Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the wildly popular party game Among Us and for developing the critically acclaimed I Expect You To Die series, has reportedly begun a round of layoffs that has affected a number of its employees. The news surfaced after several staff members posted about the cuts on LinkedIn, prompting coverage by industry outlet Game Developer.
The first public indication of the layoffs came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who wrote on LinkedIn that the company had carried out its "first ever layoffs" on a Friday. The manager clarified that they themselves had not been dismissed, but that the decision to reduce headcount was being communicated across the organization. The post emphasized that the reductions were not a reflection of individual performance: "This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do.
Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging," the manager explained, underscoring the broader financial pressures facing the video‑game sector. Further confirmation arrived from Dwayne Waite Jr., Schell Games’ marketing director, who disclosed that members of the marketing team were among those let go. He identified four specific individuals whose positions were eliminated. In addition, the studio’s senior public‑relations manager shared a longer list of names, indicating that the cuts extended into the art, design, and visual‑effects departments as well.
By tallying the publicly shared names, observers estimate that roughly fourteen employees have been impacted by the layoffs. Schell Games’ LinkedIn company page lists its workforce size as ranging between 51 and 200 employees, which means that the reduction, while numerically modest, represents a noticeable percentage of the studio’s total staff. The senior public‑relations manager posted a reflective message about the experience, noting the emotional difficulty of ending a chapter after nearly six years with the company. "I won't pretend this isn't a disappointing way to end this chapter, especially after almost 6 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 given the public statements made by Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has long positioned the studio as an employer that protects its staff from the volatility that often characterizes the gaming industry. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separates financial risk from employment risk. 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 comments suggested that the studio would rather absorb financial loss than lay off staff, a stance that resonated with many observers who view the company as a model for responsible employment practices within an industry notorious for sudden downsizing. The recent cuts, therefore, raise questions about whether external market forces have become so severe that even a company with such a protective ethos must reconsider its approach.
The broader context of these layoffs is a gaming market that has been described as "hemorrhaging" by the affected employees themselves. Over the past few years, the industry has grappled with a series of macro‑economic challenges, including rising development costs, shifting consumer preferences toward live‑service models, and a slowdown in discretionary spending.
Smaller and mid‑size studios, in particular, have found it increasingly difficult to secure stable funding streams, leading many to trim payrolls, pause projects, or even shutter entirely. Schell Games, founded in 2002 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has built a reputation for creating immersive experiences that blend physical interaction with digital gameplay. Its portfolio includes not only the aforementioned titles but also educational and corporate training games that have earned numerous awards.
The company’s size, falling somewhere between the 51‑200 employee bracket, places it in a sweet spot where it can be nimble yet still faces the same financial pressures as larger publishers when market conditions tighten. Industry analysts note that layoffs at a studio like Schell Games could signal a ripple effect for other mid‑tier developers who have been operating on thin margins. When a studio that has publicly championed job security begins to reduce staff, it may encourage other companies to reassess their own workforce strategies, potentially leading to a wave of similar announcements.
GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for comment on the situation, but as of the time of writing, no official response has been received. The silence leaves room for speculation about the internal decision‑making process, the specific financial metrics that prompted the cuts, and whether the company expects further reductions in the near future. In summary, Schell Games—known for its innovative contributions to both entertainment and serious‑gaming sectors—has entered a difficult period marked by its first round of layoffs. The move affects at least fourteen employees across engineering, marketing, art, design, and visual effects, and it runs counter to the CEO’s previously articulated commitment to safeguarding jobs.
The layoffs reflect larger industry headwinds that have forced many studios to confront harsh economic realities, and they may foreshadow additional restructuring within the sector as companies strive to balance creative ambition with fiscal sustainability.