Intrepid Studios Shuts Down After Ashes of Creation Launch, Staff Unpaid

Intrepid Studios, maker of the recently launched Ashes of Creation Steam MMO, has effectively shut down, according to a post from the studio’s head of marketing, Margaret Krohn. Krohn described a rapid series of layoffs beginning when she was told on January 28 that 100 developers would be let go, with confirmation of specific layoffs the next day and a studio-wide notice on January 31.

Krohn said the remaining staff were informed via a confusing email and a WARN notice and that “none of us are receiving our final paychecks, the 60 days notice and pay outlined under the WARN Act, PTO payouts, or other compensation owed.” Around the same time, Ashes of Creation director Steven Sharif said control of the company had shifted away from him and that he resigned in protest.

The turmoil prompted review-bombing on Steam and the game’s removal from Valve’s storefront, while Kickstarter backers who funded development raised demands for refunds after the title never reached a full 1.0 launch.

intrepid studios, ashes of creation, steam mmo, margaret krohn, 100 developers, layoffs, warn act, final paychecks, pto payouts, steven sharif, resigned in protest, review-bombing, removal from valve’s storefront, kickstarter backers