Intrepid Studios’ massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Ashes of Creation, was removed from sale on Steam on February 2, 2026, following the resignation of its creative director and widespread layoffs at the developer, just weeks after its early access launch.
The game, initially released into Steam Early Access on December 11, 2025, had been in development since 2016 and successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign in 2017, raising over $3 million. The launch offered players a first public opportunity to experience the game after years of closed beta testing. However, the project’s momentum abruptly halted with the departure of Steven Sharif, co-founder and creative director of Intrepid Studios, on January 31, 2026.
Following Sharif’s resignation, Intrepid Studios initiated mass layoffs, triggering WARN Act notices indicating a permanent closure of the studio. Steam subsequently removed Ashes of Creation from its storefront. The future of the game remains uncertain.
Ashes of Creation was designed as a sandbox MMORPG set in the world of Verra, emphasizing player agency and a dynamic, reactive game world. The game featured a system where player actions directly influenced the development of the game world, with player-populated regions evolving into towns and cities and a player-driven political system. Players could choose from eight primary archetypes – Tank, Cleric, Mage, Fighter, Rogue, Ranger, Bard, and Summoner – and combine them to create 64 possible class combinations.
Steam is currently offering refunds to players who purchased the game, despite its stated policy against refunds for early access titles. Players reporting to Reddit have successfully obtained refunds by citing a statement on the Steam store page that promised “one month of game time after Early Access.” Steam is reportedly approving refund requests on a case-by-case basis after communication with support.
The game’s cancellation represents a significant setback for players who had followed the project for years and, in some cases, financially supported its development through the Kickstarter campaign. Intrepid Studios had positioned the Steam launch as an opportunity to “develop this MMORPG in open partnership with our community.”
As of February 16, 2026, Intrepid Studios has not issued a comprehensive statement regarding the long-term fate of Ashes of Creation or the possibility of future development.
