GDC 2025 Session Viewer
Stories of Studio Stability Roundtable Day 1
Jesse Schell (CEO, Schell Games LLC)
Pass Type: All Access Pass, Core Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Business & Marketing
Format: Roundtable
Vault Recording: TBD
Audience Level: All
Layoffs are the bane of the game industry. And while some studios lay off developers frequently, some studios have managed to avoid that painful and drastic step. How do they do it? Is it just luck, or is there more to it than that? In this roundtable, developers who have been on teams that have found ways to avoid layoffs are invited to tell the stories of how they managed this rare feat. The roundtable will be led by Jesse Schell, CEO of Schell Games, a team of over 150 developers that has had zero layoffs in its 22 year history. Abstract griping about the game industry is strictly forbidden at this session – real world tales that show stability is possible are the coin of the realm here.
Takeaway
Attendees will takeaway real-world stories of how some game studios have stayed stable during tumultuous times.
Intended Audience
This roundtable is for anyone who would like to help their studio stay stable and avoid layoffs. Studio leaders and those aspiring to be studio leaders will benefit the most.
