Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the viral hit Among Us and for developing the critically acclaimed I Expect You To Die series, has reportedly initiated a round of layoffs affecting several members of its staff. The news broke after Game Developer magazine cited a series of LinkedIn updates posted by current and former employees, which detailed the timing and scope of the reductions. According to those posts, the first wave of layoffs began on a Friday, marking the first time the company has ever had to let employees go.
One of the most prominent messages came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who shared that the engineering team had not been directly impacted but that the company as a whole was undergoing its inaugural layoff event. In the post, the manager wrote, “Schell Games had its first ever layoffs today,” and added a note of reassurance: “This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do. Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging.” The phrasing underscores a broader trend of talent attrition across the gaming sector, where many studios are feeling the pressure of rising development costs, shifting consumer preferences, and a volatile market environment. The marketing division was also hit, as confirmed by Dwayne Waite Jr., the studio’s marketing director.
Waite publicly listed four individuals from the marketing team who were affected, signaling transparency but also highlighting the human impact of the decision. Further details emerged when the senior public relations manager for Schell Games disclosed additional names from the art, design, and visual‑effects departments, indicating that the cuts were not limited to a single functional area but spanned multiple creative and operational units. Based on the cumulative information shared on LinkedIn, industry observers estimate that roughly fourteen employees have been laid off.
This figure is notable when placed against the company’s reported headcount, which on its LinkedIn profile falls somewhere between 51 and 200 staff members. Even at the higher end of that range, a reduction of fourteen individuals represents a significant percentage of the workforce, especially for a studio that has historically emphasized a tight‑knit, collaborative culture. The public relations manager, who chose to remain anonymous regarding personal details, expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a reflective comment: “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.” This sentiment captures the bittersweet nature of many layoff experiences in the tech and gaming industries, where employees often feel a deep connection to the projects and colleagues they leave behind. The layoffs are particularly striking given the public stance of 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 employment risk. 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 comments reflect a broader industry conversation about sustainable development practices, where studios aim to balance the inevitable financial uncertainties of game production with a commitment to employee stability.
However, the recent cuts suggest that even studios with a strong ethical stance can be forced to make difficult decisions when market conditions deteriorate. The gaming market in 2024 has been characterized by a series of headwinds: rising inflation, increased competition from both established publishers and indie developers, and a shifting landscape in distribution platforms that has altered revenue models. Many companies are seeing tighter margins and are reevaluating staffing levels to align with projected cash flows.
In this context, Schell Games’ decision may be seen as a reactive measure to preserve the long‑term health of the studio, albeit at the cost of short‑term morale. Industry analysts note that layoffs in creative sectors often lead to a ripple effect, where talent that is let go may join competitors, start new ventures, or transition to adjacent fields such as education, simulation, or even non‑gaming technology. For Schell Games, which has built a reputation for innovative, narrative‑driven experiences, the loss of seasoned designers, artists, and marketers could impact upcoming projects and timelines.
Nevertheless, the company’s leadership may be betting that a leaner structure will enable it to focus resources on its most promising IPs and maintain its creative vision. GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the layoffs and on how the studio plans to navigate the post‑layoff period. As of the time of writing, a response has not been received, leaving many questions unanswered about the future direction of the studio, the status of its current development pipelines, and the support being offered to the affected employees. In summary, Schell Games’ first-ever layoffs reflect a confluence of industry‑wide challenges and internal strategic decisions.
While the company’s founder has historically championed job security, the current economic climate appears to have compelled a reassessment of that philosophy. The affected staff members have expressed both sorrow at the abrupt ending of their tenure and gratitude for the experiences they gained. The broader gaming community will be watching closely to see how Schell Games adapts and whether it can sustain its creative output while navigating these turbulent times.