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 recently been forced to cut staff positions. The news emerged after a series of LinkedIn updates from employees indicated that the company began a round of layoffs last Friday, a development first reported by Game Developer magazine. One of the first public statements came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who posted that "Schell Games had their first ever layoffs today." The manager clarified that they themselves were not among those let go, and they added a note of reassurance to their colleagues: "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 broader sense of turmoil affecting not just game developers but many sectors of the economy.
Further confirmation arrived from Dwayne Waite Jr., the studio’s marketing director, who identified that the marketing department was among those impacted and listed four individuals who were directly affected. In addition, the senior public relations manager at Schell Games shared a longer roster of names from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams, painting a picture of a cross‑departmental reduction. By tallying the names mentioned across the various posts, observers estimate that roughly fourteen employees have been laid off.
This figure is noteworthy when placed against the company’s publicly listed headcount, which on its LinkedIn page ranges between 51 and 200 staff members. In other words, the layoffs represent a noticeable percentage of the studio’s workforce, especially for a company that has historically positioned itself as a stable employer within the indie development community. One of the affected employees, the senior public relations manager, expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a heartfelt LinkedIn update. "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." The sentiment captures both the personal impact of job loss and the lingering sense of achievement that can accompany a tenure at a creative studio. The timing of these cuts is particularly striking given the public stance taken by Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, on the subject of layoffs.
In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separates financial risk from the risk to employees. He asserted, "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 remarks suggested a commitment to protecting staff even during periods of fiscal uncertainty, a promise that now appears to be under strain. The current economic climate, characterized by inflationary pressures, reduced consumer spending on entertainment, and a broader contraction within the tech sector, has left many developers scrambling to adjust budgets, delay projects, or, as in this case, reduce headcount. Industry analysts point out that the video‑game market has been experiencing a slowdown after years of rapid growth.
The pandemic-driven surge in gaming activity has receded, and publishers are now more cautious with funding, especially for mid‑tier and indie studios that lack the deep pockets of larger corporations. This macro‑environment creates a perfect storm for companies like Schell Games, which rely on a mix of contract work, original IP development, and collaborations with educational partners. Beyond the immediate impact on the fourteen individuals who lost their positions, the layoffs could have ripple effects throughout the studio’s ongoing projects. Development pipelines often depend on tightly coordinated teams, and the removal of key art, design, or marketing personnel can cause delays, increase workloads for remaining staff, and potentially affect the quality or release schedule of upcoming titles.
For fans of the I Expect You to Die series, for instance, any slowdown could postpone new installments or expansions that were already in the planning stages. Nevertheless, some observers remain cautiously optimistic that Schell Games will navigate this setback without compromising its core values.
The studio has a history of innovative gameplay experiences that blend physical interaction, virtual reality, and narrative depth. Its reputation for delivering high‑quality, immersive experiences could attract new partnerships or investment, helping to stabilize finances and perhaps even reverse the recent trend of staff reductions. In the meantime, the company has not issued an official press release addressing the layoffs, and GamesIndustry.biz’s attempts to obtain comment from Schell Games have so far been unanswered.
The silence leaves room for speculation, but it also reflects a common practice among companies dealing with sensitive personnel matters, where internal communications are often prioritized over public statements. Overall, the situation at Schell Games serves as a microcosm of the broader challenges facing the video‑game industry today.
While creative ambition and a commitment to employee well‑being remain central to many studios’ identities, external economic forces can compel even the most principled leaders to make difficult decisions. As the industry continues to adapt to shifting market dynamics, the experiences of those affected by the layoffs—and the strategies employed by companies to retain talent and sustain development—will likely shape the narrative of resilience and change within the gaming community.