Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of Among Us and for the critically acclaimed I Expect You to Die series, has confirmed that it is cutting staff positions. The news emerged after several employees posted about the layoffs on LinkedIn, prompting coverage by Game Developer. The first public indication came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who shared that the company had its inaugural round of layoffs on a Friday.
The manager emphasized that the reductions were not tied to individual performance, noting, "This isn’t a result of anything you did or didn’t do. Our industry (and beyond) is currently bleeding heavily." Marketing director Dwayne Waite Jr. added further detail, confirming that the marketing department was among those affected and naming four colleagues who were let go.
In addition, the senior public relations manager posted a list of names from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams, suggesting that the impact was spread across multiple disciplines. Based on the collective posts, the consensus is that roughly fourteen employees have been impacted.
Schell Games’ LinkedIn page lists its workforce size as ranging from 51 to 200 people, meaning the cuts represent a noticeable but not catastrophic percentage of the overall staff. One of the affected public relations professionals expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a farewell 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 layoffs are particularly striking given the public stance of Schell Games’ founder and CEO, Jesse Schell, who has long spoken against job cuts. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separates financial risk from the risk to employees. He said, "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." Despite that commitment, the current economic climate appears to have forced the studio’s hand. The broader video‑game industry has been experiencing a downturn, with many publishers reporting reduced revenue, delayed releases, and shrinking budgets.
Analysts attribute the strain to a combination of market saturation, rising development costs, and shifting consumer preferences toward live‑service models and free‑to‑play titles. These macro‑level pressures have created a “hemorrhaging” effect, as the engineering manager described, that has left even financially prudent companies reconsidering staffing levels.
Schell Games, founded in 2002 and based in Pittsburgh, has built a reputation for blending immersive technology with playful design. Its portfolio includes educational experiences, virtual‑reality projects, and narrative‑driven adventure games. The I Expect You to Die series, in particular, has garnered a dedicated fan base for its clever puzzles and cinematic storytelling. The company’s collaborative approach has often involved partnerships with major brands, museums, and educational institutions, positioning it as a versatile player in the interactive‑entertainment space.
The recent cuts affect several core functions. The marketing team, which is responsible for promoting new releases and maintaining community engagement, lost four members. The art and design departments, essential for crafting the visual identity of games, also saw reductions, as did the visual‑effects group that handles the high‑quality graphics and animation that define Schell Games’ titles.
While the exact roles of the fourteen individuals have not been disclosed, the spread across these areas suggests a strategic effort to trim overhead while preserving the studio’s ability to continue development. Industry observers note that layoffs, even at studios with a strong creative track record, are becoming more common as companies grapple with cash flow uncertainties. The decision to reduce staff can be a preemptive measure to avoid larger, more disruptive cuts later in the fiscal year. For employees, such announcements are often a mix of personal loss and professional resilience, as many look to leverage their experience at Schell Games to secure new opportunities within the broader gaming ecosystem.
Schell Games has not issued an official press release beyond the employee‑generated posts, and GamesIndustry.biz reports that attempts to obtain comment from the studio have not yet yielded a response. The lack of a formal statement leaves room for speculation about the company’s long‑term strategy, including whether the layoffs are a temporary response to a specific financial shortfall or part of a broader restructuring plan. In the meantime, the remaining staff appear committed to moving forward. The public relations manager’s farewell note highlighted a sense of accomplishment and gratitude, sentiments echoed by other team members who have expressed confidence in the studio’s creative direction.
As the industry continues to navigate a challenging economic environment, Schell Games’ experience underscores the delicate balance between maintaining financial health and upholding a promise to protect employees’ livelihoods. The situation serves as a reminder that even studios with a clear ethical stance on job security can be forced to make difficult personnel decisions when external market forces become overwhelming. It also illustrates the importance of adaptability for both companies and workers in an industry where technological innovation and consumer trends can shift rapidly. While the full impact of these layoffs on Schell Games’ upcoming projects remains to be seen, the studio’s history of delivering high‑quality interactive experiences suggests that it will strive to continue producing engaging content, albeit with a leaner team.
The coming months will likely reveal how the company rebalances its resources, whether it seeks new partnerships, or explores alternative revenue streams to sustain its creative ambitions without compromising the job security of its remaining workforce.