Hugely ambitious MMORPG Ashes of Creation is coming to Steam soon with a big price cut, but it's still far from finished

Ashes of Creation is coming to Steam in a move that I wasn't prepared to see for quite some time. The hugely ambitious project from Intrepid Studios is one I've been watching for almost a decade now. I can imagine a future where it grows into a true contender to the best MMORPGs - titans like Word of Warcraft and FF14 - yet, nine years on from its initial announcement, there's still a long way to go. However, if you're interested in giving it a try and taking part in the development process, you'll soon be able to do so through Valve's storefront.

We first spoke to Ashes of Creation creative director Steven Sharif back in 2018, one year on from its $3.2 million Kickstarter success story. Since then, it's launched into a more publicly accessible form through what is now Ashes of Creation Alpha Two. Phase Three of this test kicked off in August, but there's still a long road ahead. Intrepid says, "Following this phase, we plan to move through Beta One and Beta Two, leading toward full launch once the game reaches the quality and stability our community deserves."

You might be surprised, then, to see Ashes of Creation showing up as a new MMO on the Steam store. After all, Sharif has repeatedly emphasized that the ongoing alpha test is an unfinished product. "The testing environment in Alpha Two right now can sometimes feel like a game, but it isn't yet," he said in January, "we are quite literally in the middle of cooking it still." Keep that in mind before you plonk down your cash, then.

The good news is that if you have been curious to give the current state of Ashes of Creation a try, you'll be able to do so at half its current asking price. The existing 'Alpha Two Third Wave Bundle' key retails for $100 from Intrepid directly, and includes access to both beta tests, a month of game time, and $15 of the in-game premium currency, Embers. When it arrives on Steam in December, that price will be cut to just $50 in both locations, although you'll get a "non-exclusive cosmetic cloak" in place of the Embers.

Existing playtesters won't get a Steam key, so will either have to purchase it there or continue playing through the standalone client. Both platforms will be fully cross-compatible, however, so there's no need to move over unless you really want to. Testers who were active prior to the launch on Steam will also get two titles that cause your cloak dye to change: 'Cultist of the Eternal Fire' uses a black and red design, while 'Knight of the White Flame' will give you a white and gold look.

As for why it's making the move, Intrepid writes, "Ashes of Creation is designed as a reactive world, one that evolves based on player activity. That makes community testing a core part of our development philosophy. Early Access allows us to bring testers directly into Verra during key stages of system building - whether that's settlement progression, economy loops, combat balance, or world events. By engaging with the community early, we gather critical feedback, identify issues faster, and refine systems in real time."

Ashes of Creation will launch via Steam Early Access on Thursday December 11, priced at $49.99. A 15% discount will be available for the first two weeks, so expect to pay $42.49 if you buy it by Thursday December 25. You can wishlist it now if you want to be notified when it becomes available.