Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Link to the Full Story here: paradoxgaming.net/gamearticle.php?id=money In May 2017, Ashes of Creation launched on Kickstarter, raising more than $3.2 million. Steven Sharif has consistently described the project as primarily self-funded, with outside investment only a possibility if needed.
Court filings show that several months before the Kickstarter, Intrepid Studios entered into a financing agreement with the Ya-Ya Legacy Trust.
That agreement eventually converted into equity ownership, with the Trust holding as much as 9.7% of the company by 2019. In 2024, the Trust filed a lawsuit seeking access to Intrepid’s financial records before later dismissing the case.
This video reviews those filings and records, alongside Sharif’s public statements, to provide a documented timeline of Intrepid Studios’ financing history.
Intrepid Studios, via their in-house press email, was offered an opportunity to respond to this story and did not respond.
All sources are linked below.
Information is based on public filings as of the dates referenced. The company’s ownership or financing may have changed since.
#jahlon #paradoxgamingnetwork #ashesofcreation
Sources:
Justin Olivetti, “Massively OP Interview: Ashes of Creation on a New Way to MMO,” Massively Overpowered, May 1, 2017, massivelyop.com/2017/05/01/massively-op-interview-ashes-of-creation-on-a-new-way-to-mmo. Accessed September 17, 2025.
Royce, Bree. “Ashes of Creation’s Steven Sharif on his business history, $30M funding goal, and PvP.” Massively Overpowered. May 4, 2017. massivelyop.com/2017/05/04/ashes-of-creations-steven-sharif-on-his-business-history-30m-funding-goal-and-pvp/. Accessed September 17, 2025.
Sharif, Steven. “3/07/19 Discord QnA.” The Ashes Post, March 7, 2019. “Q: How does funding for game development normally work? A: Most software development …” ashespost.com/3-07-19-discord-qna/. Accessed September 17, 2025.
Steven_AoC. Comment on “I don’t get the hype for Ashes of Creation.” Reddit, r/MMORPG, May 20, 2021. reddit.com/r/MMORPG/comments/ngo2pi/comment/gyt3gat/. Accessed September 17, 2025.
California Secretary of State. Business Search: Intrepid Studios, Inc. (Entity No. 3788290). BizFile Online. Filed May 20, 2015. bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business. Accessed September 17, 2025.
Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. Ya-Ya Legacy Trust v. Intrepid Studios, Inc. Case No. 37-2024-00028199-CU-WM-CTL. Verified Petition for Writ of Mandate to Compel Inspection of Books, Records, and Documents Pursuant to California Corporations Code § 1603. Filed 2024. odyroa.sdcourt.ca.gov/Cases. Accessed September 17, 2025.
Link to the Full Story here: paradoxgaming.net/gamearticle.php?id=money In May 2017, Ashes of Creation launched on Kickstarter, raising more than $3.2 million. Steven Sharif has consistently described the project as primarily self-funded, with outside investment only a possibility if needed.
Court filings show that several months before the Kickstarter, Intrepid Studios entered into a financing agreement with the Ya-Ya Legacy Trust.
That agreement eventually converted into equity ownership, with the Trust holding as much as 9.7% of the company by 2019. In 2024, the Trust filed a lawsuit seeking access to Intrepid’s financial records before later dismissing the case.
This video reviews those filings and records, alongside Sharif’s public statements, to provide a documented timeline of Intrepid Studios’ financing history.
Intrepid Studios, via their in-house press email, was offered an opportunity to respond to this story and did not respond.
All sources are linked below.
Information is based on public filings as of the dates referenced. The company’s ownership or financing may have changed since.
#jahlon #paradoxgamingnetwork #ashesofcreation
Sources:
Justin Olivetti, “Massively OP Interview: Ashes of Creation on a New Way to MMO,” Massively Overpowered, May 1, 2017, massivelyop.com/2017/05/01/massively-op-interview-ashes-of-creation-on-a-new-way-to-mmo. Accessed September 17, 2025.
Royce, Bree. “Ashes of Creation’s Steven Sharif on his business history, $30M funding goal, and PvP.” Massively Overpowered. May 4, 2017. massivelyop.com/2017/05/04/ashes-of-creations-steven-sharif-on-his-business-history-30m-funding-goal-and-pvp/. Accessed September 17, 2025.
Sharif, Steven. “3/07/19 Discord QnA.” The Ashes Post, March 7, 2019. “Q: How does funding for game development normally work? A: Most software development …” ashespost.com/3-07-19-discord-qna/. Accessed September 17, 2025.
Steven_AoC. Comment on “I don’t get the hype for Ashes of Creation.” Reddit, r/MMORPG, May 20, 2021. reddit.com/r/MMORPG/comments/ngo2pi/comment/gyt3gat/. Accessed September 17, 2025.
California Secretary of State. Business Search: Intrepid Studios, Inc. (Entity No. 3788290). BizFile Online. Filed May 20, 2015. bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business. Accessed September 17, 2025.
Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. Ya-Ya Legacy Trust v. Intrepid Studios, Inc. Case No. 37-2024-00028199-CU-WM-CTL. Verified Petition for Writ of Mandate to Compel Inspection of Books, Records, and Documents Pursuant to California Corporations Code § 1603. Filed 2024. odyroa.sdcourt.ca.gov/Cases. Accessed September 17, 2025.
