Ark Fans Criticize AI-Generated Content in Expansion Trailer

A new trailer for the Ark: Survival Evolved expansion from publisher Snail Games has sparked widespread criticism within the Ark community. The trailer, unveiled following Snail Games' announcement at GDC of its "in-house developed new expansion map, Ark: Aquatica," showcases what many fans describe as poor-quality generative AI imagery.

Snail Games positions 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 reaction to the trailer has been overwhelmingly negative. Irish YouTuber Syntac, with over 1.9 million subscribers and a prominent voice in the Ark community, condemned the trailer, stating, "This is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves." His comment currently tops the list on the trailer's YouTube page.

Other viewers echoed similar sentiments, calling the trailer "pathetic" and "embarrassing." The trailer is criticized for its use of AI-generated visuals, evident in scenes such as fish that blur in and out of existence, a grotesquely deformed hand holding a spear gun, a levitating octopus in front of an ambiguous shipwreck, and human feet morphing into flippers.

In response to the backlash, 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 being developed by their team. Instead, Studio Wildcard emphasized their focus on "Ark: Survival Ascended & Ark 2," and announced their excitement for the upcoming release of "Ark: Lost Colony" 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 ongoing. They also introduced "Ark: Lost Colony," a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended that will set the stage for the sequel.

Adding to the trailer's appeal, Michelle Yeoh, star of Ark: The Animated Series, reprises her role in the Ark: Aquatica trailer.