Swedish developer Liquid Swords has filed for bankruptcy, approximately six months after the launch of its debut title, Samson. The Stockholm District Court issued a bankruptcy order on October 12th, affecting nearly 30 employees. The Swedish state is reportedly covering unpaid salaries, as staff had not been paid for at least two months and initiated the bankruptcy petition themselves.
Liquid Swords was established in 2020 and led by Christofer Sundberg, formerly a co-founder of Avalanche Studios, known for the Just Cause series. Samson, described as a GTA-inspired open-world beat 'em up, tasked players with managing debt, driving, and protecting family. The game received a mixed reception, with criticism directed at its numerous bugs. Despite subsequent patches aiming to fix these issues, including an update released this month that addressed combat responsiveness and other fixes, the studio has ultimately succumbed to financial difficulties.
Development of Samson was reportedly challenging, with half the team laid off midway through production. These circumstances likely contributed to the game's structural issues and bugs, which undermined its unique high-stakes debt repayment mechanics. As one critic noted, while the concept of paying for incompetence could heighten tension, technical failures often led to mission failures outside of player control, eroding the game's intended stakes.