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 low-quality generative AI imagery. The trailer, unveiled following Snail Games' GDC announcement of its "in-house developed new expansion map, Ark: Aquatica", showcases an underwater world where supposedly 95% of the gameplay will take place beneath the surface. Described by the studio as a non-canonical side story, the expansion has quickly drawn ire from fans.
Prominent Irish YouTuber Syntac, with over 1.9 million subscribers, expressed strong disapproval, stating, "This is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves." His comment currently sits atop the feedback for the Ark: Aquatica trailer. The community's sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with viewers describing the visuals as "pathetic" and "embarrassing." The trailer is littered with AI-generated artifacts, including fish that blur in and out of existence, a grotesquely deformed hand gripping a spear gun, a levitating octopus in front of a shipwreck that looks more like a rock, and human feet that morph into flippers.
In response, the original Ark: Survival Evolved developer, Studio Wildcard, has swiftly distanced itself from the controversy. The studio clarified on social media that Ark: Aquatica is not a project they are involved with, emphasizing their focus remains on Ark: Survival Ascended and Ark 2. They also teased the upcoming expansion, Ark: Lost Colony, set to bridge the narrative to Ark 2, which is slated for release later this year despite missing its previously planned late 2024 release window.
Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the future of Ark 2, Studio Wildcard confirmed this week that development is ongoing. They also announced Ark: Lost Colony, a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended that will set the stage for the sequel.
Adding to the trailer's allure, Ark: The Animated Series star Michelle Yeoh reprises her role, lending a familiar face to the contentious promotional material.
