Ashes of Creation Faces Uncertain Future After Intrepid Studios Collapse

Ashes of Creation, the long running MMORPG project, is facing a possible shutdown just weeks after its early access launch on Steam. The game entered early access in December 2025 after nearly a decade of development, testing, and community support. Now, its future looks highly uncertain following the sudden collapse of its developer, Intrepid Studios.

The situation escalated around January 31 and February 1, 2026. Steven Sharif, the founder, CEO, and creative director of Ashes of Creation, announced his resignation from the company. In his statement, Sharif said he stepped down after losing control of the studio due to decisions made by the board that he could not ethically support. Later reports suggested that Sharif may have been the only board member, raising more questions about how the company was being managed.

Shortly after his resignation, reports began to surface about mass layoffs at Intrepid Studios. Employees started sharing that the entire development team had been laid off. The studio also issued WARN Act notices in the United States, which are typically used when a company plans large scale layoffs or a full shutdown. According to multiple reports, Intrepid Studios had more than 200 employees before the layoffs.

More troubling details emerged as former staff claimed that the company was no longer in a position to process final salaries. This came despite Ashes of Creation reportedly selling between 250,000 and 300,000 copies on Steam at a price of $49.99. These claims have added to the growing concern around the studio’s financial health and internal management.

As of now, Ashes of Creation is still listed and playable on Steam. However, with no active development team remaining, there is no one left to maintain the game, fix issues, or provide updates. This has led many players and industry watchers to believe that a full shutdown of the game’s servers is only a matter of time.

Player reaction has been largely negative and emotional. Many long time supporters feel disappointed, especially those who backed the project years ago through Kickstarter. Players who have played less than two hours on Steam can request refunds under Valve’s standard policy. Those with more playtime are being advised to contact Steam support directly, as the situation is considered unusual.

Concerns have also been raised about Kickstarter backers. The original campaign mentioned refunds if the game did not launch on Steam. While the game technically did launch, it was only available for a few weeks before the studio collapsed. This has sparked discussions around possible legal action and whether those promises were truly fulfilled.

At the time of writing, Intrepid Studios has not released a clear statement about the future of Ashes of Creation or any plans to revive development. There is also no confirmation of a buyer or another studio stepping in. For now, the future of Ashes of Creation remains unclear, and players are waiting for official updates.