Less than a month after entering Steam Early Access, Ashes Of Creation is facing a leadership exodus and staff say large-scale layoffs are underway. Creative director Steven Sharif has resigned, saying he could not carry out actions ordered by the studio's board for ethical reasons, and other team members report being let go—one even described the situation as the studio's end.

  • The project began life on Kickstarter nine years ago, where it raised $3.2 million to develop the MMORPG.
  • The departures reportedly include the entire senior leadership team, who left in response to board decisions.
  • Multiple employees have announced layoffs following the Early Access release, with personnel calling the cuts extensive.
  • Creative director Steven Sharif publicly framed his exit as a refusal to implement board-directed measures he found unacceptable.
  • The developments raise questions about the studio's future and the long-term viability of the newly released game.

Source: Rock Paper Shotgun

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