The ambitious open-world MMORPG Ashes of Creation has abruptly ceased operations, leaving players and developers reeling. The game, which garnered significant attention and funding through a highly successful Kickstarter campaign in 2016, entered early access on Steam in December 2025, but was ultimately removed from the platform in early February 2026.
Ashes of Creation initially captivated gamers with its promise of a dynamic, player-driven world. The project quickly exceeded its funding goals, raising multiple times the required amount within the first 12 hours of its Kickstarter launch. Despite a lengthy development cycle spanning over a decade, the game maintained a dedicated player base, though some expressed concerns about potential pay-to-win mechanics.
Trouble began to surface in late January 2026. On January 22nd, news emerged of impending layoffs. However, the situation escalated rapidly, culminating in the resignation of Steven Sharif, the founder and creative director of Intrepid Studios, on January 30th. Sharif stated he could no longer associate his name with the direction the board of directors was taking the project. The following day, Intrepid Studios effectively collapsed.
The sudden shutdown left employees and players in shock. Reports surfaced of developers learning of the company’s demise mid-shift. Developers have begun to share details of the events leading up to the collapse.
Margaret Krohn, team lead for services, learned of potential layoffs on January 28th and received confirmation that her team was affected on January 29th.
On January 30th, Krohn spoke directly with those impacted, with many expressing a willingness to continue working on the game despite the circumstances. The following day, the entire team was terminated. Speculation arose regarding the reasons for the abrupt closure, as a complete team removal from development is unusual. It was revealed that the company was unwilling to provide severance pay, accrued vacation time, or any form of compensation for the work completed.
“Players: The entire development team worked incredibly hard, putting in countless hours of overtime, and we sincerely wish we could have delivered Ashes of Creation to you. There are no words to express how sorry we are that this journey has ended this way. Please attempt to request a refund; you deserve it,” a post from a developer stated.
Players are now actively pursuing refunds. Many are concerned that investors will retain the funds intended for the developers, and are seeking reimbursement through Steam.
According to reports on Reddit and X, some players have successfully obtained refunds, whereas others have been denied by Steam’s customer support. The general advice is to avoid the automated Steam refund bot and instead attempt to reach a human customer service representative, who are reportedly more likely to approve refund requests. The situation underscores the risks inherent in backing projects during early development, even those with substantial initial funding.
