Schell Games, the studio best known for co‑creating the three‑dimensional version of the hit party game Among Us and for developing the critically acclaimed I Expect You to Die series, has reportedly begun a round of layoffs that has affected a number of its employees. The information first surfaced in a story published by Game Developer, which cited a series of LinkedIn updates posted by staff members at the company.
Those updates indicated that the reduction in force started on a Friday and has continued into the weekend, catching many workers off guard. One of the first public notes came from the studio’s principal engineering manager, who wrote that the company had experienced “its first ever layoffs today.” The manager made it clear that they themselves had not been dismissed, and they added a note of reassurance for 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 sentiment that the cuts are being driven by macro‑economic pressures rather than individual performance.
The news was corroborated by Dwayne Waite Jr., Schell Games’ marketing director, who confirmed that the marketing department was among those impacted. He went on to list four specific individuals who were let go, providing a concrete sense of the human cost. In addition, the studio’s senior public‑relations manager shared further details, naming several people from the art, design, and visual‑effects teams who were also affected.
When all of the LinkedIn posts are tallied together, it appears that roughly fourteen employees have been impacted by the downsizing. This figure is notable given that Schell Games’ own LinkedIn profile lists the studio’s headcount as falling somewhere between 51 and 200 staff members. Whether the layoffs represent a small percentage of the total workforce or a larger proportion depends on the exact size of the team at the time of the cuts.
One of the affected employees, the senior public‑relations manager, posted a reflective message that captured both disappointment and pride. “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 highlights a common theme in tech and gaming layoffs: employees often leave with a mixture of sadness over the abrupt ending and gratitude for the experiences and relationships built during their tenure. The layoffs are particularly striking because they come after a series of public statements by Schell Games’ founder and chief executive officer, Jesse Schell, in which he has consistently expressed a philosophy that places employee job security above financial risk.
In a 2024 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schell articulated a clear stance: the studio separates financial risk from the risk to its staff. 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.” That philosophy made the news of the layoffs all the more surprising to observers and to the staff themselves. It raises questions about whether the economic environment has shifted so dramatically that even studios with a strong commitment to protecting jobs are forced to reconsider their approach. The gaming industry, like many other creative sectors, has been dealing with a confluence of challenges over the past few years: rising development costs, a slowdown in consumer spending, and a broader “bleeding” of revenue across the sector as players become more selective about where they allocate their entertainment budgets.
Industry analysts have noted that the past two years have seen a wave of layoffs across game development studios of all sizes, from indie houses to major publishers. The underlying drivers often include delayed or canceled projects, reduced funding from investors, and the lingering effects of the pandemic‑induced boom that has since tapered off. In this context, Schell Games’ decision can be seen as part of a larger trend where even studios that have previously championed employee stability must adapt to survive.
The response from the broader gaming community has been one of empathy and support for the affected employees. Social media platforms have seen former colleagues and fans sharing messages of encouragement, offering to help with networking, and highlighting the contributions these individuals made to beloved titles.
Some former staff members have also begun to explore freelance opportunities, leveraging the experience they gained at Schell Games to secure contract work in areas such as virtual‑reality design, narrative development, and user‑experience consulting. Looking ahead, the future of Schell Games remains uncertain but not necessarily bleak. The studio continues to own a portfolio of intellectual property that has proven popular with audiences, and its expertise in immersive experiences—particularly in virtual reality—still positions it as a valuable player in a niche market.
Whether the company will be able to weather the current financial storm without further reductions will likely depend on its ability to secure new publishing deals, diversify its revenue streams, and perhaps explore partnerships that can provide a more stable cash flow. GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Schell Games for comment on the layoffs, seeking clarification on the decision‑making process and how it aligns with the company’s previously stated commitment to job security. As of now, no official response has been published, leaving the industry to speculate on the internal calculations that led to this outcome.
In summary, Schell Games—once celebrated for its commitment to protecting its workforce—has announced its first round of layoffs, affecting roughly fourteen employees across engineering, marketing, art, design, and visual effects. The cuts come amid a broader industry downturn that has forced many studios to make difficult personnel decisions. While the move appears to contradict the public stance of CEO Jesse Schell, it also reflects the harsh reality that even companies with strong ethical guidelines must sometimes adapt to survive in a volatile market. The affected staff members have expressed a mixture of disappointment and pride, and the wider gaming community has rallied to offer support and solidarity as they transition to the next phase of their careers.