The studio behind Just Cause is laying off some employees
Liquid Swords is a Swedish studio founded in 2020 by Avalanche Studios co-founder and Just Cause creator Christofer Sundberg. Recently, the studio has begun layoffs.
Concept art of Liquid Swords' game
In an official statement, Liquid Swords announced that the studio made the decision to proceed with layoffs amid challenges arising from a crisis in the gaming industry.
“I promised our employees and shareholders to create a studio that would change perceptions of game development—a studio with a small team of experts and a sustainable work model. Although we have achieved a lot, changing market conditions have prevented us from succeeding within the set timeframe. As a result, we are forced to part with talented people who played a crucial role in our formation," commented Sundberg on the layoffs.
Sundberg added that Liquid Swords would continue to work on its debut project. The studio is developing a story-driven AAA open-world game on Unreal Engine 5.
The number of people leaving Liquid Swords is unspecified. In the FAQ section on the studio's website, it is noted that Liquid Swords planned to hire 100 employees by 2024, but it is unknown if this goal was achieved.
Gaming companies have been conducting mass layoffs for over two years. According to approximate estimates, 10.5 thousand gaming specialists lost their jobs in 2023, and by 2024, layoffs affected at least another 15 thousand developers.