Intrepid Studios has confirmed that long‑in‑development MMORPG Ashes of Creation will arrive on Steam Early Access on Thursday, December 11, 2025, with a reduced price for alpha access and a promise that the move is intended to broaden the game's audience amid an uncertain MMO landscape.
What’s launching and how much it will cost
The studio will sell access to the game's current early testing phase on Steam for $49.99. A 15% launch discount will apply during the first two weeks, bringing the price down to roughly $42.49 for buyers who act quickly. Intrepid says the Steam price will match a reduction on its own store — the developer currently sells alpha access at $100 but will reduce that to $50 to coincide with the Steam rollout.
Early‑access purchases include a cosmetic cloak and one month of game time to be used when the title reaches full launch. Previous, higher‑tier playtester packages offered additional rewards — such as in‑game currency and premium bundles — and longtime testers who joined before the Steam announcement will retain their existing access through the standalone launcher. According to Intrepid, the Steam and launcher versions will be fully cross‑compatible.
What you’re buying: an active test, not a finished game
Intrepid is explicit that this phase remains an alpha: buyers should expect frequent updates and realm wipes, unstable builds, incomplete content, and ongoing balance work. The studio frames early‑access participants as "pioneers of Verra," who will help refine mechanics, uncover bugs, and shape the emergent political and economic systems that define the game's sandbox ambitions.
At full release, Intrepid has said Ashes of Creation will require a monthly subscription. The studio plans to move from Alpha into two beta periods (Beta One and Beta Two) before a full launch, but it has not given a firm final release date.
Game design and features
Ashes of Creation bills itself as a reactive sandbox MMO in which player activity drives settlement growth and world events. Promised systems include:
- Player‑driven node and city development where settlements can be built, defended or destroyed
- Large‑scale PvP, castle sieges and realm warfare
- Dungeons, raids and a mix of PvE content
- A flexible class system that allows many combinations of archetypes (Intrepid has previously discussed dozens of potential class combinations)
The project began life with a successful 2017 Kickstarter that raised more than $3.2 million. Closed alpha testing started in 2021 for a small number of backers; that year the team also ported the project from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5.
Why Intrepid is taking the game to Steam
Creative director Steven Sharif and other studio leaders say the Steam Early Access launch is meant to expand the game's audience and accelerate the process of validating gameplay loops and systems. In public comments, Sharif acknowledged the risk of exposing an unfinished product to a wider audience but argued that larger, real‑world test populations speed diagnosis of bugs and provide broader feedback on economy, combat and settlement progression.
Intrepid has also emphasized work on performance and compatibility in the weeks leading up to the Steam release.
Community reaction and controversy
The announcement has divided players. Some welcomed easier access and the lower price, while others expressed concern that the studio is rushing to monetize an unfinished product or chasing players from other recent MMO shakeups. Parts of the community raised accusations ranging from a perceived "moneygrab" to worries about how the game will fare when exposed to Steam's broader playerbase and review systems.
Longtime critics have also pointed to the project's twisty development history — high‑price early testing tiers, periodic controversies over monetization and business disclosures, and years of incremental testing — as reasons for skepticism. Supporters counter that every major MMO needs funding and that public testing is an essential step toward a polished launch.
Industry context
Ashes of Creation arrives at a precarious moment for Western MMOs. This year has seen high‑profile cancellations and development slowdowns at other studios, and layoffs have affected several teams working on live and new MMO projects. Intrepid's decision to expand testing on Steam can be read as an attempt to reduce risk by growing its player base and feedback pipeline during development.
What to expect next
Intrepid plans to keep testing through the alpha and into two betas before a full release, but the studio has not given a final launch date. Prospective players can add the title to their Steam wishlist ahead of the December 11 Early Access release, or visit the game's official site for more details.
For those considering buying into the alpha: be prepared for an unfinished product with active development, frequent server resets, and the possibility that key systems will change before launch. For fans of sandbox, player‑driven MMOs, the Steam launch will be a chance to see if Ashes of Creation can finally turn nearly a decade of ambition and public testing into a stable contender.
For official details and purchase options, see the game's website at Ashes of Creation and Intrepid Studios at Intrepid Studios.