The new Ark: Survival Evolved expansion trailer from publisher Snail Games has stirred significant controversy within the Ark community. The trailer, which followed Snail Games’ GDC announcement of its in-house developed expansion, "Ark: Aquatica," has been met with widespread condemnation due to its heavy use of generative AI imagery. Described by Snail Games as a non-canonical side story set in an ambitious underwater environment where 95% of gameplay occurs beneath the surface, the expansion has not been well-received.
Irish YouTuber Syntac, with over 1.9 million subscribers and a focus on Ark content, expressed strong disapproval, stating, "This is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves." This sentiment, currently the top comment on the Ark: Aquatica trailer, reflects the unanimous negative feedback from viewers, who have called the trailer "pathetic" and "embarrassing." The trailer is filled with noticeable AI-generated flaws, such as fish that appear and disappear inconsistently, a grotesquely distorted hand holding a spear gun, a levitating octopus near a shipwreck that shifts between resembling a rock and not, and human feet that inexplicably transform into flippers.
In response to the backlash, original Ark: Survival Evolved developer Studio Wildcard quickly clarified on social media that Ark: Aquatica is not a project of their team. They emphasized their commitment to "Ark: Survival Ascended & Ark 2," and announced their excitement for the upcoming "Ark: Lost Colony," a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended that will serve as a precursor to the sequel.
The future of Ark 2 remains a topic of interest 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 Ark: Aquatica.
