The creator of Kickstarter's most successful massively multiplayer online game has ceased operations and dismissed all 210 employees

Updated February 11, 2026: Intrepid Studios informed California officials on January 31 that it would shutter operations, resulting in the loss of 210 jobs by February 2, as dictated by the WARN Act. An American law firm has initiated an investigation into the layoffs, arguing the company did not provide adequate notice before the closure.

Initially reported on February 2, 2026: Over the weekend, social media posts revealed the departure or dismissal of many management and development staff from Intrepid Studios, known for the Kickstarted MMO Ashes of Creation.

Ashes of Creation secured $3.2 million through Kickstarter in 2017, setting a record for MMO games and ranking as the eighth highest-funded game on the platform, following closely behind titles like Double Fine Adventure and Mighty No. 9. The game entered Early Access in December and received mixed feedback, with users pointing out bugs, performance problems, and issues with bots and systems. On January 29, a website update indicated ongoing developments and announced a Twitch stream to outline future plans. However, by January 31, community lead Margaret Krohn disclosed on LinkedIn that she and the development team had been laid off.

Founder and former creative director Steven Sharif addressed the issue on the game's Discord, making clear that he was speaking personally and not as a company representative. PC Gamer documented his statement, where Sharif explained that a change in company control led to board-directed actions conflicting with his ethical standards, prompting him to resign. This triggered the resignation of senior leaders, followed by the issuance of WARN Act notices and subsequent mass layoffs.

"I can't provide further comment due to ongoing legal and governance matters, but I feel deeply troubled by the way the dedicated developers and staff were treated," Sharif expressed.

The team comprised approximately 240 members before recent layoffs, including nine individuals let go two weeks earlier—a move Sharif then described as not indicative of the game's state or future. Following its Early Access launch, the game has seen a decline in players, with a current peak of 6,599 over 24 hours, as per SteamDB. GameDiscoverCo has estimated sales at 239,000. Established in 2015, Intrepid released its first playable alpha in 2019.