a studio that prides itself on a tight‑knit, collaborative culture. One of the affected employees, the senior public relations manager, expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a reflective LinkedIn post.
They wrote, “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 the bittersweet nature of involuntary departures: while the circumstances are regrettable, the individual still cherishes the professional milestones and relationships forged during their tenure. The layoffs are particularly striking given the public stance of Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has long positioned the studio as a company that avoids putting its employees’ jobs at risk. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separates financial risk from workforce stability.
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 now appears at odds with the recent developments, prompting questions about whether the industry’s broader fiscal pressures have forced the studio to reconsider its earlier commitments.
The gaming sector has been grappling with a series of challenges over the past year, including rising development costs, shifting consumer spending habits, and a slowdown in the release cadence of blockbuster titles. These macro‑economic forces have led to a wave of layoffs across multiple studios, ranging from indie developers to major publishers, as companies attempt to align headcount with projected revenue streams.
Schell Games’ situation also highlights a tension that many creative enterprises face: balancing the desire to protect employees with the need to remain financially viable. While the company’s leadership has historically emphasized a people‑first approach, the reality of cash flow constraints, especially in a market where funding cycles are becoming longer and investors more cautious, can compel even the most well‑intentioned firms to make difficult staffing decisions.
Industry analysts suggest that the layoffs may be a pre‑emptive move to preserve the studio’s long‑term health. By reducing overhead now, Schell Games could be positioning itself to weather a prolonged period of reduced consumer spending, allowing it to continue developing its signature immersive experiences without resorting to more drastic measures later.
Some observers also note that the studio’s focus on educational and experiential games—areas that often rely on institutional contracts and grant funding—might be experiencing a slowdown as schools and organizations tighten budgets. GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for comment on the layoffs and on how the company plans to reconcile its earlier public statements with the current reality. As of the time of this writing, no official response has been received. In summary, Schell Games, a studio celebrated for its innovative gameplay and narrative design, has announced its first-ever staff reductions, affecting an estimated fourteen employees across various departments.
The move comes amid a broader industry downturn that has forced many developers to reassess staffing levels. While the layoffs appear to contradict the CEO’s prior assurances that jobs would never be jeopardized, they may reflect a pragmatic response to the financial pressures confronting the gaming sector as a whole. The affected staff members have expressed both sorrow at the abrupt ending of their chapters and gratitude for the achievements and relationships built during their time at the company. The situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected as the studio navigates this challenging period.