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 been forced to cut staff positions. The news emerged after Game Developer magazine cited a series of LinkedIn updates posted by several members of the company’s workforce, indicating that the layoff process began on the Friday preceding the report. In one of the messages, the studio’s principal engineering manager announced, "Schell Games experienced its first ever round of layoffs today," noting that he himself remained employed and was not among those let go. He went on to explain the broader context, saying, "This isn’t a result of any individual’s actions.
Our sector is currently losing ground dramatically, and the impact is being felt across the entire industry and beyond." The tone of the post suggested a mixture of resignation and empathy for colleagues who were being displaced. Further confirmation came from Dwayne Waite Jr., the company’s marketing director, who used his own LinkedIn account to acknowledge that the reductions affected the marketing department as well. He listed four specific colleagues who were part of the cut, providing a personal touch to the otherwise corporate‑sounding announcement.
In addition, the studio’s senior public relations manager contributed her own post, naming several members of the art, design, and visual‑effects teams who were impacted. By tallying the names and comments shared across these posts, observers estimate that roughly fourteen employees have been affected by the layoffs. This figure is notable when contrasted with the studio’s publicly listed size; Schell Games’ LinkedIn profile indicates that the company employs somewhere between fifty‑one and two hundred staff members overall.
Even at the lower end of that range, the loss of fourteen individuals represents a significant percentage of the workforce, especially for a studio that has historically emphasized stability and employee well‑being. The senior public relations manager added a reflective note to her announcement, writing, "I won’t pretend this isn’t a disappointing way to end this chapter, especially after almost six years with the company. Yet, I walk away proud of the contributions I made and grateful for the teammates I had the privilege to build with." Her words capture a common sentiment among those who leave under such circumstances: a blend of pride in past achievements and sorrow over an abrupt departure. The layoffs are particularly striking given the public stance taken by Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has long positioned the studio as an employer that protects its staff from financial volatility.
In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separates the financial risk of a game’s development from the risk to employees’ jobs. He said, "At the heart of it all is choosing not to put jobs at risk. We may gamble cash when we create a game, but we never gamble the livelihoods of our team members. Even if our own intellectual property generates no revenue, we still have a path forward that allows us to keep people employed.
In many ways, it’s a deliberate choice." That statement now appears at odds with the recent developments, prompting industry observers to question whether external pressures—such as a broader market downturn, shifting consumer preferences, or perhaps the lingering effects of the post‑pandemic squeeze on entertainment budgets—have forced the studio to reconsider its previously unyielding commitment to job security. The gaming sector as a whole has been described as "hemorrhaging" in recent months, with numerous mid‑size studios announcing similar rounds of reductions, project cancellations, or even complete closures. While Schell Games has not issued an official press release addressing the layoffs, GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to the company for comment. As of the time of writing, no response has been received, leaving the community to piece together the situation from employee testimonies and publicly available data.
The impact of these layoffs extends beyond the immediate loss of income for the affected employees. For a studio like Schell Games, which prides itself on a collaborative, interdisciplinary culture that blends game design with educational and experiential learning, the departure of artists, designers, and marketing specialists could disrupt ongoing projects and delay future releases. The I Expect You To Die series, for example, has cultivated a dedicated fan base that expects high‑quality puzzles and immersive storytelling. Maintaining that standard may become more challenging with a reduced team.
Moreover, the situation highlights a broader trend within the interactive entertainment industry: even companies that have historically championed employee welfare are not immune to macro‑economic forces. As revenue models evolve—shifting from traditional one‑time purchases to subscription services, live‑ops, and microtransactions—studios must constantly adapt their financial strategies.
When revenue streams falter or investment dries up, cost‑cutting measures such as layoffs often become the most immediate solution. For the individuals who were let go, the path forward may involve leveraging the experience and portfolio they built at Schell Games to secure new roles within the industry or in adjacent fields such as virtual reality, simulation training, or educational technology.
Many of the affected employees have already begun to network on professional platforms, sharing their work and expressing openness to freelance or full‑time opportunities. In summary, Schell Games’ recent staff reductions serve as a sobering reminder that even well‑established studios with a reputation for employee‑centric policies can be forced to make difficult decisions when market conditions turn hostile. While the company’s leadership has yet to publicly address the discrepancy between its stated philosophy and the current reality, the reactions from former staff members underscore a mixture of disappointment, pride, and optimism for future endeavors.
The broader industry continues to watch closely, recognizing that the health of mid‑size developers is a key indicator of the overall resilience of the gaming ecosystem.