The gaming community has erupted in outrage over a new trailer for the Ark: Survival Evolved expansion from publisher Snail Games, which has been widely criticized for its use of substandard generative AI imagery. The trailer, released following Snail Games’ GDC announcement of their new expansion map, "Ark: Aquatica," showcases an underwater setting where 95% of the gameplay occurs beneath the surface. Described as a non-canonical side story, the expansion has drawn significant ire from fans.
Irish YouTuber Syntac, a prominent figure in the Ark community with over 1.9 million subscribers, expressed his dismay, stating, “This is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves.” His comment, reflecting the sentiment of many, is currently the most upvoted on the Ark: Aquatica trailer. Other viewers have echoed this sentiment, labeling the trailer as “pathetic” and “embarrassing.” The trailer is littered with AI-generated anomalies, such as fish that blur in and out of existence, a grotesquely deformed hand holding a spear gun, a levitating octopus in front of an ambiguous shipwreck, and human feet morphing into flippers.
In response to the backlash, the original developer of Ark: Survival Evolved, Studio Wildcard, has quickly distanced itself from the project. On social media, the studio clarified that Ark: Aquatica is not being developed by their team and reaffirmed their commitment to "Ark: Survival Ascended & Ark 2." They also announced their excitement for the upcoming release of "Ark: Lost Colony," a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended that will set the stage for the sequel.
The future of Ark 2 has been a topic of concern among fans, especially after missing its previously planned late 2024 release window. However, Studio Wildcard confirmed this week that development on the dinosaur survival sequel is ongoing. Adding to the excitement, Ark: The Animated Series star Michelle Yeoh reprises her role in the trailer for the new expansion.
