Steven Sharif denies claims tied to leaked Ashes of Creation ledger

Intrepid Studios co-founder Steven Sharif has responded to the latest round of allegations around Ashes of Creation, this time centered on a leaked financial ledger that circulated over the weekend. In a press statement, Sharif said the material is “false and defamatory,” argued it was shared to influence the ongoing legal fight in public, and said the underlying data is disputed and unverified.

The leak, which spread through the MMO community over the last few days, appeared to show years of deposits and expenses tied to Intrepid. Some readers pointed to entries they believed suggested underpayment or personal spending with company money, but the document itself has not been independently verified from the information provided here.

Sharif flatly denied the broader accusations. He said there was no misuse of Kickstarter funds, that the project was financed through multiple sources including his own personal capital, and that claims about a “lavish lifestyle” or personal misuse of company funds are false.

He also tied the leak to Intrepid’s larger legal battle with investors and board members. According to Sharif, the people behind the claims are trying to shape opinion outside the courtroom while the case is still active in federal court. He further alleged that an unlawful foreclosure effort was used to seize control of Intrepid’s assets, and said the resulting fallout led to layoffs that are now part of the broader dispute.

This is the latest turn in a messy stretch for the studio behind the long-running MMORPG, which has already been dealing with lawsuits, layoffs, and a temporary restraining order Sharif previously secured against the investors involved in the dispute.

Sharif said additional materials would be filed in federal court today. For now, his position is straightforward: the claims are denied, the ledger is not accepted as reliable, and the fight is continuing through the courts.