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Intrepid Studios, the developer behind the crowdfunded MMO Ashes of Creation, appears to have ceased operations mere weeks after the game entered Early Access late last year. Founder Steven Sharif has stepped away amid claims that control of the company moved out of his hands, and several team members have posted about an apparent studio-wide shutdown and job losses.
  • Ashes of Creation began life with a successful 2017 Kickstarter that raised roughly $3.27 million and spent years in alpha before launching into Early Access in December.
  • The studio website was updated with a team letter signed by "The Ashes of Creation Team," while public posts from leadership and staff suggest internal turmoil.
  • Steven Sharif announced his resignation, saying he could not support decisions made by the board and that he is restricted from commenting further due to ongoing legal and governance matters.
  • Several company spokespeople and developers—including the director of communications and multiple artists and audio staff—have indicated their departures on LinkedIn, with at least one describing a studio-wide shutdown.
  • Observers and outlets tracking the situation flagged the changes over the weekend, and former team members are now publicly seeking new roles in the games industry.
Source: Game Informer