Samson studio Liquid Swords files for bankruptcy, staff reportedly unpaid for two months
Swedish developer Liquid Swords has filed for bankruptcy, approximately one month after launching its open-world crime game Samson: A Tyndalston Story on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The studio’s administrator, Swedish law firm Cirio, published a preliminary bidding document for potential buyers following the filing.
The closure affects all 27 employees, who reportedly went unpaid for two months prior to the bankruptcy petition. According to reports, employees filed for bankruptcy after the wage shortage, with their salaries to be covered by the Swedish state wage guarantee program.
Samson initially launched on PC in April 2026. The console editions, which arrived in September 2026, performed significantly better than the PC release, according to founder Christofer Sundberg. However, the improved sales were insufficient to save the studio from closure. “It wasn’t enough to save the studio,” Sundberg acknowledged, citing what the studio had characterized as an “acute liquidity shortage.”
Despite the studio’s shutdown, Sundberg expressed optimism about the game’s future. In a statement posted on social media, he confirmed the closure but noted that the team is “discussing continued support for Samson.” He added, “I’m proud of our team and what we built. We make mistakes, we learn, we rise, we move on. I never give up. More soon.”
Sources
- Samson studio Liquid Swords files for bankruptcy, staff reportedly unpaid for two months
- Open-World Crime Game Samson Did Better On Console But Not Enough To Save Its Developer From Shutting Down
- Samson Developer Issues Statement As Studio Is Forced To Close
- Samson Dev Confirms Closure, Open World’s Console Sales Were ‘Far Better’ Than on PC
- Samson Dev Goes Bankrupt Just a Month After Gritty Open World Game’s Arrival on PS5