Entire studio shuttered: One of the most ambitious MMOs of recent years collapses two months after launch

Ashes of Creation was once considered one of the most promising MMOs in recent years. Funded through Kickstarter and in development for nearly a decade, the game launched into Early Access on Steam in December 2025. Despite still being in alpha, it was priced at around $50. Now, to the frustration of many players, the MMO has come to an abrupt and unexpected end.

Just two days after releasing updates and outlining a roadmap for future improvements, Ashes of Creation was hit by unexpected news. On January 31, founder and creative director Steven Sharif announced his resignation in a personal Discord message, stating that control of the company had been taken from him and that he could no longer ethically support the board’s decisions. Reports indicate that large parts of the leadership team stepped down shortly afterward. This was followed by mass resignations, alongside claims that employees were no longer being paid. As of February 2, Intrepid Studios is set to largely shut down its operations. The exact reasons behind the collapse remain unclear.

According to Insider Gaming, legal action over unpaid wages may now be looming. Refund demands are also emerging, as players paid nearly $50 for a game still in its alpha stage – one that now appears to have been abandoned. However, a clause in the original Kickstarter campaign rules out refunds, as the game has already launched on Steam. On Reddit, frustration is growing over the project’s sudden end. While Ashes of Creation remains available on Steam for the time being, the studio’s closure makes further development highly unlikely. Given the ongoing costs of server maintenance and support, the game is expected to eventually be removed from the platform. What will ultimately happen to this once-promising MMO remains unclear.