Ashes of Creation Future in Doubt as Co-Founder Steven Sharif Resigns

Ashes of Creation

Ashes of Creation is facing an uncertain future after creative director and studio co-founder Steven Sharif announced his resignation from Intrepid Studios.

Sharif revealed his decision on the official Ashes of Creation Discord, where he explained that he was stepping down “in protest” against actions taken by the Board of Directors.

According to his statement, “Control of the company shifted away from me, and the Board began directing actions that I could not ethically agree with or carry out. As a result, I chose to resign in protest rather than lend my name or authority to decisions I could not ethically support.”

He further added that following his departure, “much of the senior leadership team resigned,” which was quickly followed by the Board issuing WARN Act notices and initiating mass layoffs.

Communications Director Margaret Krohn also confirmed her own resignation in a LinkedIn post, with multiple Intrepid employees updating their profiles to “open to work.”

This comes after Sharif had previously assured players in January that only 9 employees had been laid off and that the situation was "not a reflection of the health or future of Ashes of Creation."

Now, however, reports suggest the layoffs are far more extensive, possibly affecting the entire team of around 250 developers.

For those unfamiliar, the WARN Act requires companies to give employees 60 days’ notice before mass layoffs. As per reports by content creator Theory Forge, staff have received WARN Act letters via First Class mail, with notices set to take effect on February 2, 2026. The letter allegedly states that Intrepid Studios cannot meet its payroll obligations, raising fears that the studio may shut down entirely by early next week.

With the studio in turmoil, it is difficult to imagine how Ashes of Creation could continue development, let alone maintain its Early Access build. The possibility of outright cancellation looms large, which would also raise questions about refunds for backers who supported the game during its 2017 crowdfunding campaign that raised over $3.25 million.

Ashes of Creation has had a long and winding journey since its announcement in 2016. The MMORPG entered closed alpha in 2021, later transitioned to Unreal Engine 5, and launched its second alpha on Steam in 2025. While it currently holds mostly positive reviews among more than 13,000 players, recent feedback has trended negative, reflecting growing concerns about the project’s stability.

At this point, the fate of Ashes of Creation remains in limbo.