Ark Fans Criticize AI-Generated Content in Expansion Trailer

The recent trailer for the new Ark: Survival Evolved expansion from publisher Snail Games has sparked significant backlash within the Ark community. The trailer, which was released following Snail Games’ GDC announcement of its “in-house developed new expansion map, Ark: Aquatica,” has been widely criticized for its use of generative AI imagery.

Snail Games presented Ark: Aquatica as a non-canonical side story set in an ambitious underwater environment, where 95% of the gameplay occurs beneath the surface. However, the community's response has been overwhelmingly negative. Irish YouTuber Syntac, a prominent figure in the Ark community with over 1.9 million subscribers, expressed strong disapproval, stating, “This is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves.” His comment tops the list of reactions to the trailer on YouTube.

Viewers have echoed Syntac's sentiments, describing the trailer as “pathetic” and “embarrassing.” The trailer is riddled with AI-generated anomalies, such as fish that blur in and out of existence, a grotesquely deformed hand gripping a spear gun, a levitating octopus in front of an ambiguous shipwreck, and human feet morphing into flippers, among other issues.

In response to the controversy, the original developer of Ark: Survival Evolved, Studio Wildcard, quickly distanced itself from the project. On social media, the studio clarified that Ark: Aquatica is not being developed by their team. They emphasized their commitment to the ongoing development of Ark: Survival Ascended & Ark 2, and announced their excitement for the upcoming Ark: Lost Colony expansion set to release later this year.

Amidst uncertainties about the future of Ark 2, which missed its previously planned late 2024 release window, Studio Wildcard confirmed this week that development on the dinosaur survival sequel is still in progress. They also introduced Ark: Lost Colony, a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended that will serve as a precursor to the sequel.

Adding to the trailer's appeal, Ark: The Animated Series star Michelle Yeoh reprises her role, bringing a familiar face to the new expansion.