Ashes of Creation Shutdown and the Collapse of Intrepid Studios

Ashes of Creation was one of the most anticipated MMORPGs of the last decade, developed by Intrepid Studios and funded through Kickstarter in 2017. It promised a dynamic, player-driven world built around evolving Node systems, large-scale PvP, deep economic mechanics, and meaningful world reactivity to player choices. Over nearly ten years of development, these ambitions became both the foundation of long-term community patience and the source of rising expectations. In early 2026, the project entered a severe crisis marked by leadership resignation, mass layoffs, and financial instability. While no formal shutdown announcement has been issued, publicly verifiable events indicate that active development and studio operations have effectively ceased. The following sections summarize all confirmed public information regarding the crisis, official statements, comments from founder Steven Sharif, and the current verified status of the project.

Development History, Steam Early Access Reception, and Escalating Pressure

Ashes of Creation originated as a community-funded MMORPG, raising over $3 million during its 2017 Kickstarter campaign, later supplemented by recurring cosmetic sales and monthly supporter packs. Intrepid Studios expanded significantly over time, reportedly growing to more than 250 employees, increasing operational costs and reliance on continued community confidence. Between 2018 and 2024, the project progressed through multiple alpha phases, introducing major systems and world-building elements. However, persistent issues related to performance, combat responsiveness, system completeness, and overall polish resulted in repeated delays.

On December 11, 2025, Intrepid Studios released Ashes of Creation into Steam Early Access. While officially framed as an expanded testing phase, this release functioned as the game’s first exposure to a broad public audience. The Early Access build was widely criticized for instability, long load times, limited gameplay loops, and incomplete core systems. Steam user reviews quickly trended negative, with many players questioning the project’s readiness after nearly a decade of development. Although Early Access titles are expected to be unfinished, public perception shifted from cautious optimism to skepticism regarding long-term viability and roadmap clarity.

Layoffs, WARN Notices, Leadership Resignation, and Operational Collapse

In January 2026, Intrepid Studios confirmed a small round of layoffs affecting nine employees. Founder and Creative Director Steven Sharif addressed these cuts publicly, describing them as targeted adjustments rather than indicators of broader instability. This followed a prior reduction of thirteen employees in 2025, also characterized at the time as routine restructuring within a prolonged development cycle.

On January 31, 2026, Steven Sharif announced his resignation as Creative Director and co-founder. In his public statement, Sharif cited ethical disagreements with the Intrepid Studios Board of Directors, stating that he no longer retained meaningful control over the project’s direction and could not support decisions being made at the board level. His departure removed both the primary creative figurehead and the project’s most visible public representative.

Shortly after Sharif’s resignation, reports confirmed that Intrepid Studios issued WARN Act notices to employees. These notices indicated that the company could no longer guarantee continued employment and that terminations could begin as early as February 2, 2026. Under U.S. labor law, WARN notices are issued when mass layoffs or closures are anticipated, strongly signaling immediate financial distress. Multiple independent reports and employee statements indicate that the vast majority, if not all, studio staff were laid off and that normal studio operations stopped. While Intrepid Studios has not published an explicit statement declaring permanent closure, the combination of WARN notices, leadership resignation, and workforce termination strongly indicates that the studio is no longer functioning in an operational capacity.

Statements from Steven Sharif and Official Communications

In his resignation message, Steven Sharif emphasized that his departure stemmed from ethical and governance concerns rather than a lack of belief in the game’s creative vision. He stated that he could not ethically support decisions being made by the board regarding funding and direction. Following these events, Intrepid Studios’ official communications were minimal and procedural, primarily addressing employee-related matters. As of early February 2026, no comprehensive public statement has been released outlining a recovery plan, transfer of intellectual property, or continuation strategy.

Current Project Status, Backer Obligations, and Possible Outcomes

As of early February 2026, Ashes of Creation remains accessible on Steam in its Early Access state. However, there is no publicly verified evidence of ongoing development activity, including patches, content updates, or active community management. No official announcement has been made regarding server shutdowns, continued support, or long-term maintenance.

No formal refund or compensation process has been announced for Kickstarter backers or Steam purchasers. The legal and financial obligations associated with crowdfunding rewards and Early Access purchases remain unresolved, with no official guidance from Intrepid Studios at this time.

Several theoretical outcomes remain possible: emergency restructuring with new funding, sale or licensing of the intellectual property to another developer, or permanent cancellation of the project. As of now, there is no public evidence confirming restructuring or IP transfer efforts. Given the absence of official communication and the scale of the layoffs, indefinite suspension or cancellation appears to be the most likely outcome unless new, verified information emerges.

Conclusion: Crisis Without Formal Closure

The collapse of Ashes of Creation unfolded through a series of compounding failures rather than a single decisive event: prolonged and costly development, damaging Early Access reception, loss of executive leadership, financial instability signaled by WARN notices, and mass layoffs. While Intrepid Studios has not formally announced a permanent shutdown, the available verified evidence supports the conclusion that active development and studio operations have effectively ceased. Until an official recovery, sale, or continuation plan is publicly confirmed, Ashes of Creation must be regarded as functionally dormant, serving as a cautionary example of the risks inherent in long-term crowdfunded MMORPG development.