Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the hit party game Among Us and for producing the critically acclaimed I Expect You to Die series, has recently confirmed that it is cutting staff. The news surfaced after a series of LinkedIn updates from employees at the company revealed that the layoffs began on Friday of last week. The first public indication came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who posted that Schell Games experienced its inaugural round of layoffs that day.
He clarified that he himself was not among those whose positions were terminated. In his message, he emphasized that the reductions were not a reflection of individual performance, stating, "This isn’t a result of anything you did or failed to do. Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging." Further confirmation arrived from Dwayne Waite Jr., the studio’s marketing director, who acknowledged that the marketing department was directly impacted.
He went on to name four colleagues who were let go. In addition, the senior public‑relations manager at Schell Games shared a longer list of names, encompassing staff from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams.
Compiling the information from these posts suggests that roughly fourteen employees have been affected by the cuts. According to Schell Games’ own LinkedIn profile, the company’s headcount falls somewhere between 51 and 200 employees, which means the layoffs represent a noticeable percentage of the workforce.
One of the affected employees, the senior public‑relations manager, expressed a bittersweet sentiment in a farewell note. "I won’t pretend this isn’t a disappointing way to end this chapter, especially after almost six years," she 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 timing of these layoffs is particularly striking given the public stance taken by Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has long spoken out against the practice of reducing staff as a cost‑saving measure. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated 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 suggested a commitment to preserving jobs even when a project fails to generate revenue, positioning the studio as an outlier in an industry where layoffs have become increasingly common. The current wave of reductions, however, appears to contradict that earlier pledge, raising questions about the pressures the company is facing.
Industry analysts point to several broader trends that could be influencing Schell Games’ decision. The video‑game sector has experienced a slowdown in investment, with many publishers tightening budgets after a period of aggressive expansion.
Additionally, the lingering effects of the global pandemic have reshaped consumer spending habits, leading to a more cautious approach to funding new titles. For mid‑size studios like Schell Games, which balance original intellectual property with contract work for larger partners, fluctuations in cash flow can quickly translate into difficult staffing decisions.
The layoffs also highlight the precarious nature of employment in creative tech fields, where project‑based work can lead to periods of rapid hiring followed by sudden contractions. While Schell Games has historically emphasized a stable workplace culture, the current environment may have forced the leadership to reevaluate its financial model. In response to the situation, GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for comment, seeking clarification on how the studio reconciles its earlier public statements with the recent workforce reductions. No official response has been published at the time of writing.
The broader community has reacted with empathy and concern. Former employees and industry peers have taken to social media to express support for those affected, praising the studio’s past contributions to innovative game design while acknowledging the harsh reality of the market.
Some have suggested that the laid‑off staff might find opportunities in emerging sectors such as virtual reality, educational technology, or independent game development, where their experience with immersive experiences and narrative-driven gameplay could be highly valuable. Looking ahead, Schell Games faces the challenge of rebuilding morale among its remaining team members while maintaining the quality and creativity that have defined its brand.
The studio’s leadership will need to communicate a clear vision for the future, outlining how they intend to navigate the financial headwinds without compromising the core values that have attracted talent in the first place. In summary, Schell Games, known for its work on Among Us 3D and the I Expect You to Die series, announced its first ever layoffs, affecting an estimated fourteen employees across marketing, art, design, and visual effects. The cuts come despite CEO Jesse Schell’s previously stated commitment to protecting jobs, reflecting broader industry pressures and financial uncertainties.
The situation underscores the volatility of the gaming sector and the difficult decisions studios must sometimes make to stay afloat.