Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the viral hit Among Us and for developing the critically acclaimed I Expect You to Die franchise, has reportedly initiated a round of staff reductions. The news surfaced after several employees posted about the layoffs on LinkedIn, prompting coverage by Game Developer and other industry outlets.
The first public indication of the cuts came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who shared a LinkedIn update on Friday, noting, “Schell Games had their first ever layoffs today.” The manager clarified that they themselves were not among those let go, emphasizing that the decision was not tied to any personal performance issues. "This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do.
Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging," the post read, underscoring the broader market pressures that have been affecting game developers across the board. Marketing director Dwayne Waite Jr. later added his voice to the conversation, confirming that the marketing department was among those impacted.
He listed four colleagues whose positions were eliminated, providing a human face to the otherwise abstract numbers. In parallel, the studio’s senior public relations manager contributed additional details, naming several employees from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams who were also affected. When the various posts were aggregated, industry observers estimated that roughly fourteen individuals had been laid off in total. The scale of the reductions is noteworthy when placed against Schell Games’ publicly listed headcount.
The company’s LinkedIn profile indicates a workforce ranging from 51 to 200 employees, suggesting that the layoffs represent a modest but still significant percentage of the overall staff. For those who were departing, the experience was bittersweet. The senior public relations manager 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.” Those words capture both the sense of loss and the lingering pride that many long‑tenured developers feel when they must leave a workplace they helped shape. The timing of the layoffs is particularly striking given the public stance of Schell Games’ founder and CEO, Jesse Schell, on the subject of job security. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separates financial risk from the risk to employees. 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.” He went on to elaborate that even if the studio’s own intellectual property generated no revenue, the company would still aim to preserve its workforce, stating, “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 have long resonated within the indie and mid‑size development community, where financial volatility often forces studios to make tough staffing decisions. The recent layoffs, therefore, raise questions about whether external market forces have become so severe that even a company with a strong ethical commitment to its employees must bend its principles. The broader industry context provides some clues.
The video‑game sector has been experiencing a slowdown in consumer spending, heightened competition from live‑service models, and increasing development costs for high‑quality experiences. These macro‑economic trends have led to a wave of layoffs across many studios, from large publishers to smaller boutique teams. For Schell Games, the impact of the cuts may extend beyond the immediate loss of personnel.
The studio’s reputation for nurturing a collaborative, employee‑first culture could be tested as it navigates the aftermath. Maintaining morale among the remaining staff, preserving the creative momentum of ongoing projects, and reassuring partners and investors will be essential tasks for leadership. Additionally, the company may need to re‑evaluate its project pipeline, potentially scaling back or reprioritising titles to align with a leaner workforce. Industry analysts suggest that studios in a similar position often turn to alternative strategies to mitigate future risks.
These can include diversifying revenue streams through licensing deals, expanding into educational or enterprise markets, or pursuing co‑development arrangements that share financial burdens. Schell Games, with its strong pedigree in both entertainment and educational gaming, may explore such avenues to stabilise its financial footing while staying true to its core values. GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the layoffs and on how the company plans to reconcile its stated commitment to job security with the recent staffing reductions. As of the time of writing, no response has been received.
In summary, Schell Games’ first-ever layoffs reflect a confluence of internal and external pressures. While the decision contradicts the public assurances made by its founder regarding job protection, it also mirrors a wider industry trend where even well‑intentioned studios are forced to make difficult choices amid a challenging economic environment. The affected employees have expressed both disappointment and pride in their contributions, and the remaining team faces the task of rebuilding momentum while honoring the studio’s legacy of innovative, player‑focused experiences.