Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the wildly popular party game Among Us and for developing the critically acclaimed I Expect You to Die series, has reportedly begun a round of layoffs affecting several members of its staff. The news first surfaced in a piece published by Game Developer, which referenced a series of LinkedIn updates posted by employees at the company. These posts indicated that the downsizing process started on the Friday prior to the report. One of the most striking messages came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who wrote, "Schell Games had their first ever layoffs today," and clarified that they themselves had not been among those let go.
The engineering manager went on to explain the broader context, stating, "This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do. Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging." The phrasing underscores a sentiment that the cuts are driven by macro‑economic pressures affecting the entire gaming sector, rather than any individual performance issues.
Further confirmation arrived from Dwayne Waite Jr., the studio’s marketing director, who publicly acknowledged that the marketing department was among those impacted. He listed four specific colleagues who were affected, providing a human face to the otherwise abstract numbers. In addition, the senior public‑relations manager at Schell Games shared additional names from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams, suggesting that the reductions spanned multiple disciplines within the company.
When tallying the information from the various LinkedIn posts, industry observers estimate that roughly fourteen employees have been laid off. This figure is noteworthy given the size of Schell Games as listed on its own LinkedIn page, which indicates a workforce ranging from 51 to 200 individuals. Even at the upper end of that range, a reduction of fourteen staff members represents a noticeable percentage of the total headcount. One of the affected employees, the senior public‑relations manager, expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a heartfelt comment.
"I won’t pretend this isn’t a disappointing way to end this chapter, especially after almost six years," they 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." This sentiment reflects a common theme in layoff narratives: while the immediate circumstances are painful, many departing staff members choose to focus on the positive experiences and professional growth they gained while at the organization.
The layoffs are particularly striking because they appear to contradict the public stance taken by Schell Games’ founder and CEO, Jesse Schell, who has long positioned himself as an opponent of 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." Schell’s comments suggest a commitment to preserving employment even in the face of uncertain revenue streams. However, the recent layoffs indicate that external pressures may have forced the studio to reassess that commitment. The gaming industry as a whole has been experiencing a period of financial strain, with many companies reporting reduced consumer spending, rising development costs, and heightened competition from both established publishers and emerging indie developers. These macro‑level challenges have led to a wave of restructuring across the sector, and Schell Games appears to be part of that broader trend.
The situation also raises questions about how studios balance the desire to protect jobs with the practical realities of cash flow and investor expectations. While Schell’s philosophy of “not putting jobs at risk” resonates with many employees, the reality of maintaining a payroll, funding ongoing projects, and meeting contractual obligations can create a tension that sometimes results in difficult decisions like layoffs. GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the recent staff reductions, but as of the time of writing, no response has been received. The lack of a direct statement leaves room for speculation about the internal decision‑making process and whether the company plans further restructuring in the near future.
In summary, Schell Games, a studio celebrated for its innovative contributions to both casual and immersive gaming experiences, has announced its first ever layoffs, affecting an estimated fourteen employees across engineering, marketing, art, design, and visual‑effects departments. The cuts come amid a challenging economic environment for the gaming industry and appear to clash with the founder’s previously stated commitment to safeguarding jobs.
Affected staff members have expressed a blend of disappointment and gratitude, reflecting both the personal impact of the layoffs and the professional pride they hold for their work at the company. The broader industry continues to watch closely as studios navigate the delicate balance between financial sustainability and employee security.