Ashes of Creation Crumbles Just Weeks After Steam Early Access
The much-watched fantasy MMORPG Ashes of Creation collapsed only 52 days after it opened on Steam Early Access. The move came fast, as several top staff quit in protest and reports surfaced of wide layoffs hitting the remaining team. The communications chief, Margaret Krohn, was among the first to reveal trouble, changing her job status and posting a cryptic note about the end of her time with the project. After years of work since 2016, the studio now faces an uncertain future as the leadership that shaped the vision has dissolved.
Shifting Ground at the Helm
Founder Steven Sharif spoke out via the game’s official Discord, saying he was stepping away from the company he built. He claimed the control of the company had moved away from him, with a Board of Directors pushing actions he could not ethically back. After his departure, many senior leaders followed suit and left as well. Public records show the board had only two members: Sharif and his husband, who served as CFO. This unusual setup fueled strong speculation about the real nature of the internal strife. Soon after the resignations, WARN Act notices appeared, signaling a broad layoff of the development team.
Steam Early Access and the Backlash
Intrepid Studios decided to launch Ashes of Creation on Steam Early Access while the game was still in an Alpha state, a choice that drew fast criticism. Sharif had said the aim was to collect broad feedback, and funding was not an issue. The reception was uneven, with Steam reviews hovering around 51% at launch due to the game’s unfinished state. Player counts also slid from a peak of roughly 31,800 in concurrent players. Kickstarter backers had been promised full refunds if the game never launched, which led some to wonder if the Steam release was meant to honor that promise before the studio faced collapse. The Steam store page currently reflects the game’s status and history, with the link at https://store.steampowered.com/app/4124950/Ashes_of_Creation/.
The Fallout and What Lies Ahead
With its core team gone and the leadership in tatters, the project now faces a murky road forward. The future of Ashes of Creation depends on whether new investors step in, a major reset occurs, or a sale reorganizes ownership. The team behind the technical side of the game has been hit hard, and that disruption will shape any attempt to restart development. Even the choice of tools used in building the game—often tied to a modern engine like Unreal Engine 5—will factor into any plan to revive the project. For now, the scene around MMORPGs watches closely, as a high-profile project struggles to find its footing.
What This Means for Fans and the Industry
The case of Ashes of Creation is a clear reminder that big dreams need steady leadership. When key figures leave and the board’s direction shifts, momentum can fade fast. Fans who backed the project on Kickstarter or watched its progress on Steam may feel locked in a wait-and-see moment. The story also highlights how a game that aims to shape a growing genre can falter if trust and structure crumble at the top. The community will need updates from the studio to know whether a new path will form or if the project will remain on hold for some time.
This drama has echoed across the PC Games and MMORPG world, drawing attention to how early access, big promises, and investor pressure can collide. Whether Ashes of Creation makes a comeback or marks a new kind of lesson for development teams, the conversation around ambitious online worlds continues. The road ahead remains up in the air, and players will be watching every move.
The Steam Early Access period and the rapid shifts inside Intrepid Studios offer a cautionary tale for anyone chasing big online worlds. It shows how fragile momentum can be when leadership shakes, even with strong names attached to the project. For now, the focus is on what comes next and who, if anyone, will steer the project back toward a launch that matches its early hype. The industry will likely measure how this story ends, as a case study in ambition, timing, and the human factor behind a grand MMORPG dream.
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