On January 29, news broke out that Intrepid Studios, the team behind Ashes of Creation, was facing massive lay-offs and turmoil just after the game’s release. Within days, the game faced backlash, leading to its removal from Steam.
Margaret Krohn, the studio’s head of marketing, shared her distressing experience on social media. She announced that on January 28, she learned about the layoff of 100 developers. “I was devastated,” she stated, emphasizing the impact on hardworking individuals. Despite the shock, she hoped the team could find a way forward.
The following day, a director’s letter was supposed to provide updates to players, but behind the scenes, things were spiraling. By January 31, Krohn and her team received confusing emails about their layoff status, realizing they wouldn’t receive their final paychecks or any requested compensation.
On that same day, Steven Sharif, the game director, revealed he could no longer support the company’s decisions, leading him to resign. This turmoil sent shockwaves through both the gaming community and the broader industry.
The consequences were swift. On Steam, Ashes of Creation was met with “review-bombing,” where players left negative reviews to warn others. Backers, who had funded the game over $3.2 million in a 2017 Kickstarter campaign, began demanding refunds as hopes for the game’s future dimmed.
“It’s hard to process,” Krohn said. She spoke about the unity amongst the developers, expressing deep regret for how things ended and encouraging players to pursue refunds. The studio’s culture was something she cherished, and now they were focused on supporting one another during this uncertain time.
As of now, it remains unclear who leads Intrepid Studios and the future of Ashes of Creation. What led to such drastic financial downturns? Recent industry insights suggest that many gaming companies struggle with similar issues, particularly at launch, highlighting the challenges of funding and development in the gaming world.
In a digital age where player feedback holds immense weight, these events could shape how future crowdfunded games are managed. As players voice their experiences and frustrations on social media, the gaming community is watching closely, eager to learn the lessons of this unfolding situation.
For more on the financial and operational challenges faced by game studios, you can explore resources like this report from the Entertainment Software Association.
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