Ashes of Creation is for some the great hope that a wonderful new MMORPG will come from the West. The indie project has been in development since 2016 and is considered the spiritual successor of the failed Everquest Next. For the YouTuber and Twitch streamer Narc, this hope has faded after 4 years. He harshly criticizes the MMORPG. This even prompts the game’s head, Steven Sharif, to respond.
Who is Narc? The YouTuber and Twitch streamer Narc has recently focused almost exclusively on content about Ashes of Creation, specializing in the MMORPG.
In one month, he could release 8 different videos on topics such as Ashes of Creation is more ArcheAge than Archeage 2
, Here is the long-awaited PvP showcase
, or Is Ashes of Creation just a scam to attract whales?
.
Narc states: He has a critical perspective on the MMORPG, does not want any personal contact with the devs, but rather observes the project from the outside. He finds it generally absurd that an MMORPG sells early access for $250.
In 2023, Narc was even the largest Twitch streamer for the MMORPG. However, that changed in 2024 when PirateSoftware decided to talk more about Ashes of Creation. PirateSoftware has 10 times more reach than the relatively small specialist Narc and is raving about the new MMORPG.
However, in early 2025, Narc seemingly lost his patience. He has lost faith in Ashes of Creation and is criticizing the game.
YouTuber accuses Ashes of Creation of being more façade than substance
This is his criticism: In a “This is my last video on Ashes of Creation” video, Narc lists a number of problems he has with the game. In short, these points can be summarized as follows:
- An untrustworthy development where more is promised than is actually there
- The developer uses
FOMO
tactics to sell expensive access to alphas and betas and also employs dubious business methods - Technical issues made the game almost unplayable
- The team repeatedly promises progress but then delays it
- The developers moderated their own Reddit and deleted legitimate criticism
- YouTubers would benefit from a program that ties them to the success of the MMORPG, which compromises their opinion, as they would profit financially from portraying the MMORPG positively
- The developers would openly lie to the players
The streamer says he distances himself from the game and the alpha. In the video, he sounds frustrated and charged with the situation surrounding the MMORPG and especially with what he sees as deceptive communication from the developers. In a comment on the video, however, he wishes the developers much success and only the best:
Head of the MMORPG says: The journey is not for everyone
This is what the boss says: The head of Intrepid, millionaire Steven Sharif, has responded to the allegations and finds a tone that balances between harsh denial and understanding (via Reddit).
On one hand, he states: The claims are untrue and defamatory. He argues that the people banned from Reddit were part of Narc’s community, who then boasted in his stream about the ban they provoked.
Sharif says he welcomes Narc’s decision to take a step back from Ashes of Creation. He explains that during the complex development of an MMORPG, difficulties arise: “The journey is not for everyone.”
The development of a game is extremely complex, and the development of an MMORPG is ten times more so. There will come a time when they will heavily promote and market Ashes of Creation, but that time is not now. At some point, the game will be ready for more players and testing, and then they will spend money on advertising, but that time is not now, and he has reiterated this every month.
The most important thing that can be said about Ashes of Creation right now, and what Narc has also recognized, is: It is not finished yet.
Development time of an MMORPG is frustrating for everyone
Here is the background. Sharif’s response is indeed logical and well-formulated, but the frustration of the YouTuber is also understandable.
Games like Ashes of Creation are in a dilemma: They must present an attractive version of the game and sell it to fans in order to gain the financial support of players. After all, Ashes of Creation wants many players to invest in the expensive alphas and betas.
At the same time, the game is still in development. It is not really intended to be shown and played yet. An MMORPG in development is not optimized for factors such as fun
or playability
. With another funding model, it would not even be shown yet.
With traditionally developed MMORPGs, especially from South Korea, it is completely normal for them to go dark
and for years to hear nothing, even if a demo showed that the MMORPG was almost finished. During the development of Lost Ark, players repeatedly thought the game had been canceled, given how much Silence Smilegate maintained while developing in secret.
For someone who professionally follows the development of such a project as a YouTuber, an open development like that of Ashes of Creation is also a frustrating situation because there are constantly talks of supposed highlights and milestones in the development that, in the end, do not create the hype or success that a YouTuber hopes for.
Sharif is right: For most players, it is healthiest and most normal to engage with a game only when the developer calls: We are ready, everyone look here, we are finished. As long as the “sausage is still being made,” as Sharif says, sometimes it is better not to look too closely.
However, it must also be said that for 8 years Ashes of Creation has faced accusations that there are some wild aspects to the development and funding model. The game still has not shed its image after such a long time: Millionaire explains why his MMORPG is great and why he is not a pyramid scheme scammer
