Tag: Intrepid Studios

  • Studio Closes: Ambitious MMO Fails Just Two Months After Launch

    Studio Closes: Ambitious MMO Fails Just Two Months After Launch

    Key Takeaways

    1. Ashes of Creation, an anticipated MMO, faced a sudden halt in development after nearly ten years since its Kickstarter launch and was set for Early Access in December 2025.

    2. Founder Steven Sharif announced his resignation, citing a loss of control over the company, leading to a wave of leadership resignations and reports of unpaid salaries.

    3. Intrepid Studios is expected to largely cease operations, leaving the reasons for the collapse unclear and raising concerns about the game’s future.

    4. Players are demanding refunds for the $50 game still in alpha, but a Kickstarter clause states that refunds are not possible now that the game is on Steam.

    5. With ongoing server maintenance costs and the studio’s shutdown, the future of Ashes of Creation looks bleak, and it may be removed from Steam soon.

    Ashes of Creation was once seen as one of the most exciting MMOs in recent times. It was backed by Kickstarter and has been in development for almost ten years, launching into Early Access on Steam in December 2025. Currently still in alpha, the game was priced at about $50. Now, many players are left frustrated as the MMO has come to a sudden and unexpected halt.

    Sudden Resignation and Leadership Changes

    Just two days after providing updates and sharing a roadmap for future enhancements, Ashes of Creation faced shocking news. On January 31, founder and creative director Steven Sharif announced his resignation via a personal message on Discord. He mentioned that he had lost control of the company and could no longer ethically back the decisions of the board. Reports suggest that many members of the leadership team resigned soon after. Following this, there were numerous resignations, and claims arose that employees had stopped being paid. As of February 2, Intrepid Studios is poised to largely cease its operations, leaving the exact reasons for the collapse unclear.

    Legal Issues and Player Concerns

    As per Insider Gaming, there could be legal troubles ahead due to unpaid salaries. Players are also starting to demand refunds since they paid nearly $50 for a game still in its alpha phase, which now seems to have been left for dead. However, a clause from the original Kickstarter campaign states that refunds are not possible now that the game is on Steam. On Reddit, anger is growing over the project’s sudden termination. Although Ashes of Creation is still available on Steam for now, the studio’s shutdown makes further development extremely unlikely. Given the ongoing expenses for server maintenance and support, the game is likely to be pulled from the platform eventually. The future of this once-promising MMO remains uncertain.

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  • Ashes of Creation Early Access Sparks Censorship Claims on Steam

    Ashes of Creation Early Access Sparks Censorship Claims on Steam

    Key Takeaways

    1. Players experienced long wait times and server issues during the early access launch of Ashes of Creation on December 11th, leading to disappointment in the game’s quality for its $49.99 price tag.

    2. Claims of censorship emerged, with reports of Steam forum moderators deleting critical posts about the game, particularly from long-time supporters who invested significant amounts of money.

    3. Supporters of the game have corroborated censorship claims, noting the disappearance of valid criticisms from discussions on various platforms, indicating a potential bias against negative feedback.

    4. The game has faced ongoing controversies since its Kickstarter in 2017, including a referral program violating Kickstarter rules and allegations against the founder for promoting pyramid schemes.

    5. Many players believe the ambitious nature of Ashes of Creation may have led to a premature early access launch, with concerns that developers prioritized release over readiness due to financial pressures.

    Announced in 2016, the anticipation for Ashes of Creation’s early access launch didn’t last long enough to ensure a smooth experience. Players have pointed out server problems and gameplay that seems to need years of improvement. Mixed reviews on Steam include several gamers stating that their posts on the forums have been removed.

    Long Wait, Long Queues

    When the newest phase of the MMORPG from Intrepid Studios kicked off on December 11th, players faced immediate long wait times. After finally logging in, many fans felt that the experience did not justify the trouble. Even though it’s in early access, critics argue that the game is in too rough condition to justify its price of $49.99.

    Claims of Censorship

    A review of Ashes of Creation that is gaining traction claims that Steam forum moderators are engaging in censorship. Damien Scott mentions that just before the launch, they “deleted every single critical post about the game, many of which were from people that have paid hundreds/thousands of dollars to support the game.” He also notes similar actions in the game’s official forum, subreddit, and Discord.

    Supporters Speak Out

    Other players, many of whom have backed the project since it started, are echoing Damien’s claims. When searching on Google, users will find indexed Steam forum threads that no longer exist. Valve does have guidelines for its moderators, but they have significant leeway in managing discussions. In this instance, it seems like they are targeting legitimate criticisms rather than offensive comments or abusive conduct.

    Ongoing Controversies

    Ashes of Creation has faced controversy since its successful Kickstarter in 2017. A referral program provided in-game currency to players who persuaded others to support the game. This incentive was against Kickstarter’s rules, but it continued to be used. Allegations have also surfaced against Intrepid founder Steven Sharif for promoting pyramid schemes.

    Ambitious Expectations

    As a sandbox MMORPG, many players feel that Ashes of Creation is too ambitious. Unlike just completing quests or raids similar to World of Warcraft, players can craft worlds, called nomes. Given the intricate mechanics, these players see the Steam early access launch as premature. One theory suggests that the developers were running low on funds and had to stick to the original release date.

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