A new Ark: Survival Evolved expansion trailer from publisher Snail Games has been met with widespread condemnation from the Ark community due to its apparent overuse of generative AI imagery.
The trailer's release followed Snail Games' GDC announcement of "Ark: Aquatica," an in-house developed expansion map described as a non-canonical side story set primarily underwater. The studio boasts that 95% of the gameplay takes place beneath the surface.
The response has been overwhelmingly negative. Popular Ark YouTuber Syntac, with over 1.9 million subscribers, summed up the general sentiment in a top comment on the trailer: "This is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves." Other viewers echoed this sentiment, labeling the trailer "pathetic" and "embarrassing." The trailer is plagued by numerous examples of AI-generated artifacts, including fish that appear and disappear erratically, a grotesquely deformed hand clutching a spear gun, a levitating octopus in front of an indistinct shipwreck, human feet morphing into flippers, and more.
Studio Wildcard, the original developer of Ark: Survival Evolved, swiftly distanced itself from the project, clarifying on social media that it is not involved in Ark: Aquatica's development. The statement emphasized their continued focus on Ark: Survival Ascended, Ark 2, and the upcoming release of Ark: Lost Colony later this year.
Following delays to its previously announced late 2024 release, the future of Ark 2 has been uncertain. However, Studio Wildcard confirmed this week that development continues and unveiled Ark: Lost Colony, a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended that will serve as a prelude to the sequel.
Michelle Yeoh, star of Ark: The Animated Series, reprises her role in the Ark: Aquatica trailer.
