Report: Among Us 3D co-dev Schell Games lays off staff

What the report says

Diego Argüello,Contributing Editor, News,GameDeveloper.comAugust 25, 20262 Min ReadPhotograph via Schell GamesSchell Games, co-developer of Among Us 3D and maker of the I Expect You to Die series, has reportedly laid off staff.The report is based on multiple LinkedIn posts by employees at the studio, which started late last week. "Schell Games had their first ever layoffs today. I was not let go but my heart goes out to my former coworkers who were," wrote the principal engineering manager. "This has happened not because of anything you did or did not do.

Our industry (and beyond) right now is hemorrhaging. I'm sorry to not have gotten to work with you longer."Marketing director Dwayne Waite Jr echoed the claim that the reported layoffs took place on Friday, while also adding that the job cuts affected the marketing team. The director then shared the names of four employees.Included in the list, the senior public relations manager wrote about the reported layoffs and shared more names. Along with people from marketing, the manager mentioned workers from the art, design, and visual effects departments. Most of them have August 2026 as the end date of their work experience at Schell Games.Based on the latter post, around 14 people appear to be affected by the layoffs."I won't pretend this isn't a disappointing way to end this chapter, especially after almost 6 years," the manager said.

"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."Schell Games CEO and founder Jesse Schell has spoken at length over the years about how to run a studio without laying off people. In 2024, he told GamesIndustry.Biz that when somebody from a team leaves, there isn't just loss of talent, but also of all of the experience that people have built up working with that person. "But when people stay together, they get stronger over time," he told the publication."At the heart of it all is choosing not to put jobs at risk.

Key details

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."Game Developer has contacted Schell Games for clarification on the matter.Top StoriesLayoffs & Studio ClosuresAbout the AuthorDiego ArgüelloContributing Editor, News, GameDeveloper.comDiego Nicolás Argüello is a freelance journalist and critic from Argentina. Video games helped him to learn English, so now he covers them for places like The New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, and more.

He also runs Into the Spine, a site dedicated to fostering and supporting new writers, and co-hosted Turnabout Breakdown, a podcast about the Ace Attorney series. He’s most likely playing a rhythm game as you read this.See more from Diego Argüello