Oh dear, half a year after launching Samson, Swedish developer Liquid Swords have filed for bankruptcy

Swedish developer Liquid Swords, known for its open-world beat 'em up Samson released earlier this year, has filed for bankruptcy following poor reception and technical issues. The game, which centers on debt management and combat, faced criticism for bugs and instability despite subsequent patches. Liquid Swords had been operating since 2020 under Christofer Sundberg, a co-founder of Avalanche Studios, known for the Just Cause series.

On October 12, the Stockholm District Court issued a bankruptcy order against Liquid Swords, as reported by Swedish outlet Breakit. The filing affects nearly 30 employees, with the Swedish state stepping in to cover all unpaid salaries after staff went at least two months without pay. Employees themselves petitioned for the bankruptcy filing, highlighting the severity of the financial situation.

The bankruptcy administrator expressed hope of finding a buyer for the studio, though its future remains uncertain. Samson, Liquid Swords' first and only game, received an update this month addressing combat responsiveness and other fixes. Despite financial struggles, the team continued working on the game while unpaid, underscoring their commitment to the project.

Liquid Swords' bankruptcy follows a challenging development period, including layoffs that affected half the team midway through production. Critics noted Samson's unique debt-driven gameplay mechanics but highlighted persistent technical issues, such as failed mission triggers, which undermined the experience despite its ambitious design.