Ashes of Creation $3.2M Kickstarter funds reportedly spent on personal expenses

Reports claim Ashes of Creation funds were used for trading cards and private chefs as legal disputes continue

New reports have raised questions about how funds were used at Intrepid Studios, the developer behind the MMO Ashes of Creation, following the game’s shutdown earlier this year.

The title entered early access before being taken offline 52 days later, despite reportedly selling around 300,000 copies at $49.99 and raising $3,271,809 through a Kickstarter campaign in 2017. Its closure prompted criticism from some players, with accusations of a “rug pull” circulating online.

The latest claims originate from a video published by YouTuber NefasQS, who stated they had access to “the entire Intrepid Studios ledger from 2015-2026.”

According to the report, studio funds were allegedly used for personal expenses by former CEO Steven Sharif and his husband.

Among the reported expenditures were payments for a private chef, as well as $41,717 spent on auction websites. The video also claims that tens of thousands of dollars were spent at trading card game shops and miniature stores.

Additional claims include an $81,166 payment to Gore Oil Company, which was described as the deed owner of a mansion in San Diego linked to the couple. The report described the financial situation as “a company that was on the threshold of financial death at multiple points in its history.”

Following the publication of the video, NefasQS stated that they received private complaints and that their Reddit account had been reported.

Steven Sharif has not publicly responded to the allegations. Legal disputes between the former CEO and the studio’s board are ongoing, and the full details surrounding the reported financial activity remain unconfirmed.