Killbug studio Samurai Punk is shutting down

I’ve heard it being said many times and many ways, but this year has been an excellent one for games and an abysmal one for the folks who create them. On that note, Samurai Punk—the studio behind several indie games including Killbug and Screencheat—has announced its closure in a post via Twitter.

In the post, the team celebrates an impressive decade-long run as a studio, and notes that “it’s been an amazing run and we’d like to thank our team past and present; the 9 incredible games we’ve made wouldn’t have been possible without them.” 

In speaking of the team, Samurai Punk has created a Google doc with the information for those affected by this closure. “These incredible folks will now be looking for new roles, so if you have roles available or know of any openings, please contact us or the individuals directly.”

Samurai Punk was established in 2014, and is responsible for Screencheat, as well as The American Dream, Feather, Roombo: First Blood, and Killbug, among others. It is by no means the only studio that has suffered a closure in 2023 — some examples include Dillon’s Rolling Western developer Vanpool, Boomerang X developer Dang!, and the Embracer Group-owned Volition Games, who made Saints Row.

It genuinely hurts me to hear news like this, especially when games like Screencheat somehow manage to fly under my radar all this time. I am hoping with all my heart that these talented creators are able to land on their feet and continue creating for years to come.