Schell Games, the development studio best known for collaborating on the three‑dimensional version of Among Us and for creating the critically praised I Expect You To Die franchise, has reportedly begun a round of staff reductions. The news emerged after several employees posted about the layoffs on LinkedIn, prompting coverage by Game Developer and other industry outlets.
According to the reporting, the first wave of cuts started on a Friday, marking the first time the company has ever had to let go of team members. The studio’s principal engineering manager was among the first to share the development, noting that while they themselves were not being dismissed, they were witnessing the departure of colleagues. In a brief but candid post, the manager wrote, "Schell Games had their first ever layoffs today.
This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do. Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging." The message resonated across the company’s internal networks, and other leaders quickly added their own confirmations.
Marketing director Dwayne Waite Jr. publicly acknowledged that the marketing department was affected and even listed four individuals who were part of the layoff list.
Meanwhile, the senior public relations manager expanded the scope of the announcement by naming several employees from the art, design, and visual effects teams who were also impacted. When the various posts were tallied, the consensus was that roughly fourteen people in total had been let go. This figure is noteworthy given that Schell Games’ LinkedIn profile indicates a staff size somewhere between 51 and 200 employees, meaning the cuts represent a noticeable, though not catastrophic, proportion of the workforce.
One of the affected employees, the senior public relations manager, expressed a mixture of disappointment and gratitude in a reflective 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." The layoffs are particularly striking because they come at odds with the public stance of Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has long advocated against job cuts within his organization. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separates financial risk from the risk to employees’ livelihoods. 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 suggested a commitment to preserving staff even in the face of uncertain revenue streams, emphasizing that the company would rather absorb financial losses than sacrifice its people. This ethos has been a point of pride for the studio and has helped attract talent who value stability and ethical leadership in the volatile gaming sector. However, the current economic climate appears to have forced a reassessment of those ideals.
The broader video‑game industry has been experiencing a prolonged downturn, with many publishers and developers reporting reduced consumer spending, delayed releases, and a tightening of investment capital. Analysts have described the period as a "bleeding" phase, where cash flow constraints are prompting even financially disciplined studios to make difficult personnel decisions. The timing of Schell Games’ layoffs also coincides with several high‑profile cutbacks across the sector, including reductions at major publishers and the shuttering of smaller indie studios.
This trend reflects a systemic challenge: while development costs continue to rise—driven by advances in technology, higher expectations for graphics, and the need for larger multidisciplinary teams—revenues have not kept pace for many companies, especially those that rely on episodic or niche titles. For Schell Games, the impact may be twofold. On one hand, the loss of staff could slow the production pipeline for upcoming projects, potentially delaying releases or reducing the scope of new games.
On the other hand, the company may be positioning itself to weather the downturn by trimming its payroll to a level that aligns with current cash reserves and projected income. Industry observers note that Schell Games has a diversified portfolio, including educational titles, virtual‑reality experiences, and collaborations with larger publishers. This diversification may provide a buffer against market volatility, but it also means the studio must allocate resources across a range of projects with varying profit potentials. The recent layoffs could therefore be a strategic move to concentrate talent on the most promising initiatives while scaling back less critical functions.
The reaction from the gaming community has been mixed. Fans of the I Expect You To Die series expressed concern for the affected employees, praising the studio’s past commitment to its staff and hoping for a swift recovery.
Meanwhile, some commentators have pointed out that the reality of running a game development business often forces even well‑intentioned leaders to make hard choices when revenue streams falter. GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the layoffs and on how the company plans to navigate the current financial headwinds. As of now, no response has been published, leaving the industry to speculate on whether the studio will revisit its no‑layoffs policy once the economic situation improves. In summary, Schell Games, a studio celebrated for its innovative titles and its founder’s public advocacy for employee security, has undergone its first-ever round of layoffs, affecting an estimated fourteen workers across marketing, art, design, and visual effects.
The decision reflects broader industry pressures and underscores the tension between idealistic leadership principles and the harsh realities of a market that is currently "hemorrhaging" resources. The long‑term effects on the studio’s projects, culture, and reputation remain to be seen, but the episode serves as a reminder that even the most principled companies may need to adapt quickly in turbulent times.