Ashes of Creation hit by cancellation, resignations and legal claims

Ashes of Creation, a Kickstarter MMO that raised $3.2 million in 2017, has imploded after the project was cancelled and its development team was laid off. The situation has been described as a hotbed of corporate drama and potential embezzling.

In late January of 2026 creative director Steven Sharif and other senior leadership formally resigned, a move that was followed by a mass layoff. The collapse came nine years after the game's initial crowdfunding success.

Legal Mindset (Andrew Esquire), a YouTuber and corporate attorney, says there is "a very high likelihood of piercing the corporate veil … you've got possible claims for fraudulent inducement, breach of implied contract and unjust enrichment for those kickstarter backers."

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