Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the viral hit Among Us and for developing the acclaimed I Expect You To Die puzzle‑action series, has reportedly initiated a round of layoffs affecting several members of its staff. The news broke after Game Developer magazine cited a collection of LinkedIn updates posted by current and former employees, which detailed the timing and scope of the cuts that began late last week. The first public acknowledgment came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who shared that the organization was undergoing its inaugural layoff event.
Although the manager themselves remained employed, they noted that the decision was not a reflection of personal performance or conduct. "This isn’t a result of any individual’s actions.
Our industry is currently bleeding profusely," the engineering manager wrote, underscoring the broader market pressures that have been affecting game developers across the board. The sentiment echoed a growing narrative within the sector: despite strong consumer demand for games, the underlying economics of development, publishing, and distribution have become increasingly volatile.
Further confirmation came from Dwayne Waite Jr., Schell Games’ marketing director, who specifically mentioned that members of the marketing team were among those let go. Waite listed four employees who were directly impacted, providing a human face to the otherwise abstract numbers. In addition, the studio’s senior public‑relations manager posted additional names from the art, design, and visual‑effects divisions, indicating that the reductions spanned multiple disciplines rather than being confined to a single department.
Compiling the information from these posts, industry observers estimate that roughly fourteen individuals have been affected by the layoffs. This figure is noteworthy when compared to the company’s publicly listed headcount on LinkedIn, which places the total workforce somewhere between 51 and 200 employees.
Even at the lower end of that range, a reduction of fourteen staff members represents a significant percentage of the team, especially for a studio that has historically emphasized a tight‑knit, collaborative culture. The public‑relations manager, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a heartfelt LinkedIn comment.
"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 reflection highlights both the personal impact of the layoffs and the broader emotional toll that such restructuring can have on long‑standing employees.
The timing of the cuts is particularly striking given the public stance of Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has consistently spoken out against job reductions in the gaming industry. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separates financial risk from the risk to employees. He argued that while a studio might gamble with cash on a new title, it should never gamble with the livelihoods of its staff.
"At the heart of it all is choosing not to put jobs at risk," Schell said during that interview. "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 reflected a broader industry conversation about sustainable development practices, where studios aim to balance creative ambition with fiscal responsibility without resorting to layoffs as a first‑line solution.
However, the recent developments at Schell Games suggest that even studios with strong ethical commitments can be forced to make difficult personnel decisions when external market forces become too severe. Analysts point to several contributing factors that may have precipitated the layoffs.
The gaming market has experienced a contraction in advertising spend, a slowdown in consumer spending on premium titles, and heightened competition from both established publishers and emerging indie developers. Moreover, the lingering effects of the global pandemic have reshaped production pipelines, leading many studios to reassess staffing levels in order to remain agile and financially viable. For Schell Games, the impact of these macro‑economic trends is compounded by the studio’s dual focus on both consumer‑facing entertainment and educational or experiential projects, which often rely on separate funding streams and partnership models. Fluctuations in any one of these revenue sources can create cash‑flow challenges that ripple across the organization.
In response to the layoffs, the studio has not issued an official press release beyond the individual LinkedIn statements, and GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for comment. As of now, no further details regarding severance packages, outplacement support, or the future strategic direction of the company have been disclosed. The situation at Schell Games serves as a microcosm of a broader industry trend: even well‑established developers with a reputation for employee‑friendly policies are not immune to the financial headwinds that have been sweeping the sector. While the company’s leadership has historically emphasized a commitment to preserving jobs, the reality of a "hemorrhaging" market appears to have forced a reevaluation of that stance.
Looking ahead, observers will be watching to see how Schell Games navigates this transition. Will the studio double down on its core IPs, seek new partnerships, or perhaps explore alternative revenue models such as subscription services or licensing deals? The answers to these questions will shape not only the future of the company but also provide insight into how mid‑size studios can survive and thrive in an increasingly uncertain economic landscape. For the employees who have been let go, the path forward will likely involve leveraging their experience at a studio known for innovative gameplay and narrative design to secure new opportunities within the broader gaming ecosystem.
The industry continues to value talent with a track record of delivering high‑quality experiences, and many of those affected may find roles at other studios that are actively hiring to fill talent gaps created by similar layoffs elsewhere. In summary, Schell Games’ recent staff reductions reflect a painful but increasingly common reality for game developers navigating a volatile market. While the company’s leadership has historically championed job security, external pressures have compelled them to make difficult choices. The long‑term implications for the studio’s culture, product pipeline, and market position remain to be seen, but the episode underscores the importance of adaptability and resilience in an industry where financial tides can shift rapidly.