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Swedish studio Liquid Swords has officially filed for bankruptcy following the release of its debut title, Samson. The Stockholm District Court issued the bankruptcy order on October 12th, impacting nearly 30 employees who had reportedly gone at least two months without receiving pay.
Samson, an open-world beat 'em up focused on debt repayment and vehicle combat, struggled with technical stability at launch. While the game introduced unique mechanics like a daily debt cycle that added tension to missions, reviewers noted that frequent bugs—such as failing missions due to technical errors or key NPCs failing to spawn—undermined the experience.
Despite the financial instability and the fact that half the development team was laid off during production, the studio continued to support the game. Recent updates have addressed combat responsiveness, added multiple saves, and included fixes for soft-locks, demonstrating a commitment to the project even while staff faced significant salary arrears.
The Swedish state is currently stepping in to cover unpaid salaries for the affected staff. Meanwhile, the court-appointed administrator for the bankruptcy filing is reportedly seeking a potential buyer for the studio, leaving the future of the developer and its only title uncertain.
