New Fantasy MMORPG is Blowing Up on Steam

by

The highly anticipated online game Ashes of Creation recently entered early access on Steam and attracted a lot of players right away. However, initial reactions from players haven’t been very positive. Considering how much excitement there was around the game, this might be a letdown for those who were really looking forward to it.

The development of Ashes of Creation has been quite a journey. It started as a very ambitious plan to build a detailed and immersive MMORPG. The project gained a large following and significant funding through a successful Kickstarter campaign. Initially, the developer, Intrepid Studios, partnered with a major publisher, but they later decided to continue development independently. After almost ten years since it was first announced, the early-access version – the second phase of alpha testing – is now available. Unfortunately, it’s currently experiencing a number of problems.

Ashes of Creation Had a Strong Start, But Things Might Go South

The early access launch of Ashes of Creation on December 11th attracted over 30,000 players on Steam right away. However, the $50 game quickly received a lot of negative feedback, resulting in a ‘Mixed’ user review score. More than half of the players trying the early access version have expressed dissatisfaction, mainly due to technical issues like problems logging in, frequent crashes, and server errors.

Some of the Main Reasons Fans Are Unhappy with Ashes of Creation

  • Server issues
  • Login problems
  • Missing rewards
  • Lack of content

To play Ashes of Creation, players need to connect their Intrepid Studios account to their Steam account. When the game launched, many players couldn’t get in because the servers were overwhelmed with people trying to sign up. Some of those who did manage to connect were unhappy with how much content was available, with one long-time supporter questioning if the game was only 20% complete after nearly nine years. Adding to the issues, the developers haven’t yet delivered cosmetic items and mounts that players purchased during earlier stages of the game’s development. This has led many fans to worry that Ashes of Creation might not succeed like other MMORPGs that have failed over time.

Image via Intrepid Studios

The Developer Promised Fixes

Intrepid Studios has responded to player criticism, promising to address issues with the game. In a recent tweet thanking players for their support, the studio said its team is dedicated to making the game the best it can be. However, many fans remain worried about the game’s future, especially considering how long it’s been in development. Ashes of Creation was first announced in 2016, with work beginning as early as 2015 – meaning it’s taken almost ten years to reach this point. While long development times aren’t unusual in gaming, some players feel the current state of Ashes of Creation doesn’t justify the decade of work, leading to concerns about its long-term success.

Although Ashes of Creation has received mixed reviews on Steam lately, the developers still have an opportunity to improve things. Many games have bounced back from negative feedback on Steam by releasing major updates and listening to players. Path of Exile 2, for instance, initially received mostly negative reviews but has since turned things around and is now rated Very Positive. Ashes of Creation could follow a similar path, especially since it’s still in early access and has plenty of time to evolve before its full launch. Intrepid Studios seems dedicated to the game and plans to continue working on it, so it will be interesting to see if they can regain player trust and overcome the current criticism.

Read More

2025-12-14 03:04