Schell Games, the development studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the wildly popular party game Among Us and for the critically acclaimed I Expect You To Die series, has reportedly initiated a round of layoffs. The news emerged after several employees posted about the cuts on LinkedIn, a pattern that was later highlighted by Game Developer magazine. The first public indication of the layoffs came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who wrote that the company was conducting its inaugural staff reductions on a Friday. The manager clarified that they themselves were not among those let go, and they added a note of empathy for their colleagues: "This isn’t a result of anything you did or failed to do.
Our sector is currently bleeding heavily, both within the gaming world and beyond." Further confirmation arrived from Dwayne Waite Jr., Schell Games’ marketing director, who identified members of the marketing department as part of the affected group and listed four individuals by name. The studio’s senior public‑relations manager also contributed to the picture by naming several colleagues from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams who were impacted. Compiling the various LinkedIn posts suggests that roughly fourteen employees have been let go. This figure is notable given the company’s own LinkedIn profile, which lists its headcount as ranging between 51 and 200 staff members.
The public‑relations manager, in a reflective comment, expressed disappointment at how the chapter was ending after nearly six years of service, yet also conveyed a sense of pride and gratitude: "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." The layoffs are particularly striking because they run counter to the public position taken by Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, who has long spoken out against cutting jobs. In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell explained his philosophy that financial risk should be separated 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. 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." Despite these statements, the current round of reductions indicates that the studio’s financial reality may have shifted, prompting a reassessment of its earlier commitments. The broader gaming industry has been experiencing a period of contraction, with many mid‑size and independent studios reporting revenue shortfalls, delayed releases, and heightened competition for consumer attention.
This macro‑economic pressure has manifested in a wave of layoffs across the sector, affecting publishers, developers, and support services alike. Analysts point out that the challenges facing Schell Games are not isolated. The pandemic‑driven surge in gaming activity that buoyed many companies in 2020 and 2021 has largely receded, leaving studios to grapple with a more sober market environment. Additionally, rising development costs, especially for high‑quality virtual‑reality experiences and intricate puzzle‑based titles like I Expect You To Die, have put further strain on cash flow.
In response to the layoffs, industry observers have called for greater transparency from studio leadership. They argue that while strategic workforce adjustments can be a necessary tool for long‑term sustainability, clear communication about the underlying financial pressures helps maintain trust among remaining staff and the broader community. Some have also highlighted the importance of providing outplacement support, severance packages, and career transition resources to those who are let go, especially in a field where specialized talent can be difficult to redeploy quickly. For the employees who remain at Schell Games, the future will likely involve a period of re‑organization.
Projects may be re‑scoped, timelines adjusted, and responsibilities redistributed to ensure that ongoing development pipelines stay on track. The studio’s leadership will need to balance the desire to protect jobs with the practical realities of delivering games that meet both creative standards and financial expectations. The situation also raises questions about the feasibility of Schell’s earlier promise that the studio would never sacrifice jobs for profit.
While the sentiment behind that promise resonated with many workers and fans, the volatile nature of the gaming market means that even well‑intentioned policies can be tested when revenue streams falter. Critics suggest that a more nuanced approach—one that includes contingency planning, diversified revenue models, and perhaps a reserve fund for downturns—might better align with the goal of job security. As of now, GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for an official comment on the layoffs and on how the company plans to navigate the current economic headwinds while staying true to its stated values. The industry will be watching closely to see whether Schell Games can chart a sustainable path forward without further erosion of its workforce, and how its experience might inform broader discussions about employment stability in the video‑game sector.