Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the hit party game Among Us and for the critically acclaimed I Expect You To Die series, has recently confirmed that it is cutting staff positions. The news emerged after several employees posted about the layoffs on LinkedIn, prompting coverage by the industry outlet Game Developer. The first public indication came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who wrote that the company had carried out its inaugural round of layoffs on a Friday. The manager clarified that they themselves were not among those let go and added a somber note about the broader market conditions: "This isn’t a result of anything you did or didn’t do.
Our sector is currently bleeding heavily, and the impact is being felt far beyond just game development." Further confirmation arrived from Dwayne Waite Jr., the studio’s marketing director, who disclosed that the marketing department was among those affected. He listed four specific individuals who were part of the reduction. In addition, the senior public‑relations manager at Schell Games shared a longer roster of names from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams, indicating that the cuts spanned multiple disciplines within the company.
Based on the publicly shared information, the total number of employees impacted appears to be fourteen. Schell Games’ LinkedIn profile lists the studio’s headcount as falling somewhere between 51 and 200 staff members, which suggests that the layoffs represent roughly a ten‑percent reduction of the workforce, depending on the exact size of the team at the time. One of the affected employees, the senior public‑relations manager, posted a reflective message that captured both disappointment and gratitude.
"I won’t pretend this isn’t a disappointing way to close this chapter, especially after nearly six years," they wrote. "Nevertheless, I leave feeling proud of what I helped achieve while I was here, and I’m deeply thankful for the colleagues I got to collaborate with and learn from." The timing of these layoffs is notable because Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, has long positioned the studio as a company that protects its employees from financial turbulence. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell explained his philosophy regarding risk management, distinguishing between monetary risk taken on a project and the risk of jeopardizing staff livelihoods.
"At the core of our approach is a commitment not to endanger jobs," he said. "We are willing to put cash on the line when we develop a game, but we deliberately avoid putting people’s employment at stake.
Even if a title generates zero revenue, we still maintain a pathway that allows us to keep our team intact. In many ways, that is a conscious choice we make as a business." Despite that public stance, the current round of reductions suggests that even studios with a strong ethical framework can be forced to make difficult personnel decisions when market conditions deteriorate.
The video‑game industry has been experiencing a prolonged period of financial strain, with many publishers reporting lower-than‑expected sales, rising development costs, and a slowdown in consumer spending. Analysts have described the environment as a "hemorrhaging" market, a phrase echoed by the engineering manager’s LinkedIn post.
Industry observers note that Schell Games is not alone in confronting these challenges. Over the past year, several mid‑size developers have announced similar workforce reductions, citing factors such as delayed releases, shifting platform strategies, and the broader economic slowdown that has affected advertising budgets and discretionary spending. The trend underscores a growing awareness that even studios with diversified portfolios and a reputation for stable employment must adapt to survive. While GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the layoffs, the studio has not yet responded publicly.
The lack of an immediate statement leaves room for speculation about how the company plans to restructure its operations moving forward. Some analysts suggest that Schell Games may be consolidating its resources to focus on its most promising IPs, possibly reallocating talent toward new projects that could generate quicker returns. For the employees who remain, the future may involve a period of heightened workload as the studio adjusts to a leaner team. However, the company’s history of innovative gameplay experiences and strong relationships with partners such as Disney and the Smithsonian Institution could provide a solid foundation for continued success.
The remaining staff will likely need to navigate a more compressed development schedule, prioritize critical milestones, and perhaps take on cross‑functional responsibilities that were previously handled by the now‑departed colleagues. In the broader context, the situation at Schell Games serves as a reminder that the health of the video‑game sector is closely tied to macro‑economic forces, consumer confidence, and the ever‑evolving preferences of players.
Studios that can balance creative ambition with fiscal prudence will be better positioned to weather future downturns. As the industry continues to evolve, the stories of both the laid‑off employees and the remaining team members will illustrate the human side of a market that is often discussed in terms of revenue figures and technological milestones.
Ultimately, the layoffs at Schell Games reflect a painful but increasingly common reality for many developers: even with a stated commitment to protecting jobs, external pressures can compel difficult choices. The hope among those affected is that their experience and skill sets will open doors elsewhere in the industry, while the studio itself strives to uphold its values and deliver the engaging, high‑quality experiences that have defined its brand for years to come.