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 been forced to reduce its workforce. The news surfaced after a series of LinkedIn updates from current employees indicated that the company began cutting positions last Friday.
The initial hint came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who posted that Schell Games experienced its first ever round of layoffs. He clarified that he himself was not among those let go and emphasized that the reductions were not tied to any personal performance issues. "This isn’t a result of any individual’s actions. Our industry is currently bleeding heavily," he wrote, underscoring the broader market turmoil that has been affecting game developers across the board.
Further confirmation arrived from Dwayne Waite Jr., the studio’s marketing director, who disclosed that the marketing department was among those impacted. He went on to name four colleagues who were directly affected by the cuts.
Adding to the list, the senior public‑relations manager shared additional names from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams, painting a picture of a cross‑departmental downsizing effort. From the information gathered in these posts, it appears that approximately fourteen employees have been let go. Schell Games’ LinkedIn profile lists the company’s size as ranging between 51 and 200 staff members, meaning the layoffs represent a noticeable, though not catastrophic, percentage of the overall workforce.
One of the affected employees, the senior public‑relations manager, expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride in a heartfelt message. "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 cuts is particularly striking given the public stance of Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has long spoken out against job reductions. 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 staff even during lean periods, a promise that now appears to have been tested by the current market environment. The gaming industry has been experiencing a significant downturn, with many publishers and developers reporting revenue shortfalls, delayed releases, and shrinking consumer spending.
This macro‑economic pressure has forced numerous studios to reassess budgets, often resulting in workforce reductions, studio closures, or project cancellations. For Schell Games, the decision to lay off staff likely reflects a combination of factors: a dip in revenue from recent titles, the high cost of developing immersive experiences, and the broader uncertainty that has plagued the sector since the pandemic’s end. While the company has a reputation for creating high‑quality, narrative‑driven games that blend physical interaction with digital storytelling, such projects can be resource‑intensive and may not always generate the immediate returns needed to sustain a large team. Industry analysts note that even studios with strong brand recognition are not immune to these pressures.
The shift toward live‑service models, subscription services, and the rising cost of talent acquisition have all contributed to a more competitive landscape. In this context, Schell Games’ layoffs can be seen as a strategic move to align its cost structure with current financial realities, albeit one that runs counter to its founder’s earlier public assurances.
The response from the broader gaming community has been one of empathy and concern. Many fans of the I Expect You to Die series have taken to social media to express support for the departing employees, sharing memories of the games they love and offering words of encouragement. Colleagues from other studios have also voiced solidarity, highlighting the human impact of these corporate decisions. As of now, GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the layoffs and to seek clarification on how the company plans to navigate the ongoing industry challenges.
No response has been received at the time of writing. Looking ahead, the future of Schell Games remains uncertain but not necessarily bleak. The studio’s portfolio of innovative titles and its reputation for creative excellence could position it to rebound once market conditions improve.
However, the recent cuts serve as a stark reminder that even well‑established developers must remain agile and financially disciplined in an industry where volatility is the norm. For the employees who have been let go, the transition may involve seeking new opportunities within the gaming sector or leveraging their experience to explore roles in related fields such as augmented reality, virtual reality, or interactive media production.
The skill sets honed at Schell Games—ranging from narrative design and 3D modeling to user experience research—are highly transferable and in demand across a variety of tech‑focused companies. In summary, Schell Games’ recent layoffs reflect a broader trend of contraction within the gaming industry, driven by economic headwinds and shifting consumer habits. While the decision appears to conflict with the founder’s earlier commitment to job security, it underscores the difficult choices many studios must make to stay viable.
The affected staff, the remaining team, and the company’s loyal fan base will all be watching closely to see how Schell Games adapts and whether it can emerge stronger from this challenging period.