In a move that should not surprise too many people who have watched Ashes Of Creation's development over its lifespan, within the last 24 hours we have received the news of the apparent collapse of Intrepid Studios. The team behind the long-awaited MMORPG Ashes of Creation. However it has been announced that all employees have been laid off from Intrepid Studios, and founder Steven Sharif has resigned. But what's the full story behind this sudden implosion, and what does it mean for one of the most hyped MMOs in recent years?
Ashes of Creation has been a beacon of hope for MMO enthusiasts since its Kickstarter launch back in 2017. Promising a dynamic world where player actions shape economies, politics, and even the landscape itself, the game drew in over $3 million from backers initially and continued to build hype through alpha tests and updates. Developed by Intrepid Studios, founded by Sharif who is a former real estate mogul turned game dev with a project aimed to blend sandbox elements with high-fantasy storytelling. It finally hit Steam Early Access in late 2025, but reviews were mixed: praised for its ambitious node system and player-driven content, yet criticized for bugs, performance issues, and a steep learning curve. Still, it represented a fresh take in a genre dominated by aging giants like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV.
The trouble, it seems, started brewing behind the scenes. According to Sharif's own statement on the game's official Discord server, he lost control of the company to the board, leading to his resignation in protest. In a message dated January 31st, 2026, Sharif explained that he disagreed with the board's decisions, which prompted a mass exodus of the leadership team and subsequent layoffs. "I have lost control of the company and resigned as a result of board actions I did not agree with," he wrote, as reported by multiple outlets. The board then issued a WARN Act notice, effectively laying off the entire staff without their final paychecks due to the company's dire financial straits. This came just 52 days after the Early Access launch, leaving players and backers stunned.
Fan reactions on X have been a mix of shock, anger, and cynicism. One user, stated what we all are feeling, "Whoever would’ve guessed that the scam game was a scam?" echoing long-standing skepticism about the project's viability. Others pointed to red flags, like previous smaller layoffs in January 2026, where nine employees were let go amid "targeted team adjustments." It has also been noted that Sharif might essentially be the board himself, raising questions about internal dynamics: "On reddit they say the board of director is only Steven. I feel something is fishy here." One user commented.
This isn't the first hiccup for Ashes of Creation. Over its decade long development, the game faced delays, a controversial battle royale spin-off in 2018, and accusations of being vaporware. Yet, Sharif's passion kept the community engaged through monthly streams and transparency reports. Now, with the studio gutted, the game's servers remain online for now but its future is in limbo. Will another publisher pick it up? Or is this the end of Verra, the game's fictional world?
Industry watchers see this as part of a larger pattern in gaming. The post-pandemic slump has led to widespread layoffs across studios big and small, from Bungie to smaller indies. Ashes of Creation's case highlights the risks of crowdfunded projects: backers poured in millions, but without ironclad protections, they're left holding the bag. Which once again brings us to the lesson of, never pre-order and wait for studios to actually deliver on their promises or you will get burnt every time. There are Reddit threads are ablaze with refund demands and theories, some speculating that investor pressures possibly tied to unmet milestones forced the board's hand.
For players invested in the game both literally and figuratively this is a gut punch. The community on Discord and Reddit is mourning what could have been, with some holding out hope for a revival. But with no official word from the board beyond the layoff notice, optimism is fading fast. Sharif's resignation message ended on a somber note, thanking the team and community, but it feels like a nice scape goat for a rug pull with all the corporate talk.
As the dust settles, the MMO landscape looks a little bleaker and grim for future players. Ashes of Creation promised innovation in a stale genre, but internal conflicts have reduced it to, well, ashes. Keep an eye on official channels for any updates though at this point, silence might speak loudest. In the meantime, veterans might just have to play Deadman Mode in OSRS or Classic WOW while wondering if the next big MMO will fare any better than the old tried and true products.