Swedish studio Liquid Swords has entered bankruptcy, just six months after releasing its first game, Samson. The Stockholm District Court issued the bankruptcy order on October 12, 2026.
The company was founded in 2020 by Christofer Sundberg, a former co-founder of Avalanche Studios who oversaw development of all four Just Cause games during his time there. Samson was Liquid Swords’ only release, arriving on Steam on April 8, 2026.
A difficult launch for Samson
Samson received a mixed critical response and currently holds a 51 per cent score on Metacritic. Launch problems included numerous bugs and performance issues, prompting Sundberg to publish an apology on Steam.
Sundberg described the game’s launch condition as “unacceptable” and promised patches for its “game-breaking bugs and performance issues”. Liquid Swords subsequently released several updates, including a Steam update on October 8.
The game also reached PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles on September 21, 2026. That console release and the October update indicate the team continued working on the project even as its financial position deteriorated.
Staff reportedly affected by unpaid wages
Swedish reporting from Breakit, cited alongside coverage by Gametalk, says Liquid Swords employed close to 30 developers. Those workers have reportedly not been paid since August 2026.
Cirio Law, the administrator appointed to handle the bankruptcy, has placed Liquid Swords and its assets—including Samson—up for sale. The bidding period closes on October 21, after which the game’s ownership and support plans may become clearer.
What happens to Samson now?
It remains uncertain whether Samson will receive further patches or ongoing support. The developer and Sundberg, who also served as the studio’s COO, had apparently not publicly addressed the bankruptcy order on their social media accounts at the time of reporting.
For players following the project, the outcome will depend on whether a buyer acquires the studio or its game assets. The situation is another reminder that a game’s release does not guarantee long-term development support—an issue worth tracking across the wider arcade and gaming news landscape.
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