"Ark Fans Criticize AI-Generated Content in Expansion Trailer"

The latest expansion trailer for Ark: Survival Evolved, released by publisher Snail Games, has sparked widespread outrage within the Ark community. The trailer, unveiled following Snail Games' announcement at GDC of their new expansion map, Ark: Aquatica, has been criticized for its use of poorly executed generative AI imagery.

Snail Games described Ark: Aquatica as a non-canonical side story set in an ambitious underwater environment, with 95% of the gameplay occurring beneath the surface. However, the community's reaction to the trailer has been overwhelmingly negative. Irish YouTuber Syntac, with over 1.9 million subscribers, expressed his dismay, stating, "This is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves." His comment, reflecting the sentiment of many, has become the most popular response to the Ark: Aquatica trailer.

Viewers have pointed out numerous issues with the AI-generated visuals, including 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. These flaws have led to descriptions of the trailer as "pathetic" and "embarrassing."

In response to the backlash, the original Ark: Survival Evolved developer, Studio Wildcard, quickly clarified on social media that they are not involved with Ark: Aquatica. They emphasized their commitment to Ark: Survival Ascended and Ark 2, and announced the upcoming expansion Ark: Lost Colony, which will serve as a precursor to the sequel.

While the release of Ark 2 has been delayed beyond its initially planned late 2024 window, Studio Wildcard confirmed this week that development is ongoing. They also introduced Ark: Lost Colony, a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended, which will bridge the narrative to the sequel.

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