After 8 years and a $3.27 million Kickstarter, MMO Ashes of Creation faces significant layoffs following the founder’s resignation in protest.

The Kickstarter-backed MMORPG Ashes of Creation is facing a significant upheaval, as most of its senior leadership has reportedly resigned, leaving the development team in disarray.

In a recent statement on the game’s official Discord, Steven Sharif, the founder and creative director of Intrepid Studios, expressed his concerns about the direction of the company. He stated, “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.”

Following Sharif’s resignation, many senior leaders followed suit, prompting the Board to issue WARN Act notices and initiate mass layoffs. Sharif mentioned that he couldn’t provide further details due to ongoing legal matters but emphasized that the developers and staff acted in good faith and deserved better than the current uncertainty. He expressed his deep disappointment over the situation.

The outlook for Ashes of Creation appears bleak. In a LinkedIn post, former communications and marketing director Margaret Krohn reflected on her departure, stating, “As for how this all ended… I don’t really have the words. It wasn’t what I expected.” When asked if the game was finished, she replied, “I don’t work there anymore, so I can’t answer that for you. Personally, I don’t know how they would make it when the heart and soul of the product, the amazing dev team, was all laid off.”

Senior environment artist Adam Anthony also shared his situation, stating, “With the closing of Intrepid Studios, I am now currently looking for work.”

Ashes of Creation was designed as an open-world MMORPG, aiming to deliver an “old-school take on the modern MMORPG set in a living, reactive world where your choices shape civilization.” The game launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2017, exceeding its $750,000 goal by raising $3.27 million. It entered Early Access on Steam in December 2025, but recent reviews have been mostly negative, with many of the unfavorable comments surfacing in light of the latest developments.

Sharif mentioned on Discord that he plans to make a public filing soon, hoping it will clarify the situation.

One user speculated that a lawsuit could take years and suggested that Sharif should negotiate to save jobs and the community. However, Sharif urged patience, stating, “Wait until there are more facts available before forming conclusions like this. The internet isn’t kind to patience, but unfortunately, the legal process requires it. You cannot imagine how difficult it is for me to stay quiet. But I must. When filings become public, there will be a clearer factual record to reference.”

This turmoil comes just days after a letter from the development team addressed fans’ concerns about performance, bugs, and cheating, assuring them that they were actively working on these issues. The letter acknowledged the challenges of game development, especially at such a scale, and emphasized the importance of evolving systems and reworking foundations to create something ambitious and worthy of players’ investment.

In related news, Ubisoft has announced plans for “voluntary” layoffs that could affect up to 200 employees at its France location.