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* puzzle‑action series, has recently been forced to trim its workforce. The news emerged after several employees posted about the situation on LinkedIn, prompting coverage by the industry outlet Game Developer. According to those posts, the first round of layoffs began on a Friday and marked the first time the company has ever had to let staff go. The studio’s principal engineering manager was among the first to speak up, noting that while they themselves were not part of the cuts, they were witnessing the departure of colleagues.
"This has happened not because of anything you did or didn’t do. Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging," the manager wrote, underscoring a broader market downturn that is affecting many developers beyond just Schell Games. The marketing division was also hit hard. Dwayne Waite Jr., the company’s marketing director, confirmed that members of his team were among those let go and even listed four individuals by name.
In a separate post, the senior public relations manager shared additional names from the art, design, and visual‑effects departments, indicating that the cuts spanned multiple disciplines within the studio. By tallying the publicly shared information, observers estimate that roughly fourteen employees have been affected. This figure is notable given Schell Games’ LinkedIn profile, which lists the studio’s size as ranging from 51 to 200 employees.
For many of those departing, the news comes as a bittersweet conclusion to years of collaboration. One public‑relations staff member reflected, "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 layoffs are particularly striking because they run counter to the public stance of the studio’s founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell repeatedly emphasized that Schell Games would never sacrifice its employees’ jobs for financial pressure.
He explained that the company separates financial risk from staff risk, insisting that while cash flow might be jeopardized during a game’s development, the livelihoods of its team members would remain protected. "At the heart of it all is choosing not to put jobs at risk," Schell said. "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." Despite these assurances, the recent cuts suggest that the broader economic environment has become too severe to ignore. The video‑game sector has been experiencing a prolonged period of contraction, with many publishers and developers reporting declining revenues, delayed releases, and reduced consumer spending. This macro‑level pressure has forced even financially prudent studios to reconsider staffing levels in order to preserve cash reserves and maintain operational flexibility.
Industry analysts point out that Schell Games’ situation is emblematic of a larger trend. Smaller to mid‑size studios, which often lack the deep pockets of larger publishers, are especially vulnerable when market conditions shift. While larger companies can sometimes weather a downturn by tapping into diversified revenue streams or by leveraging extensive back‑catalogues, studios like Schell Games rely heavily on the success of new releases and partnerships.
When those pipelines stall, the financial strain can quickly translate into difficult personnel decisions. The impact of the layoffs extends beyond the individuals directly affected.
Colleagues who remain at the studio may experience a heightened sense of uncertainty, and morale can suffer when peers are suddenly dismissed. Moreover, the loss of talent in specialized areas such as visual effects, design, and marketing could temporarily slow the progress of ongoing projects, potentially affecting delivery timelines for upcoming titles. Nevertheless, the departing employees have expressed a mixture of disappointment and gratitude.
Their statements highlight a common sentiment among many laid‑off workers in the tech and gaming sectors: while the termination is unwelcome, the professional relationships and achievements built over years remain a source of pride. This perspective can help mitigate the negative emotional fallout and may even foster a network of alumni who could collaborate on future endeavors, either independently or with other studios. Schell Games has not yet issued an official press release addressing the layoffs, and GamesIndustry.biz reports that attempts to obtain comment from the studio have not yet been successful. The silence leaves room for speculation about the company’s future strategy—whether it will seek new publishing partners, pivot toward smaller‑scale projects, or perhaps explore alternative funding models such as early access or episodic releases to stabilize cash flow.
In the meantime, the broader gaming community watches closely. Schell Games has built a reputation for innovative, narrative‑driven experiences that blend humor, puzzle‑solving, and immersive storytelling. Fans of *I Expect You to Die* and other titles hope that the studio will emerge from this challenging period intact, preserving its creative vision while adapting to the harsh economic realities of the industry.
The situation serves as a reminder that even studios with strong leadership philosophies and a track record of employee‑centric policies are not immune to market forces. As the industry continues to navigate an uncertain financial landscape, companies will likely need to balance their commitment to staff welfare with pragmatic decisions aimed at long‑term sustainability.
For Schell Games, the coming months will be crucial in determining how it reconciles those competing priorities and whether it can continue to deliver the distinctive games that have earned it a loyal following.