Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the wildly popular party game Among Us and for developing the critically acclaimed I Expect You to Die series, has reportedly been forced to reduce its workforce. The news emerged after a series of LinkedIn updates from current and former employees began surfacing early last week, indicating that the cuts started on a Friday and have continued into the weekend.
The initial hint came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who posted that Schell Games experienced its "first ever layoffs" on that Friday. The manager clarified that they themselves were not among those let go, and they added a somber note about 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 phrasing underscores a sentiment that the decision was driven by macro‑economic pressures rather than any shortcomings on the part of individual staff members. Further confirmation arrived from Dwayne Waite Jr., the company’s marketing director, who explicitly mentioned that the marketing department was among those affected.
He went on to name four colleagues who were part of the reduction, providing a human face to the otherwise abstract numbers. In addition, the studio’s senior public relations manager shared a longer list that included members from the art, design, and visual effects teams, indicating that the layoffs cut across multiple disciplines rather than being confined to a single function. Based on the collective posts, industry observers estimate that roughly fourteen employees have been impacted by the downsizing. While Schell Games’ LinkedIn profile lists the studio’s headcount as falling somewhere between 51 and 200 staff members, the exact proportion of the workforce affected remains unclear.
Nonetheless, the loss of fourteen individuals represents a noticeable contraction for a company of this size, especially given that the studio has historically prided itself on maintaining a stable and collaborative environment. One of the affected employees, 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 in tech and creative industries: even when circumstances force a departure, many employees retain a strong sense of loyalty and appreciation for the experiences and relationships they forged while at the firm.
The layoffs are particularly striking given the public stance that Schell Games’ founder and CEO, Jesse Schell, has taken on the issue of job security. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell emphasized that the studio separates financial risk from the risk to its 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." Schell’s comments suggested a philosophy of absorbing financial volatility within the company’s balance sheet rather than passing that burden onto its staff.
The recent layoffs, however, appear to contradict that earlier commitment, raising questions about whether the external pressures facing the broader gaming sector have become too severe to ignore. The industry has indeed been described as "hemorrhaging" by multiple insiders, with declining consumer spending, rising development costs, and a tightening of venture capital funding all contributing to a challenging environment for mid‑size developers. GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the situation, but as of the time of writing, no response has been received. The lack of an immediate statement leaves room for speculation about how the company plans to navigate the current downturn and whether further reductions might be on the horizon.
In the meantime, the affected employees are likely to explore new opportunities within the gaming ecosystem, which, despite its recent turbulence, continues to offer a range of roles in design, programming, art, and production. Many of those who have left Schell Games have highlighted the valuable experience they gained on high‑profile projects such as the I Expect You to Die series, which could serve as a strong credential for future employers. The broader community has responded with a mixture of empathy and concern. Colleagues and fans have taken to social media to express support for the laid‑off staff, sharing messages of encouragement and offering to connect them with potential job leads.
This outpouring of solidarity underscores the tight‑knit nature of the indie and mid‑tier development scene, where personal connections often play a pivotal role in career mobility. While Schell Games has not disclosed a detailed plan for restructuring or a timeline for recovery, the company’s leadership will likely need to address both internal morale and external perception. Rebuilding trust after a first‑ever layoff can be a delicate process, requiring transparent communication about the company’s financial health, future project pipeline, and any measures being taken to safeguard remaining employees. In summary, Schell Games, a studio celebrated for its innovative contributions to interactive entertainment, has entered a difficult phase marked by its inaugural workforce reductions.
The decision appears to be driven by industry‑wide financial strain rather than any specific performance issues within the studio. As the gaming sector continues to grapple with economic headwinds, the hope among observers is that Schell Games will find a sustainable path forward that aligns with its previously stated commitment to protecting jobs, while also adapting to the realities of a rapidly evolving market.