Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the viral hit Among Us and for the critically acclaimed I Expect You to Die series, has reportedly initiated a round of layoffs affecting several members of its team. The news surfaced after Game Developer magazine highlighted a series of LinkedIn updates posted by current and former employees, which collectively painted a picture of a downsizing effort that began on a Friday earlier this week.
One of the first to speak out was the studio's principal engineering manager, who posted that Schell Games had carried out its inaugural layoff event that day. The manager clarified that they themselves were not among those whose positions were terminated. "This is not a result of anything you did or didn’t do.
Our industry—and the broader market—are hemorrhaging right now," the engineering manager wrote, underscoring the broader economic pressures that have been squeezing the video‑game sector across the board. The marketing department was also confirmed as a target of the cuts. Dwayne Waite Jr., who serves as the studio’s marketing director, used his own LinkedIn post to acknowledge that members of his team had been let go, even naming four individuals directly impacted by the decision. Adding further detail, the senior public‑relations manager at Schell Games shared a longer list that included colleagues from the art, design, and visual‑effects divisions, indicating that the layoffs spanned multiple functional areas within the company.
From the publicly available posts, industry observers have estimated that roughly fourteen employees have been affected in total. This figure is notable given that Schell Games’ LinkedIn profile lists the company’s size as ranging somewhere between fifty‑one and two hundred staff members, suggesting that the reductions represent a non‑trivial percentage of the workforce. 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." The timing of these layoffs is particularly striking because Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, has long been vocal about his opposition to job cuts. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separates financial risk from the risk to employees’ livelihoods. He explained that while the studio is willing to gamble cash on the development of a new game, it strives to avoid ever placing its staff in jeopardy.
"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." The recent layoffs therefore appear to run counter to the public stance that Jesse Schell has maintained for years.
While the studio’s leadership has not yet issued an official statement addressing the current situation, GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for comment and is awaiting a response. The broader context of these reductions reflects a challenging period for the video‑game industry as a whole.
Over the past several months, many publishers and developers have reported declining revenues, tighter financing conditions, and a slowdown in consumer spending on entertainment. The pandemic‑driven boom that buoyed many studios in 2020 and 2021 has largely receded, leaving companies to reassess their cost structures and operational strategies. For Schell Games, which has built a reputation on creating immersive, narrative‑driven experiences that blend physical interaction with digital gameplay, the decision to downsize may be driven by a combination of factors.
These could include the performance of recent releases, the cost of maintaining a mid‑size development team, and the need to reallocate resources toward upcoming projects that promise higher returns. Industry analysts suggest that studios in a similar position often turn to a mix of measures: scaling back on non‑core initiatives, consolidating teams, and focusing on projects with clearer monetization pathways. Some also explore partnerships or external funding to bridge financial gaps without sacrificing staff. Employees who remain at Schell Games are likely to face a period of transition as the studio restructures its workflow.
This could involve taking on additional responsibilities, shifting priorities to align with new business goals, and adapting to a leaner operational model. For those who have been let go, the situation underscores the importance of networking, upskilling, and staying attuned to the evolving job market within the interactive entertainment sector. In summary, Schell Games’ recent layoff round marks a sobering moment for a studio that has historically championed job security as a core value.
While the exact reasons behind the decision remain partially opaque, the broader industry climate—characterized by financial strain and shifting consumer habits—appears to have played a significant role. The company’s future direction, the impact on its remaining staff, and the eventual response from its founder, Jesse Schell, will be closely watched by observers and peers alike as the gaming landscape continues to evolve.