On January 29, Ashes of Creation maker Intrepid Studios was promising massive updates to the lately launched, long-awaited fantasy Steam MMO. Lower than per week later, the sport has been review-bombed, faraway from Valve’s storefront, and seen all of its builders instantly fired, in line with a brand new publish from the studio’s communications director.
“I waited till right this moment to share this as a result of I wished to make certain I used to be speaking from a spot of readability,” Intrepid Studios head of promoting Margaret Krohn wrote on X on Tuesday. “Intrepid Studios has shut down in a means that I didn’t anticipate. What I can share is what I skilled. On January 28, towards the tip of the workday, I used to be knowledgeable that we’d be shedding 100 builders. I used to be devastated – these are hardworking individuals who had been going to lose their jobs. Nonetheless, I believed it was one thing we may face collectively and discover a path ahead from.”
I waited till right this moment to share this as a result of I wished to make certain I used to be speaking from a spot of readability.
Intrepid Studios has shut down in a means that I didn’t anticipate. What I can share is what I skilled.
On January 28, towards the tip of the workday, I used to be knowledgeable that…
— 𝕸𝖆𝖗𝖌𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖙 𝕶𝖗𝖔𝖍𝖓 🌱💕 (@MargaretKrohn) February 3, 2026
That was the day earlier than an unsigned “director’s letter” was posted to Ashes of Creation‘s gamers promising a February 13 replace on the sport’s roadmap for the primary few months of 2026. However in line with Krohn, the mass firings on the studio had been already shifting ahead. She mentioned she acquired affirmation of which members of her workforce can be laid off by the tip of day on January 29, and the remaining workers started engaged on “methods to maneuver ahead” the next day. However by January 31, it turned clear that nobody on the studio was protected.
“On January 31, we had been all knowledgeable through a complicated e-mail that we’d be laid off, together with a WARN discover,” she wrote. “It’s nonetheless stunning. All the studio gathered to attempt to perceive what had occurred and what it meant for our future. Ultimately, none of us are receiving our last paychecks, the 60 days discover and pay outlined underneath the WARN Act, PTO payouts, or different compensation owed.”
That’s the identical day that Ashes of Creation director Steven Sharif introduced on Discord he was not answerable for the corporate and was resigning in protest. “I could make a restricted assertion in my private capability and never on behalf of the corporate, concerning the scenario,” he wrote on January 31. “Management of the corporate shifted away from me, and the Board started directing actions that I couldn’t ethically agree with or perform. Consequently, I selected to resign in protest moderately than lend my title or authority to choices I couldn’t ethically help.”
That was the primary public point out of the turmoil Intrepid was dealing with and it instantly ricocheted throughout Steam, the place Ashes of Creation entered Early Entry again in December, and Kickstarter, the place backers raised $3.2 million to deliver the MMORPG to market beginning means again in 2017. The sport was rapidly review-bombed on Valve’s storefront with warnings to different gamers to remain away of what quickly would possibly grow to be a useless recreation, whereas backers on Kickstarter demanded refunds over the sport by no means hitting a correct 1.0 launch. It’s since been faraway from sale utterly on Steam.
“What issues most to me now are the individuals – each the gamers and builders,” Krohn wrote right this moment. “To the gamers: the complete growth workforce was working extraordinarily exhausting, pulling lengthy hours, and needs with all our hearts that we may offer you Ashes of Creation. There are not any phrases that totally specific how sorry we’re that this journey ended this fashion. It’s best to pursue a refund, you deserve it. To my colleagues: this workforce is actually a household. The tradition we constructed collectively is one thing I’ve by no means skilled anyplace else. Within the midst of heartbreak and uncertainty, we’ve got come collectively to evaluate resumes, assist with portfolios, share job leads, and help each other emotionally.”
As of now, it’s unclear who stays answerable for Intrepid Studios as an organization, which relies out of San Diego, or what’s going to occur to Ashes of Creation, whose potential for a comeback appears more and more unlikely. Who funded the sport’s growth? How did the studio’s funds instantly get worn out in a single day? And what recourse do builders who labored on it should be made complete? Kotaku tried reaching out to the studio’s e-mail handle however we haven’t heard again. Sharif declined to remark earlier than clearing it together with his authorized counsel.
Once we reached out to Krohn she responded with the next: “I made my assertion. I can’t actually discuss greater than that, I believe I may need even mentioned an excessive amount of as is, however individuals have to know what occurred.”
