I really, really hope so!

I'd really like more than 1080 performance in Ashes of the Singularity.
What are you basing that doubt on exactly? Beating a 1080 should not be that hard. In DX12 a Fury X can match a 1070.
290X ended up being a really good card when done right. As NBD said, the MSI Lightning version has been a perennial favourite for three years. At launch the 780ti usually topped the 290X—though it was a lot more expensive. But looking at Gamers Nexus recent 780ti retest, the 780ti is only slightly more powerful than a 1050ti in new games. The 290X absolutely destroys it. This is largely down to nVidia and their drivers, but it shows how long the 290X has lasted.