Following a high-stakes lawsuit from cloud provider Sada Systems, Steven Sharif has broken his silence. His defense? The $850,000 being contested represents just one week of the studio's operating costs.

The $40 Million Burn Rate

This revelation has sent shockwaves through the community. If Intrepid Studios is spending $800,000 a week, they are burning roughly $40 million every year. This puts Ashes of Creation in the same financial league as the world's most expensive video games.

Transparency vs. Hubris

For the "copium" crowd, this is a sign of ultimate strength. Sharif is funding a dream that corporate publishers are too scared to touch. But for skeptics, the "peanuts" comment feels dismissive to the backers who have provided millions of dollars in crowdfunding.

With the December 11 Early Access launch now live, the pressure is on. Every week that passes without a 1.0 release is another $800,000 "peanut" out of the jar. 2026 is officially the year Ashes of Creation either proves its worth or collapses under the weight of its own ambition.