Schell Games, the development 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 confirmed that it is cutting staff. The news emerged after several employees posted about the layoffs on LinkedIn, prompting a broader report from Game Developer. The first public indication came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who wrote that the company had carried out its inaugural round of layoffs on a Friday. The manager emphasized that the decision was not tied to any personal performance issues, stating, "This isn’t a result of any individual actions.
Our industry (and beyond) right now is bleeding heavily." Further confirmation arrived from Dwayne Waite Jr., the marketing director at Schell Games, who disclosed that the marketing department was among those affected. He listed four colleagues who were let go and noted that the cuts extended beyond marketing into the art, design, and visual effects teams. A senior public‑relations manager also shared additional names from those departments, painting a picture of a company-wide reduction. Based on the collective LinkedIn posts, the consensus is that roughly fourteen employees have been impacted.
Schell Games’ own LinkedIn profile lists the studio’s headcount as ranging from 51 to 200 employees, meaning the layoffs represent a noticeable, though not massive, percentage of the workforce. One of the affected public‑relations staff members 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 reductions are particularly striking given the public stance taken by Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has long argued against laying off employees. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell explained that the studio separates financial risk from staff risk.
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." Schell’s comments reflect a philosophy that many indie and mid‑size studios have adopted: protect the team even when revenue streams are uncertain.
However, the current economic climate for the video‑game industry has been turbulent. Over the past year, numerous publishers have announced budget cuts, project cancellations, and restructuring efforts as consumer spending patterns shift and development costs continue to rise. This broader industry contraction has been described by insiders as a "hemorrhaging" of talent and resources, a phrase echoed in the engineering manager’s LinkedIn post. Analysts point out that the challenges facing Schell Games are not unique.
The rise of live‑service models, the increasing cost of high‑fidelity production, and the volatility of platform revenue shares have placed pressure on many mid‑tier developers. When a studio’s pipeline includes both original intellectual property and contract work for larger partners, fluctuations in either segment can quickly affect cash flow.
In such an environment, even companies that have previously prioritized job security may find themselves forced to make difficult staffing decisions. The layoffs also raise questions about the future direction of Schell Games. The studio has built a reputation for creating immersive, narrative‑driven experiences that blend physical interaction with digital gameplay. Its portfolio includes educational titles for museums and theme parks, as well as entertainment‑focused games for consoles and mobile devices.
Maintaining that level of creative output often requires a stable, multidisciplinary team, and losing members from marketing, art, and design could impact upcoming projects. Despite the setbacks, there are signs that Schell Games is looking to adapt. In recent months, the studio announced partnerships with several educational institutions and hinted at new VR/AR initiatives that could open alternative revenue streams.
Diversifying into emerging technologies may help mitigate the financial strain that prompted the layoffs, but it will also demand new skill sets and potentially further restructuring as the company aligns its workforce with evolving priorities. The public‑relations manager’s farewell note underscores a common sentiment among departing staff at tech companies: a sense of personal growth and community, even amid disappointment. "I’m grateful for the people I got to build with," the manager wrote, highlighting the collaborative culture that Schell Games has cultivated over its six‑year history.
GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Jesse Schell and other company representatives for comment on the recent reductions. As of now, no official statement beyond the employee posts has been released, leaving industry observers to speculate on how the studio will navigate the next phase of its development roadmap while balancing financial realities with its long‑standing commitment to employee stability. In summary, Schell Games’ first ever layoffs affect an estimated fourteen workers across multiple departments, reflecting broader economic pressures within the gaming sector. While the move appears at odds with the CEO’s previously articulated philosophy of protecting jobs, the company’s leadership may view it as a necessary, albeit painful, step to ensure long‑term viability in a market that is currently experiencing significant turbulence.