A new Ark: Survival Evolved expansion trailer from publisher Snail Games has drawn sharp criticism from the Ark community for its heavy use of low-quality generative AI imagery.
The trailer dropped shortly after Snail Games’ GDC announcement of its “in-house developed new expansion map, Ark: Aquatica”. The studio describes the expansion as a non-canonical side story set in “an ambitious underwater world where 95% of gameplay occurs beneath the surface.”
“This is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves,” wrote Irish YouTuber Syntac in response to the trailer. This comment from the popular Ark-focused creator, with over 1.9 million subscribers, has become the top-rated reply on the Ark: Aquatica trailer.
Viewers’ feedback is overwhelmingly negative, calling the trailer “pathetic” and “embarrassing.” It’s riddled with AI artifacts—fish that flicker in and out of existence, a grotesquely malformed hand gripping a spear gun, a levitating octopus hovering near a shipwreck unsure if it’s part of the rock or not, human feet melting into floppy flippers, and more.
Marvel as this man's foot magically turns into a fin.For its part, original Ark: Survival Evolved developer Studio Wildcard has swiftly distanced itself from the controversy, clarifying on social media that Ark: Aquatica is not being developed by its team, and that “Studio Wildcard remains entirely dedicated to the production of Ark: Survival Ascended & Ark 2, and we’re excited to bring Ark: Lost Colony to you later this year!”
Since missing its previously planned late 2024 release window, the future of Ark 2 has been uncertain among fans, but Studio Wildcard confirmed this week that development on the dinosaur survival sequel is ongoing. The studio also unveiled Ark: Lost Colony, a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended that will serve as a bridge to the sequel.
Ark: The Animated Series star Michelle Yeoh reprises her role in the trailer.
