Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of Among Us and for the popular I Expect You To Die puzzle‑adventure series, has reportedly initiated a round of staff reductions. The news surfaced after a Game Developer article highlighted a series of LinkedIn updates from current and former employees that detailed the layoffs, which began on a Friday earlier this week.
One of the first public indications came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who posted that Schell Games experienced its inaugural layoffs that day. The manager clarified that they themselves were not among those let go, and added a candid note about the broader context: "This isn’t a result of anything you did or failed to do.
Our sector is currently bleeding heavily, and the impact is being felt far beyond just gaming." The marketing department also felt the cuts. Dwayne Waite Jr., the company’s marketing director, confirmed that members of his team were part of the reduction and went on to name four individuals who were directly affected. In a separate LinkedIn comment, the senior public‑relations manager listed additional colleagues from the art, design, and visual‑effects divisions who were losing their positions. From the combined posts, observers estimate that roughly fourteen employees have been impacted.
This figure is notable when placed against the studio’s publicly listed headcount, which ranges from 51 to 200 staff members according to its LinkedIn profile. While the exact percentage may seem modest, the human impact is significant, especially for a company that has cultivated a close‑knit culture over more than half a decade. The public‑relations manager, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a reflective message: "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." The sentiment captures both the personal loss felt by those departing and the lingering sense of achievement that many long‑time employees retain. These layoffs occur against a backdrop of statements made by Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has historically taken a strong stance against job cuts. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell emphasized that the studio separates financial risk from the risk to its workforce.
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." The contrast between Schell’s public philosophy and the recent cuts has sparked discussion within the industry.
Many observers note that the broader market environment for video games has become increasingly volatile. A combination of rising development costs, shifting consumer preferences, and the lingering effects of macro‑economic uncertainty has placed pressure on studios of all sizes. Even companies that have traditionally prioritized employee stability are finding it harder to maintain that commitment when revenue streams become unpredictable. Industry analysts point out that the current climate is often described as a "hemorrhaging" of talent and resources.
The phrase, used by the engineering manager in the LinkedIn post, captures a sentiment echoed across many development houses: layoffs, project delays, and studio closures have become more common as publishers tighten budgets and investors demand quicker returns. For a mid‑size studio like Schell Games, which balances original intellectual property with contract work for larger publishers, the financial balancing act can be especially precarious.
In addition to the immediate impact on the laid‑off employees, the cuts may have longer‑term implications for the studio’s project pipeline. Schell Games has a reputation for creating high‑quality, narrative‑driven experiences that often blend physical interaction with digital gameplay. The loss of staff in key creative and technical roles could affect the studio’s ability to meet upcoming milestones, potentially leading to further strategic adjustments.
Despite the setback, many former employees have expressed confidence in their own skill sets and the industry’s overall resilience. Some have already begun exploring opportunities at other indie studios, larger AAA developers, or even transitioning into related fields such as educational technology and interactive media, areas where Schell Games has previously demonstrated expertise. GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the layoffs and the apparent divergence from Jesse Schell’s earlier statements.
As of now, no response has been received, leaving the community to speculate on the internal decision‑making process that led to this outcome. In summary, Schell Games’ recent workforce reduction reflects a broader trend of financial strain across the gaming sector.
While the studio’s leadership once championed a philosophy of safeguarding jobs, the current economic pressures appear to have forced a difficult, albeit perhaps unavoidable, course of action. The affected employees, though saddened by the abrupt end to their tenure, depart with a sense of pride in their contributions, and the industry watches closely to see how Schell Games will navigate the next phase of its development roadmap.