Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the wildly popular social deduction game Among Us and for the critically acclaimed I Expect You To Die series, has reportedly been forced to cut staff positions. The news emerged after a series of LinkedIn updates from current and former employees began to surface, indicating that the layoffs started last Friday.
According to coverage from Game Developer, multiple members of the Schell Games team posted about the reductions on their professional profiles. One of the most prominent posts came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who wrote that the company had experienced its first ever round of layoffs.
The manager clarified that they themselves had not been dismissed, but they were delivering the difficult news on behalf of the organization. The engineering manager’s message read, “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 wording underscores a broader sentiment that the challenges facing the gaming sector are not isolated to a single studio, but rather reflect a systemic downturn that is affecting many developers across the board. Further confirmation came from Dwayne Waite Jr., the studio’s marketing director, who explicitly mentioned that the marketing department was among those impacted.
Waite Jr. went on to identify four individuals from his team who were let go. In addition, the senior public relations manager at Schell Games shared a more extensive list of names, highlighting that the cuts also reached the art, design, and visual‑effects divisions.
When the various posts are tallied together, it appears that roughly fourteen employees have been affected by the layoffs. This figure is notable given that Schell Games lists its overall headcount on LinkedIn as ranging between 51 and 200 staff members, suggesting that the reductions represent a significant percentage of the workforce.
One of the employees who posted about the experience, the senior public relations manager, expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride. They wrote, “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.” This sentiment captures both the personal impact of the layoffs and the professional fulfillment that many employees felt during their tenure at the studio.
The layoffs are particularly striking because they come at a time when Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, has publicly positioned the company as an advocate against 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, “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 statements suggested that the studio would prioritize preserving jobs even in the face of uncertain revenue streams, opting to absorb financial losses rather than resort to layoffs. The recent cuts therefore raise questions about the pressures the company is currently facing and whether the broader market environment has shifted to a point where even a philosophy of job security is no longer sustainable. The gaming industry as a whole has been experiencing a period of volatility.
Rising development costs, shifting consumer preferences, and the lingering effects of global economic uncertainty have all contributed to a climate where many studios are reassessing staffing levels. For a mid‑size developer like Schell Games, which operates in a niche of educational and immersive experiences, the margin for error can be especially thin. The company’s portfolio, while respected, may not generate the same consistent cash flow as larger AAA franchises, making it more vulnerable to market downturns. Industry observers note that layoffs in the sector often serve as an early indicator of deeper financial strain.
When a studio that has previously championed employee stability begins to downsize, it can signal that revenue projections have fallen short of expectations, or that funding from partners and publishers has become more restrictive. In Schell Games’ case, the timing coincides with a broader wave of reductions across several other developers, suggesting that the challenges are not isolated. The response from the broader community has been one of empathy and support.
Colleagues, former teammates, and fans of the studio’s work have taken to social media to express gratitude for the contributions of those affected and to wish them success in future endeavors. Many have highlighted the importance of the studio’s legacy in creating innovative, narrative‑driven experiences that blend education and entertainment.
While Schell Games has not yet issued an official statement beyond the employee posts, GamesIndustry.biz has reached out for comment. The lack of a formal corporate response leaves some unanswered questions about the strategic direction the studio will take moving forward. Will the company pivot to new types of projects, seek additional investment, or perhaps restructure its business model to better weather economic turbulence? In the meantime, the individuals who were let go are navigating the transition.
Some have indicated plans to freelance, join other indie teams, or even explore opportunities outside of gaming altogether. Their collective experience underscores a broader truth about the industry: talent is highly portable, and the skills honed at a studio like Schell Games—ranging from narrative design to advanced visual effects—remain in demand across a variety of creative fields.
In summary, Schell Games’ recent staff reductions reflect a painful but increasingly common reality within the gaming sector. Despite a public commitment to safeguarding jobs, the studio has not been immune to the economic pressures that are prompting many developers to reassess their workforce.
As the industry continues to evolve, the hope among former employees and supporters alike is that the talent and creativity that defined Schell Games will find new avenues for expression, and that the studio itself will emerge from this challenging period with a renewed focus on sustainable growth and innovative game experiences.