Samson studio Liquid Swords files for bankruptcy

Liquid Swords has filed for bankruptcy, closing the Swedish studio behind Samson less than six months after its debut game launched.

All 27 employees are being dismissed as part of the process, according to Games Industry.biz. Staff had gone two months without pay before petitioning for the bankruptcy themselves. Those unpaid salaries will be covered by the Swedish state wage guarantee, a public safety net that pays workers owed money by an insolvent employer.

Samson launched in April. By October 14, 2026, it had sold 151,900 copies and generated SEK 24.1 million ($2.4 million) in revenue. Founder Christofer Sundberg said the game did far better on consoles, but added in a post on X that it was not enough to save the studio.

Sundberg founded Liquid Swords in 2020. Chinese games and technology group NetEase bought an undisclosed minority stake in 2022. Sundberg said the company faced an acute shortage of cash before the filing, and he did not think it could be resolved.

Swedish law firm Cirio is acting as administrator, the appointed party that manages the bankruptcy and any sale. It has published a preliminary bidding document for potential buyers. The assets on offer are the intellectual property rights — the legal ownership — to Samson and other intellectual property, plus related development assets, equipment and inventory.

The bidding window closes on October 21, 2026. Employee contracts do not transfer with the business. Any buyer that wants to keep the team would need to sign new contracts with each worker.

For players, this means Samson’s future is uncertain. Sundberg said continued support for the game is under discussion. A sale could keep it alive under a new owner. It was not enough to keep Liquid Swords alive.