Ethan Crossfield 
Liquid Swords, the Stockholm studio behind open-world crime game Samson, has been declared bankrupt after employees reportedly went unpaid for months. The immediate concern is the team’s jobs, but the game is not expected to disappear overnight: the bankruptcy estate is seeking a buyer while attempting to keep Samson commercially active.
What happened to Liquid Swords
The Stockholm District Court declared Liquid Swords AB bankrupt on October 12, 2026. Attorney Karl Björlin of Cirio has been appointed trustee for the bankruptcy estate. Rather than filing for insolvency itself, the company was brought before the court following employee action after salaries had reportedly gone unpaid for several months. Around 30 workers are affected, and their employment is ending through the insolvency process. Eligible staff are expected to receive compensation for unpaid wages through Sweden’s state wage-guarantee system.
Why it matters for Samson
Samson is Liquid Swords’ first released game and a project years in the making. Founded in 2020 by Avalanche Studios co-founder Christofer Sundberg, the studio launched the game on PC in April 2026 before bringing it to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in September. The estate is now marketing the studio’s business and assets, chiefly the Samson intellectual property, with indicative bids due October 21. Keeping the game operating during that process is intended to preserve its value, meaning support and patches may continue where possible. That matters after technical issues affected the game’s launch.
What to watch next
A sale remains uncertain. NetEase holds security over some important Samson assets, which could complicate any transfer of control unless related claims are resolved. The company has not indicated that it plans to acquire the property itself. Samson’s commercial performance also adds context to the bankruptcy: preliminary estate figures put gross unit sales across Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox at roughly 151,900 by October 14. Liquid Swords had already cut about half its workforce in 2025, scaling back what had initially been planned as a larger AAA project. Samson had become the studio’s decisive release, but it did not prevent the current collapse.
What players should take away
- Samson is not being shut down immediately during the asset-sale process.
- Updates and support may continue for now, but their long-term future depends on a sale.
- The game’s intellectual property is being offered to potential buyers.
- NetEase-linked asset claims could make a deal more difficult to complete.
- Roughly 30 Liquid Swords employees are affected by the bankruptcy.
Key figures from the Liquid Swords bankruptcy
| Metric | Figure | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Samson gross unit sales | Approximately 151,900 | Across Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox by October 14, 2026 |
| Samson net revenue | About SEK 24.1 million | Preliminary figure reported by the bankruptcy estate |
| Liquid Swords loss | About SEK 39.3 million | Recorded for 2024 |
| Affected employees | Roughly 30 | Employment ends through the insolvency process |
Expert View
The immediate priority is protecting the people who built Samson, not treating continued patches as a sign that the studio is safe. Maintaining the game during a sale is sensible for players and for the IP’s value, but support is only a temporary bridge until a buyer commits to Samson’s future.
