According to a former employee of Intrepid, there has been layoffs at the studio behind Ashes of Creation.
Update from January 23, 2026: Studio head Steven Sharif has since commented on the layoffs on Reddit. As was the case last year, this is not a large-scale wave of layoffs.
I want to add some clarity here because I know how concerning headlines like this can be. Recently, 9 people out of a team of about 250 were impacted as part of some targeted team adjustments. This was not a large-scale layoff and not a reflection of the health or future of Ashes of Creation.
These are real people and friends, and this was not an easy decision. We’re doing what we can to support those affected. At the same time, development on Ashes is continuing forward and the team remains strong and fully engaged on the project.
I appreciate how much this community cares — it means a lot to me and to the team. I just ask that we keep the conversation respectful and grounded in facts.
Steven Sharif, Reddit
Original report from January 22, 2026: Stacey M. has been working in HR for over 25 years, having worked for companies such as Sony Online Entertainment, Razer, and Intrepid Studios (2021 to 2024). On Linkedin, the industry veteran reported a few hours ago that there have been layoffs at the studio behind Ashes of Creation.
I am very saddened to hear about the layoffs today at Intrepid Studios, Inc. To all my friends affected by this: Please feel free to reach out to me! I will see how I can help you or at least offer moral support. Times are tough, but remember that you are not alone!
Stacey M. on Linkedin
So far, there has been no official confirmation from the studio officials or details regarding the scope of the layoffs. We reached out to Intrepid directly for clarification. As soon as we have more information, we will update this report.
Normal fluctuations or the first sign of austerity?
How is the community reacting to the report? In several discussions on Reddit, players are already voicing their concerns about possible layoffs at Intrepid. Various comments show how damaged the reputation of the project is in parts of the MMORPG community.
- Sea_Advantage_2577 writes on Reddit: “The scam is probably nearing its end. I bet they have one last trick up their sleeve before they shut down. “
- TheIronMark makes a pun on Reddit: “Now they only have the ashes of their creation left.”
- Own-Virus3288 cannot believe it on Reddit: “Layoffs before it even goes into beta, I’m laughing my head off.”
Why is Ashes of Creation facing so much trouble? There are several reasons that feed into each other:
- Ashes of Creation has been in development for almost 10 years, and a release is not in sight.
- The paid alpha access was extremely expensive at times. The current 49 euros for the Early Access Alpha on Steam look like a bargain in comparison.
- That Ashes of Creation is still in alpha is evident in the early access version. Nevertheless, many players criticize the current quality of the MMORPG, which only receives 56 percent positive reviews on Steam.
- Since 2022, over 200 people have been working on the MMORPG. The number was last reported to be around 250 employees. The weekly operating expenses are reportedly around 800,000 dollars according to Steven Sharif.
- In December 2025, there was a report about damages of 850,000 US dollars that Intrepid is supposed to pay to a service provider.
- Repeatedly the studio and founder Steven Sharif are under criticism, for instance, for supposedly favoring certain guilds in Ashes of Creation that would ruin the gaming experience for others with their toxic behavior.
Why is it too early for panic or mockery? Layoffs are never nice. Without more specific details regarding the scope and reasons, the mere report “There are layoffs” does not allow for any conclusions. On the contrary, it is unfortunately quite normal for the team size to vary during a game development that lasts many years.
This is further illustrated by the fact that there were also layoffs at Intrepid back in March 2025. 13 employees were reportedly affected at that time (source: 80.lv). At that time, the officials emphasized that these were not comprehensive layoffs. Rather, the paths of the studio and certain developers separated because they did not fit into the project.
Letting go of 13 developers out of over 200 employees is certainly not a sign of a rigid austerity or existential problems. Something similar may have happened now as well. However, that does not mean we should not worry about the project. On the contrary (but for different reasons): Is Ashes of Creation too expensive for its niche? Our MMORPG expert is concerned
