Ashes of Creation future in jeopardy: CEO of Intrepid Studios Steven Sharif steps down, board’s WARN Act sends video game in cold storage; here’s what you need to know

Ashes of Creation: The future of Ashes of Creation, an ambitious MMORPG, is apparently in jeopardy, and the video seems to be shut down after its main designer resigned and its entire team was subsequently laid off.

Ashes of Creation, which was originally announced back in 2016 and crowdfunded in 2017 with over $3.25 million, was first playable in a closed alpha back in 2021, according to reports. Later, it switched game engines from Unreal Engine 4 to 5 and then released its second alpha through Steam in 2025.

The scenario is very much different now, as the game is seemingly shutting down. The founder and CEO of Intrepid Studios, Steven Sharif, resigned in protest against decisions made by the company’s board of directors, according to online platform Niche Gamer.


Sharif shared a new message on the video game’s official Discord server emphasizing that he resigned due to friction between him and the board, which, according to him, acted in ways he could not ethically agree with.

Things began to tumble shortly after Sharif resigned, as most of the senior leadership of the game followed in his footsteps and tendered their resignation.

Intrepid Studios board issues WARN Act

A series of resignations prompted the Intrepid Studios board to issue a WARN Act and proceed with a “mass layoff,” according to multiple reports. As a consequence of the move, the entire team of more than 200 developers will likely be laid off, effectively sending the development and release of the video game into cold storage.

What is the WARN Act

The 1988 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act mandates any employer must notify their workers at least 60 days in advance of mass layoffs. It remains unclear when the company notified employees, but regardless, it sounds like the entire team is being laid off.

Intrepid Studios CEO’s full statement

“I can make a limited statement in my personal capacity and not on behalf of the company regarding the situation. Control of the company shifted away from me, and the board began directing actions that I could not ethically agree with or carry out. As a result, I chose to resign in protest rather than lend my name or authority to decisions I could not ethically support. Following my resignation, much of the senior leadership team resigned. Following those departures, the Board made the decision to issue WARN Act notices and proceed with a mass layoff,” he said, as quoted by Niche Gamer.

“I cannot responsibly speak to further details at this time due to ongoing legal and governance matters. What I can say is that the developers and staff acted in good faith and deserved better than the uncertainty they are now facing. I am incredibly dismayed by the situation,” he concluded.

Ashes of Creation

“Ashes of Creation is an MMORPG where everything is impacted by your actions. Explore, trade, build, and let the world take form—what you create will be the cornerstone of the next explorer’s ambition,” according to the video game’s official website.