Ashes of Creation Collapses as Studio Layoffs Hit Staff and Steam Pulls the Plug
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Following management walkouts and the removal of Ashes of Creation from Steam, reports reveal that the entire Intrepid Studios development team was laid off without notice or January paychecks, prompting widespread calls for player refunds.
The turbulent launch of Ashes of Creation has taken an even darker turn for the development team and its community. According to a recent report by IGN South Africa, former Intrepid Studios director of communications Margaret Krohn revealed that the entire development team was laid off without notice and reportedly denied their final January paychecks. This update follows a wave of sudden departures in upper management, including game director Steven Sharif claiming that senior developers resigned in protest over ethical concerns tied to the studio board. Public records confirm that a formal WARN Act notification was filed on January 31, impacting over 200 employees.
For players who picked up the ambitious MMO during its brief stint as a $50 Early Access title on Steam, the situation is increasingly frustrating. Valve has already pulled the game from sale entirely, leaving buyers scrambling for refunds as the servers face an uncertain future with virtually no maintenance team left behind. It is a stark reminder of the volatility surrounding early access models and studio management, hitting both the creators who poured years into the project and the community that backed it financially.
Situations like this highlight the ongoing risks in modern digital distribution where players invest time and money into live service ecosystems that can evaporate overnight. As the community rallies around the affected developers and pushes for accountability from the remaining leadership, the fallout serves as a cautionary tale for transparency in crowdfunded and early access game development.
Tags: Ashes of Creation, MMO, Steam, Industry News, PC Gaming
Original article: IGN South Africa