Founder of bankrupt Samson studio mulls how to use AI for his next attempt: 'Cutting corners in game development has a habit of coming back to bite you in the a

Christopher Sundberg, founder of the now-bankrupt Liquid Swords, confirmed the studio’s closure six months after Samson’s PC and console releases. He acknowledged that console versions performed better than the PC release but were insufficient to sustain the company. Sundberg admitted market conditions and internal decisions contributed to the failure, while expressing pride in the team’s efforts despite the outcome.

Sundberg revealed plans to launch a new studio, emphasizing lessons learned from Liquid Swords. He stressed the need for sustainable development, including a small, experienced team and low overhead to avoid relying on optimistic sales forecasts. He also expressed cautious interest in using AI for prototyping and repetitive tasks, though not as a cost-saving shortcut.

The studio’s bankruptcy follows reports of unpaid employees for at least two months, though Sweden’s wage guarantee will cover those wages. Sundberg declined to comment on additional compensation beyond the guarantee but expressed hope to work with former colleagues again in the future.

Sundberg criticized the industry’s uncritical embrace of AI, warning against treating it as a universal solution. He argued that AI tools require experienced developers to use effectively and that bold AI-first strategies often overlook practical needs, leading to unexpected costs and inefficiencies.