Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of Among Us and for the critically acclaimed I Expect You to Die series, has recently confirmed that it is cutting staff positions. The news broke after a series of LinkedIn updates from current employees revealed that the layoff process began on a Friday earlier this week.
The information first surfaced in a report by Game Developer, which cited multiple posts on the professional networking site. One of the most striking messages came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who wrote, "Schell Games experienced its first ever layoffs today." He emphasized that he himself had not been among those let go, underscoring that the reductions were not a reflection of personal performance.
He added a broader perspective, stating, "This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do. Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging." The phrasing captures the sense of a market-wide contraction that is affecting many companies, not just Schell Games. Further confirmation came from the studio’s marketing director, Dwayne Waite Jr., who disclosed that the cuts also impacted the marketing department.
He publicly named four individuals who were affected, providing a human face to the otherwise abstract numbers. In addition, the senior public relations manager at Schell Games shared a list of colleagues from the art, design, and visual effects teams who were also losing their positions. Based on the combined posts, industry observers estimate that roughly fourteen employees have been impacted by the layoffs. This figure is notable when placed against the studio’s own LinkedIn profile, which lists its total headcount as falling somewhere between 51 and 200 staff members.
Even at the lower end of that range, a reduction of fourteen people represents a significant percentage of the workforce. The public relations manager expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a heartfelt LinkedIn comment: "I won’t pretend this isn’t a disappointing way to end this chapter, especially after almost six years.
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." His words illustrate both the personal toll of the layoffs and the lasting sense of achievement that can accompany a tenure at a creative studio. The timing of the cuts is especially striking because it appears to run counter to the long‑standing public position of Schell Games’ founder and CEO, Jesse Schell, who has repeatedly spoken out against job cuts. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a philosophy that separates financial risk from the risk to employees.
He said, "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." He continued, "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." This stance has been a hallmark of the company’s branding, positioning Schell Games as a studio that values its people over short‑term financial pressures. The recent layoffs therefore raise questions about how the broader economic environment may have forced a reassessment of that philosophy. The video‑game industry, like many creative sectors, has been experiencing a slowdown in consumer spending, tighter financing conditions, and a shift toward larger, risk‑averse publishing models. These macro‑economic forces have led to what many analysts describe as a "bleeding" of talent across the sector, with studios of all sizes trimming staff to preserve cash flow.
In addition to the external market pressures, internal factors such as project pipelines, development timelines, and the performance of recent releases can also influence staffing decisions. While Schell Games has enjoyed success with titles like I Expect You to Die, the company may be confronting the reality that future projects require a different allocation of resources, or that anticipated revenue streams have not materialized as quickly as hoped. GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the layoffs, but as of the time of writing, no response has been received.
The lack of an immediate statement leaves room for speculation, but it also underscores the delicate nature of public communications during workforce reductions. For the employees who were let go, the transition is likely to involve navigating severance packages, potential outplacement services, and the emotional impact of leaving a workplace they helped shape. For those remaining at Schell Games, the situation may bring a mixture of relief and heightened responsibility, as the studio works to stabilize its operations and continue delivering high‑quality interactive experiences. Overall, the episode serves as a reminder that even studios with strong leadership philosophies and a track record of creative success are not immune to the broader economic currents that shape the gaming industry.
As the sector continues to evolve, companies will need to balance their commitment to staff with the practical realities of cash flow, market demand, and the ever‑changing expectations of players worldwide.