The MMORPG gaming community faces uncertainty as Intrepid Studios, developer of the ambitious multiplayer title Ashes of Creation, experiences a rapid studio collapse. The crisis began on January 31, 2026, when creative director and co-founder Steven Sharif resigned from the company citing ethical disagreements with the Board of Directors. This event triggered a chain reaction that has put the future of the decade-long development project in jeopardy.
Ashes of Creation entered early access on Steam on December 11, 2025, after eight years of development cycles, alpha testing, and community fundraising. The $49.99 early access title attracted an estimated 200,000+ owners in its first weeks. However, less than two months after launch, the studio faces complete shutdown following mass layoffs and leadership departures.
Ashes of Creation Studio Crisis Timeline
Track the rapid sequence of events that led to Intrepid Studios’ collapse and the uncertain future of the MMORPG
First Round of Layoffs
Intrepid Studios reduced its workforce by 13 employees from what was reported as a 195-person team. The studio characterized these departures as standard operational adjustments during the development cycle.
Early Access Launch on Steam
After years of alpha testing and crowdfunding campaigns dating back to 2017, Ashes of Creation launched in paid early access. The game attracted an estimated 200,000+ owners in its opening weeks at $49.99 per copy.
Second Layoff Wave
Studio head Steven Sharif confirmed nine additional employees were let go. In a Reddit statement, Sharif described these as targeted team adjustments and referenced the studio’s workforce size as approximately 250 employees.
Sharif Resignation & Leadership Exodus
Creative director Steven Sharif posted his resignation on the official Discord server, stating: “Control of the company shifted away from me, and the Board began directing actions that I could not ethically agree with or carry out.” Communications Director Margaret Krohn and other senior leaders resigned shortly after.
Mass Layoffs & WARN Act Notices
The Board of Directors issued Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices to remaining staff. Reports indicate the studio claimed it could not meet recent payroll obligations, with the WARN notice effective date set for February 2, 2026, suggesting potential immediate studio closure.
Crisis Impact Breakdown
The situation at Intrepid Studios was discussed across gaming communities and industry outlets throughout late January and early February 2026. Steven Sharif’s Discord statement outlined his perspective on the Board’s decision-making process, while former employees began updating their professional profiles to reflect their employment status changes.
As of February 1, 2026, Ashes of Creation’s early access build remained accessible on Steam, though no official statement from the Board of Directors or remaining company representatives has been released. The WARN Act notices indicate mass layoffs proceeding, with staff reportedly unable to access recent paychecks. The timeline covered developments from the March 2025 workforce adjustments through the February 2026 crisis, documenting the events as they were reported by those involved.