The new Ark: Survival Evolved expansion trailer from publisher Snail Games has sparked widespread outrage within the Ark community. Released following Snail Games’ GDC announcement of its "in-house developed new expansion map, Ark: Aquatica," the trailer showcases what the studio describes as a non-canonical side story set in an ambitious underwater environment where 95% of the gameplay occurs beneath the surface.
The backlash was immediate and fierce. Irish YouTuber Syntac, with over 1.9 million subscribers, expressed his dismay in the top comment on the trailer, stating, "This is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves." The sentiment was echoed across the board, with viewers labeling the trailer as "pathetic" and "embarrassing." The trailer is criticized for its use of generative AI imagery, evident in numerous visual 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.
In response, the original developer of Ark: Survival Evolved, Studio Wildcard, quickly distanced itself from the controversy. Clarifying on social media, the studio emphasized that Ark: Aquatica is not a project of their team. They reaffirmed their commitment to the development of Ark: Survival Ascended and Ark 2, and announced 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 the project 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 allure, Ark: The Animated Series star Michelle Yeoh reprises her role, bringing a familiar face to the contentious new expansion.
