Last updated on February 2, 2026
The MMO scene is used to rocky launches, but Ashes of Creation has stumbled into a different kind of turbulence. Not the usual “servers are on fire” drama, but a leadership rupture that if the claims are accurate, triggered resignations at the top, mass layoff warnings and a community backlash that’s now spilling onto Steam itself.
What was supposed to be a long-awaited Early Access milestone has turned into a question mark hanging over the entire project.
From Kickstarter dream to a $50 Early Access reality
Back in 2017, Ashes of Creation rode a wave of enthusiasm with a Kickstarter campaign that pulled in about $3.2 million. The pitch was clear: an “old-school” MMORPG mindset, but built around a living world that reacts to player choices, where civilization isn’t just set dressing, it’s something the community shapes.
After years of anticipation the game finally arrived on Steam in December as a $50 Alpha Early Access title. People tolerate Early Access rough edges when they believe the foundation is stable and the team steering the ship is still there to finish the job.
The resignation that lit the fuse
Steven Sharif reportedly resigned “in protest” at the end of January. In a Discord message, he said the board took the company in a direction he couldn’t ethically support and he refused to keep his name on it.
He didn’t share details, citing legal and governance issues, but claimed that more senior leaders stepped down afterward and that WARN Act layoff notices went out to the remaining team. It’s still unclear how many people are left.
“This chapter has come to a close”
The situation looked even worse once Margaret Krohn, Intrepid Studios’ director of communications, confirmed she had also left. Her tone wasn’t the usual polished “moving on to new opportunities” PR language. It read like someone walking away from something that ended badly and unexpectedly.
When asked whether the game was still being developed at Intrepid, she said she couldn’t confirm it because she no longer worked there, adding that she personally didn’t see how the project could survive if most of the dev team—the “heart and soul” of the product—had been laid off.
That’s not a definitive obituary. But it’s the kind of statement that makes a community assume the worst.
Refund requests and a Steam response that raised eyebrows
Then there’s the refund angle. One Redditor says they asked Steam support for their money back and got a reply suggesting Valve is already looking into the situation.
It’s not an official statement and it’s only as solid as a support ticket screenshot, but it’s still a weird detail you don’t see every day around a normal Early Access launch.
Official messaging vs. the mood on Steam
Meanwhile the “team” posted on the official site with a small to-do list of known issues, signaling business as usual. There’s also a Development Update livestream planned for February 13.
But the bigger story is perception and perception on Steam can be brutal.
This is where Steam does what Steam always does: it turns a messy situation into a verdict.
Plenty of recent reviews aren’t about QoL, they’re straight-up saying “rugpull,” “cancelled,” “cash grab.” You don’t have to agree with them to see the problem: that kind of label spreads fast.
Even if that’s exaggerated, it’s the kind of damage that’s hard to reverse once its done.
What happens next
Right now, Ashes of Creation is stuck in limbo between two realities:
- On one side, there are still official posts, a scheduled livestream, and an implied promise that development continues.
- On the other, there are resignations at the top, reported mass layoff warnings and a player base that’s shifting from “concerned” to “convinced it’s over.”
If you are reading this as a player (or someone who paid $50 for Early Access), two moments will matter most:
- The February 13 development update — not the hype, but the details: who’s leading, what’s the roadmap, and whether the project still has a functioning team behind it.
- Any clearer sign of Steam/Valve’s stance — especially around refunds and how the game is being handled on the storefront, because that can influence confidence fast.
I write for Need4Games, mostly keeping track of what’s coming next. I cover showcases and release updates, put together quick lists when you just want the highlights, and I’ll post Steam deal roundups when the sales get wild. I play a lot of games, so I tend to look at games through that lens. No overthinking, just: what it is, why it’s interesting, and if it’s actually worth your time. I also stream now and then on Twitch.
