The recently released trailer for the new Ark: Survival Evolved expansion from publisher Snail Games has sparked widespread criticism within the Ark community. The trailer showcases the "in-house developed new expansion map, Ark: Aquatica," announced by Snail Games at GDC. This non-canonical side story takes players to an ambitious underwater setting where 95% of the gameplay unfolds beneath the surface.
The backlash primarily stems from the trailer's heavy use of generative AI imagery, which has been described as "appalling." 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 has resonated widely, becoming the top response on the Ark: Aquatica trailer.
The community's reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, with viewers labeling the trailer as "pathetic" and "embarrassing." Notable issues include visual anomalies such as fish that blur in and out of existence, a disturbingly deformed hand gripping a spear gun, an octopus seemingly levitating in front of a shipwreck that morphs between a rock and a wreck, and human feet transforming into flippers.
In response to the controversy, the original developer of Ark: Survival Evolved, Studio Wildcard, has distanced itself from the project. The studio clarified on social media that Ark: Aquatica is not developed by their team, emphasizing their focus on "Ark: Survival Ascended & Ark 2." They also announced their excitement for the upcoming expansion, "Ark: Lost Colony," which will serve as a precursor to Ark 2.
The future of Ark 2 has been uncertain following its missed late 2024 release window. However, Studio Wildcard confirmed this week that development is ongoing and introduced "Ark: Lost Colony," an expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended that will set the stage for the sequel.
Adding to the trailer's appeal, Ark: The Animated Series star Michelle Yeoh reprises her role, bringing additional excitement to the project despite the controversy surrounding the AI-generated visuals.
