Unpaid Tears: Former Ashes Of Creation Devs Left Heartbroken Without Final Paychecks

Ashes Of Creation Developers Reportedly Laid Off Without Final Paychecks

Reports have surfaced indicating that developers of Ashes Of Creation were laid off from Intrepid Studios without receiving their final paychecks and other owed compensation. Former director of communications, Margaret Krohn, took to LinkedIn to share her account of the unexpected closure of Intrepid Studios.

Krohn revealed that she was informed by higher-ups at Intrepid Studios about the impending layoff of 100 employees on January 28th. The following day, she discreetly informed her Game Services team about the upcoming changes, expressing her regret for the lack of certainty in the situation. She emphasized the importance of treating employees with dignity and respect.

After confirming the individuals affected by the layoffs on January 30th, Krohn personally spoke with each member of her team. Despite the unfortunate news, she noted that both those staying and those leaving offered their support and began working towards the next steps.

However, on January 31st, all employees received a confusing email announcing their layoffs along with a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice. Krohn lamented that none of the affected employees received their final paychecks, the 60 days’ notice and pay mandated by the WARN Act, PTO payouts, or other rightful compensation.

The WARN Act, as outlined on the US government website, requires employers to provide written notice 60 days before a mass layoff or plant closure. Failure to do so can result in employees seeking damages for back pay and benefits for up to 60 days, depending on the notice given.

Krohn extended her apologies to players of Ashes Of Creation, highlighting the dedication and hard work of the development team. She encouraged players to pursue refunds, acknowledging the disappointment of the project ending abruptly. The uncertainty surrounding refund eligibility stems from the game’s release on Steam in December, following its 2017 Kickstarter campaign.

Speculations have arisen regarding creative director Steven Sharif, who departed from the company prior to the mass layoffs amid alleged disagreements with Intrepid’s board. Questions have been raised about the board members’ identities, with some players noting discrepancies in company filings. Krohn clarified on Reddit that she was not privy to senior leadership information and shared positive sentiments about Sharif.

Following the layoff reports, Steam removed Ashes Of Creation from sale, raising further questions about the game’s future. In light of Krohn’s allegations regarding final pay and notice periods, inquiries have been made to Intrepid Studios for comment. Our thoughts are with the affected developers during this challenging time.