Schell Games, the development studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the viral hit Among Us and for the critically acclaimed I Expect You To Die series, has confirmed that it is cutting staff positions. The news surfaced after a series of LinkedIn updates from current and former employees detailed a wave of layoffs that began on a Friday earlier this week. The first public indication came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who posted that Schell Games had experienced its inaugural round of layoffs. The manager clarified that they themselves were not among those let go, and they added a note of empathy for the affected colleagues.
"This isn’t a result of any individual’s actions. Our industry (and beyond) right now is bleeding profusely," the manager wrote, underscoring the broader market pressures that have been felt across the gaming sector. Further confirmation arrived from the company’s marketing director, Dwayne Waite Jr., who identified that the reductions also touched the marketing department. Waite listed four specific team members who were part of the cut, and the studio’s senior public‑relations manager later shared additional names from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams.
By tallying the various posts, observers estimate that roughly fourteen employees have been impacted in total. This figure is notable given that Schell Games’ LinkedIn profile lists the studio as employing somewhere between fifty‑one and two hundred people, suggesting that the layoffs affect a meaningful percentage of the workforce. One of the departing staff members, the senior public‑relations manager, expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a heartfelt message.
"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 firm: a sense of gratitude for the collaborative experiences despite the abrupt termination. The layoffs are particularly striking because they occur in contrast to the public position taken by Schell Games’ founder and CEO, Jesse Schell, who has long spoken out against the practice of laying off staff.
In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell emphasized that the studio separates financial risk from employee security. 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." Schell’s remarks highlighted a philosophy that many indie and mid‑size studios aspire to: protecting their teams even when a project fails to meet revenue expectations. However, the recent reductions suggest that external market forces—such as the overall contraction in the gaming industry, rising development costs, and shifting consumer preferences—have placed the company in a position where it must reconsider its staffing levels. Industry analysts note that the gaming sector has been experiencing a downturn, often described as a “hemorrhaging” of revenue, due to a combination of factors.
These include a slowdown in consumer spending, increased competition from both established publishers and emerging independent developers, and the lingering effects of macro‑economic uncertainty that have caused investors to become more cautious. For studios like Schell Games, which rely on a mix of contract work, original IP development, and collaborations with larger publishers, the financial strain can be especially acute. The layoffs also raise questions about the future direction of Schell Games’ projects. The studio has built a reputation for innovative, narrative‑driven experiences that blend physical interaction with digital gameplay.
Their work on the I Expect You To Die series, for example, has been praised for its clever puzzles and immersive storytelling. Maintaining that level of creative output often requires a stable, multidisciplinary team, including designers, artists, programmers, and marketers.
Reducing headcount in these areas could impact the studio’s ability to meet development milestones or to explore new concepts. Despite the setback, some observers remain optimistic that Schell Games will adapt and emerge stronger.
The company’s leadership has indicated a willingness to invest cash in new projects while preserving jobs where possible. If the studio can secure additional funding, perhaps through partnerships or successful launches of upcoming titles, it may be able to rehire some of the talent that was let go or attract new hires with fresh perspectives. For the employees who were part of the layoff, the transition will likely involve navigating severance packages, potential unemployment benefits, and the search for new opportunities in a competitive job market. The gaming industry, while currently facing headwinds, still offers a range of roles in areas such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and educational games—sectors where Schell Games has demonstrated expertise.
GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the situation, but as of now, no response has been published. The unfolding story serves as a reminder that even studios with strong creative legacies and outspoken leadership are not immune to the broader economic currents that shape the entertainment landscape.
In summary, Schell Games’ recent staff reductions reflect a confluence of industry‑wide financial challenges and internal strategic decisions. While the move contrasts with CEO Jesse Schell’s earlier public stance against layoffs, it underscores the reality that protecting jobs can become increasingly difficult when revenue streams falter.
The affected employees have expressed both disappointment and pride in their contributions, and the studio’s future will depend on how it navigates the current market turbulence while striving to uphold its reputation for innovative game design.