Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the hit party game Among Us and for the critically acclaimed I Expect You To Die series, has recently confirmed that it is cutting staff. The news surfaced after a number of 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 wrote that the company experienced its inaugural round of layoffs on a Friday. The manager clarified that they themselves were not among those let go and added a note of empathy for their colleagues: “This isn’t a result of anything you did or didn’t do. Our industry – and the broader market – is hemorrhaging right now.” The impact was not limited to engineering. Dwayne Waite Jr., Schell Games’ marketing director, also used his LinkedIn account to acknowledge that the marketing department was hit and listed four individuals whose positions were eliminated.
In a separate post, the senior public‑relations manager disclosed additional names from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams, confirming that the reductions spanned multiple disciplines. Compiling the various announcements suggests that roughly fourteen employees have been affected. Schell Games’ own LinkedIn page lists the company size as ranging from 51 to 200 staff members, indicating that the cuts represent a noticeable but not catastrophic percentage of the workforce.
One of the affected public‑relations staff members shared a reflective message, noting the emotional weight of leaving the studio after nearly six years of service. “I won’t pretend this isn’t a disappointing way to end this chapter, especially after almost six years,” the employee 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 sentiment underscores a mixture of sadness and gratitude that often accompanies involuntary departures. The layoffs are particularly striking given the public stance of Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has long advocated against job cuts. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell emphasized 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. 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 those assurances, the current economic climate appears to have forced the studio’s hand. The gaming industry has been experiencing a prolonged downturn, with many publishers reporting lower-than-expected sales, tighter budgets, and a slowdown in new releases. This broader contraction has put pressure on even well‑established developers to tighten their belts, often resulting in workforce reductions.
Industry analysts point out that the challenges facing Schell Games are not isolated. The rise of subscription models, shifting consumer preferences toward live‑service titles, and the lingering effects of the pandemic‑induced development crunch have all contributed to a more volatile market.
Smaller studios, in particular, find themselves vulnerable when revenue streams dip, as they lack the financial buffers that larger publishers enjoy. For Schell Games, the layoffs may also reflect strategic realignment. The studio has historically balanced original IP development with contract work for larger brands.
As the market for contract work fluctuates, the company might be recalibrating its focus toward projects with higher guaranteed returns or exploring new partnership models to stabilize cash flow. The response from the remaining staff appears mixed.
Some employees have expressed confidence in the leadership’s ability to navigate the downturn, citing Schell’s reputation for innovative design and a strong company culture. Others, however, worry about the morale impact and the potential for further reductions if revenue does not rebound quickly.
GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for comment on the situation, but as of this writing no official statement beyond the employee posts has been released. The studio’s future direction remains uncertain, but the current episode serves as a reminder that even companies with a clear ethical stance on employment security can be forced to make difficult decisions when external economic pressures mount. In the meantime, the affected employees are likely to seek new opportunities within the vibrant indie and mid‑tier development community, where their experience with narrative‑driven games, immersive VR experiences, and high‑quality production values will be highly valued.
The broader industry will be watching how Schell Games restructures its teams and whether it can maintain its creative output while adapting to the new fiscal realities. Overall, the episode highlights a broader trend: as the gaming sector continues to evolve, studios of all sizes must balance creative ambition with sustainable business practices, often making tough choices that affect the people who bring those games to life.