New Open-World Crime Game on PS5 Launches to 4/5 Positive Reviews

Newly released open-world crime simulation game Samson has launched to very positive reviews on PlayStation 5 after a rough start on Steam. Samson is developed by Liquid Swords, a studio founded by Christofer Sundberg, the former head of Avalanche Studios and one of the original creators of the Just Cause series.

Samson has been an anticipated PS5 game since its announcement, with many comparing it to a budget GTA 6 alternative and praising developer Liquid Swords’ ambition. However, its rocky PC launch and negative Steam reviews disappointed some console players. The developers promised to continue polishing Samson, and that effort now appears to be paying off, as the PlayStation 5 version has received positive user reviews.

Samson’s PS5 Release Seems Like the Start of a Redemption Arc

On September 29, roughly a week after Samson‘s PS5 launch, the game has an average user review score of 4 out of 5 from more than 1,100 ratings. Many PS5 users appear to have enjoyed the game, and while some still report performance issues, they have been more forgiving towards it. That is a significant achievement for developer Liquid Swords, which is still dealing with Samson‘s mixed reviews on Steam.

There seem to be several reasons why Samson‘s console release has been more successful than its PC launch. For one, the developer used the time between the two releases to polish the game and address game-breaking issues. Additionally, Liquid Swords priced Samson at $24.99 USD, seemingly lowering the barrier to entry for players compared to other open-world PS5 games and making them more willing to give it a chance.

Samson’s Combat Has Been Improved with the PS5 Release

Along with several quality-of-life improvements, Samson‘s console launch introduces a major change to its combat. The game features heavily melee-oriented, brawl-style fist fights seen in games like Yakuza, but players have criticized its lack of clear cues for switching between targets or parrying when surrounded by multiple enemies. With the console release, Samson now uses a new effect that briefly makes nearby enemies glow yellow or red, giving players a clear warning when they are about to launch a parryable attack. Samson has also been enhanced for the PS5 Pro, giving users a higher visual quality compared to the PlayStation 5.

The developer has shown that it does not want Samson to become another highly anticipated game that fades into obscurity after a disappointing launch. Samson has received multiple major updates since its initial PC release in April, and it appears Liquid Swords will continue supporting the game now that it is also available on consoles. It remains to be seen how Samson will develop in the coming months and whether it can restore its reputation across all platforms in the same way games like Cyberpunk 2077 did.

Released

April 8, 2026

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence

Developer(s)

Liquid Swords

Publisher(s)

Liquid Swords

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