Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the hit party game Among Us and for the critically acclaimed I Expect You to Die franchise, has reportedly been forced to trim its workforce. The news emerged after several employees posted about the cuts on LinkedIn, prompting coverage by Game Developer and other industry outlets.
According to the report, the first round of layoffs began on a Friday and was confirmed by multiple staff members across different departments. The studio’s principal engineering manager was among the first to speak out, noting that the layoffs were unprecedented for the company. "Schell Games had their first ever layoffs today," the manager wrote, emphasizing that they themselves were not among those let go.
"This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do. Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging." The marketing division also felt the impact. Dwayne Waite Jr., the studio’s marketing director, posted a message confirming that members of his team were among the affected employees. He went on to name four individuals who were directly impacted.
In a separate LinkedIn update, the senior public relations manager shared additional names from the art, design, and visual‑effects groups, painting a broader picture of the cuts across the creative side of the business. Based on the publicly shared information, it appears that roughly fourteen employees have been let go. This figure is notable given that Schell Games lists its total headcount as falling somewhere between 51 and 200 on its corporate LinkedIn page. Even at the lower end of that range, a reduction of fourteen staff members represents a significant percentage of the studio’s workforce.
One of the departing employees, the senior public relations manager, expressed a mix of disappointment and pride in a heartfelt farewell note. "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 layoffs are particularly striking because they come at a time when Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, has publicly championed a philosophy of protecting jobs.
In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a clear stance that the studio would separate financial risk from employment risk. "At the heart of it all is choosing not to put jobs at risk," he said.
"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 that the company has historically preferred to absorb financial setbacks rather than resort to layoffs, a policy that resonated with many employees and industry observers. However, the current wave of cuts indicates that the broader market pressures may have become too great for the studio to sustain that approach.
The gaming industry as a whole has been experiencing a period of volatility, with many developers citing declining revenue, rising production costs, and shifting consumer habits as drivers of financial strain. The timing of the layoffs also aligns with a larger trend of job reductions across the sector.
Over the past year, several mid‑size and large studios have announced similar workforce reductions, citing everything from project cancellations to macro‑economic headwinds. Analysts point to a post‑pandemic correction in the market, where the surge in game development during the height of lockdowns has given way to more cautious budgeting and tighter profit margins. For Schell Games, the decision to cut staff may reflect a need to reallocate resources toward core projects or to preserve cash flow for upcoming releases. The studio’s portfolio includes both original intellectual property and collaborations with external partners, and balancing those commitments can be a delicate act, especially when external funding or publisher support becomes uncertain.
The impact of the layoffs on the remaining team members is also a point of concern. When a company reduces its headcount, the workload for those who stay often increases, and morale can suffer.
In his LinkedIn posts, the engineering manager emphasized that the cuts were not a reflection of individual performance, but rather a symptom of a broader industry downturn. This messaging is intended to mitigate feelings of personal failure among those who remain, but the reality of a leaner staff can still create challenges in meeting project deadlines and maintaining the studio’s creative standards. Schell Games has not issued an official press release addressing the situation, and GamesIndustry.biz notes that they have reached out for comment but have not yet received a response.
The lack of a formal statement leaves room for speculation about the company’s long‑term strategy and whether additional rounds of reductions could be on the horizon. In summary, Schell Games, a studio celebrated for its innovative gameplay experiences and immersive storytelling, is navigating a difficult period marked by industry‑wide financial stress. Despite a longstanding public commitment to safeguarding employee jobs, the studio announced its first layoffs, affecting roughly fourteen individuals across engineering, marketing, art, design, and visual effects. The affected employees have expressed both sadness at the abrupt ending of their tenure and pride in their contributions.
The broader context suggests that even companies with a philosophy of job protection are not immune to the economic realities confronting the gaming sector today. The situation remains fluid, and observers will be watching closely for any further developments or official commentary from the studio’s leadership.