Ashes of Creation cancellation & how to get refund

After almost 10 years of development, the game is shutting down

The long-awaited MMORPG from Intrepid Studios, Ashes of Creation, just recently entered early access in December 2025 after nearly a decade of development.

However, just a few weeks later, the game has become the center of intense controversy and many fans are wondering whether this game is shutting down or not.

While the game is still available on Steam at the time of writing, the circumstances surrounding its developer indicate that Ashes of Creation’s future is in severe doubt. Let’s check out more details in this article.

What happened to Ashes of Creation?

It all started on February 1, 2026, as many of the reports started to resurface on social media about how Intrepid Studios had effectively collapsed.

According to many sources, the studio had faced widespread layoffs after its leadership team resigned. Steven Sharif, founder of Intrepid Studios and the creative director behind the game, has also released a statement.

He explained how he stepped down after the board took the control of the company. However, later investigations revealed that Sharif may have been the sole board member, creating additional concerns about the studio’s internal governance.

Shortly later, it was reported that the whole development team had been laid off, leaving no one to support or update the game. Even more concerning, rumors stated that the studio’s financial problems prohibited it from paying out final wages to staff.

This development came as a surprise, especially considering Ashes of Creation apparently sold between 250,000 and 300,000 copies on Steam for $49.99, indicating huge early income, according to Insider Gaming.

For now, there is no global announcement for the shutdown of the game. For now the servers are online, but without a functioning studio, the future of the game is questionable.

Also Read: GTA 6 online could evolve into MMORPG: Veteran Producer reveals “Planned features” like WoW & ESO

How to get an Ashes of Creation refund?

Players and fans who have logged less than two hours of playtime on Steam can request the refund through Valve’s support system.

Players who have already exceeded more than two hours limit are not guaranteed a refund but they may still contact Steam Support.

There is also rising suspicion that legal action or class-action lawsuits may arise, especially considering Ashes of Creation’s Kickstarter pledges of reimbursements if the project fails to launch correctly.

FAQs

For more updates, follow Khel Now Gaming on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.