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Ashes of Creation, one of the most anticipated and contentious MMORPGs in development, has finally launched into Steam Early Access. Instead of celebration, the debut has been engulfed in accusations of developer censorship, severe technical failures, and a growing sentiment that the ambitious project is still years away from being ready. For players who have followed the game since its record-breaking 2017 Kickstarter, this rocky start feels like the culmination of years of red flags.
The launch on December 11th was immediately plagued by problems. Players reported website crashes, account-linking issues, and login queues hundreds of people long. Once in the game, many found an experience that felt deeply unfinished, leading to a "Mostly Negative" initial reception on Steam. Yet, beyond the expected bugs of an early access title, a more serious allegation has taken center stage: that Intrepid Studios is systematically silencing paying critics.
The Censorship Accusations: Deleting Critical Voices
The controversy was ignited by a detailed Steam review from a player named Damien Scott. In his review, which has drawn significant attention, Scott claims that just two hours before the Steam release, forum moderators "deleted every single critical post about the game".
He alleges this purge targeted posts from backers who had invested "hundreds/thousands of dollars" and describes a pattern of similar behavior on the game's official forums, subreddit, and Discord server. Scott states he was banned simply for mentioning that the deletions were happening.
This account is not isolated. Other players on Steam forums echo the story, questioning the developer's "shady practices" of banning members for voicing criticism, which results in the loss of all paid game licenses. Players report that searching Google leads to indexed threads from the Steam forums that no longer exist, suggesting a targeted removal of negative feedback.
A Game in "Pre-Alpha" State Sold for $49.99
For many, the censorship is especially gallant given the current state of the product. Despite the "Early Access" label, numerous players and backers describe the game as feeling more like a pre-alpha build.
Complaints extend beyond server queues to core gameplay: janky animations, poor performance for players outside North America and Europe, and foundational systems that feel unpolished. The consensus among critics is that the game's scope—a complex sandbox where player actions dynamically reshape the world—is overwhelmingly ambitious and far from complete.
This has led to intense debate over the $49.99 price tag. Critics argue that charging a premium price for what feels like an early test is unjustified, with one Kickstarter supporter calling the experience "hugely disappointing" after so many years in development.
A History Mired in Controversy: MLM, Kickstarter, and "Intrepid Bucks"
The current firestorm did not emerge from a vacuum. Ashes of Creation has been a magnet for controversy since its inception, much of it swirling around founder Steven Sharif and the studio's unusual monetization strategies.
- The "Pyramid Scheme" Allegations: Sharif has publicly disclosed that he made his initial fortune as a teenager through multi-level marketing (MLM) with companies like XanGo. He has since vigorously defended himself, stating that MLM constituted less than 2% of his wealth and that rumors are spread to harm the project. However, this background colored perception of the game's own referral program.
- The Controversial Referral Program: In 2016, Intrepid Studios unveiled a program where players could earn "Intrepid Bucks" (15% of the money spent) by referring new paying players. This program drew immediate criticism and "side-eye" for its resemblance to an MLM structure. While analysts concluded it was not a technically illegal pyramid scheme—because it was tied to an actual product—it was widely panned as a "gimmick" designed to incentivize player recruitment for minimal company cost.
- Kickstarter Rule Violations: The referral program caused further scandal when it was revealed it initially applied to Kickstarter pledges, which directly violated Kickstarter's guidelines. Although Intrepid told Kickstarter it would remove pledges from the program, an internal follow-up by Kickstarter found "this did not happen". Despite the breach, Kickstarter decided not to take action against the multi-million dollar campaign.
A Timeline of Controversy for Ashes of Creation
Community at a Crossroads: Faith Versus Frustration
The player base is now starkly divided. Some retain faith in Sharif's vision of a publisher-free, community-driven MMORPG. Others see the launch as a cash grab, theorizing the studio was forced to release to generate funds and is now in "full damage control mode," censoring dissent to protect sales.
This debate is vividly playing out on platforms like the game's Steam forum, where every post is a battleground. The discussion around a post titled "Opinions? Truth?" captures the divide, with some advising to "just buy it," while others offer detailed warnings about refund policies and the raw state of the game.
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| Ashes of Creation Steam review with censorship claim |
What Comes Next?
Intrepid Studios has acknowledged a rocky launch. The Director of Communications stated, "Like any release, it wasn't without its bumps," and the team has pushed small patches to address stability and bugs.
The critical question is whether this marks a painful but temporary stumble for an ambitious indie project, or a breaking point for a community weary of controversy. For a game built on the promise of listening to its players, the alleged deletion of critical feedback is a serious self-inflicted wound. Ashes of Creation may have finally launched, but it must now fight to build trust, not just a game world.
What do you think about the launch and the allegations? Share your perspective on the ongoing discussion in the Steam forums or read more about the game's complicated history in this detailed PC Gamer report. You can also see the community's raw reaction to the launch on Reddit. To see the game's current store page and reviews for yourself, visit it on Steam.