Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the viral hit Among Us and for the critically acclaimed I Expect You to Die franchise, has recently been forced to reduce its workforce. The news emerged after a series of LinkedIn updates from current and former employees indicated that the company began cutting staff as early as last Friday. The information was first highlighted in a piece by Game Developer, which cited multiple posts from Schell Games personnel.
One of the most striking messages came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who wrote, “Schell Games had their first ever layoffs today,” noting that he himself was not among those let go. He added a candid explanation, stating, “This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do. Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging.” The impact of the reductions was further confirmed by marketing director Dwayne Waite Jr., who disclosed that the marketing department was directly affected and even listed four individuals who were part of the cut. In addition, the studio’s senior public relations manager shared additional names from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams, painting a broader picture of the layoffs across multiple disciplines.
Based on the collected posts, it appears that roughly fourteen employees have been impacted. This figure is notable when compared with Schell Games’ publicly listed headcount on LinkedIn, which places the company in the 51‑to‑200 employee range. The public relations manager expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride, writing, “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 long‑standing public position of Schell Games’ founder and CEO, Jesse Schell, who has repeatedly spoken out against job cuts within his organization.
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 these assurances, the recent cuts suggest that external pressures have become too great to ignore. The broader video‑game industry has been experiencing a downturn, with numerous publishers and developers announcing similar workforce reductions over the past year. Factors such as rising development costs, shifting consumer preferences, and macro‑economic uncertainty have contributed to a climate where even studios with a strong reputation for employee‑first policies are feeling the squeeze. Schell Games’ situation reflects a larger trend in which mid‑size studios, often caught between the agility of indie developers and the resource demands of large publishers, must navigate volatile revenue streams while trying to retain talent.
The company’s portfolio, which includes both original intellectual property and collaborative projects, may have faced revenue shortfalls that forced the leadership to reassess its cost structure. Industry observers note that the timing of the layoffs—coming shortly after the announcement of several high‑profile releases and before the holiday sales period—could indicate a strategic move to streamline operations ahead of a financially critical quarter. By reducing headcount now, Schell Games may be aiming to preserve cash flow and protect the core team that will carry future projects forward. The reaction from the gaming community has been one of empathy and support for the displaced workers.
Many fans of the I Expect You to Die series have taken to social media to thank the outgoing employees for their contributions and to wish them success in their next endeavors. Some former staff members have already begun sharing their next steps, ranging from freelance work in game design to roles at other studios that value their experience. Looking ahead, Jesse Schell has not yet publicly responded to the layoffs, and GamesIndustry.biz has reached out for comment.
The silence leaves room for speculation about how the company plans to balance its commitment to employee stability with the harsh realities of the current market. It remains to be seen whether Schell Games will be able to uphold its earlier statements about protecting jobs or if further reductions may be on the horizon. In summary, Schell Games, a studio celebrated for its innovative approach to interactive entertainment, has undergone its first round of layoffs, affecting approximately fourteen staff members across engineering, marketing, art, design, and visual effects. The cuts come amid a broader industry contraction and appear to contradict the CEO’s previously articulated stance on safeguarding employment.
While the affected employees express both disappointment and gratitude for their tenure, the broader community watches closely to see how the studio will navigate these challenges and what the future holds for its remaining team and upcoming projects.