Ashes of Creation Removed from Steam Amidst Leadership Departure

The popular MMO, Ashes of Creation, was subtly taken down from Steam due to fraught intra-company relations and an unclear future. The game quickly rose to fame as a result of a successful Kickstarter campaign that raked in $3.2 million back in 2017. Unfortunately, the game had been marred by recent events, starting with the surprise departure of its director, Steven Sharif, who formed a significant part of the senior development team. Their sudden dissociation followed claims of ethical disagreement with requested tasks from the game’s governing board.\nThe Board then proceeded to issue WARN Act notices, the equivalent of layoff warnings, to the remainder of the workforce. As of now, the number of employees left on the board is uncertain, and the identities of the board members remain undisclosed.\nIn an explanation for his abrupt exit, Sharif communicated a brief statement to the game’s Discord community. Since then, he has yet to make additional comments. The Discord channel has experienced waves of unchecked fan engagements thereafter, ranging from humorous memes to uncensored comments.\nThe listing for Ashes of Creation on Steam has now taken down its purchase option. Nevertheless, the game’s official website remains active, with ongoing payments for in-game cosmetics. A notable warning informs buyers of potential delays in delivering the purchased cosmetic items.\nWhispers fill the air in the gaming subreddits and Discord communities, as players question the possibility of receiving refunds from Steam. The consensus on success is varied, with the best results coming from direct human interactions.\nIn an unexpected announcement, a hitherto standard member named Karen L. Boreyko made a seemingly official statement across several Discord channels. According to her statement, a promising new chapter awaits Ashes of Creation, including a subscription-based model, optional daily battle passes, and wider skill point progression options. Interestingly, her affiliation or involvement with the game’s development remains unclear at this time.\nThe promising Kickstarter-funded game appears to be at a crossroads with unknown future directions and leadership. A high turnout is predicted for the scheduled livestream on February 13th.