Ark: Survival Evolved Fans Criticize AI-Generated Trailer for Aquatica DLC

The publisher of Ark: Survival Evolved, Snail Games, released a strange and poorly received trailer for the new expansion titled Ark: Aquatica on Wednesday. This announcement quickly provoked strong criticism from the community of players.

In a notable response, the original developer of Ark, Studio Wildcard, took steps to distance itself from the trailer for Aquatica. They clarified through social media that they are not involved in this project. This reaction shows a disconnect between the creators and the new direction taken for the expansion.

The backlash against the Aquatica trailer primarily stems from its almost entirely AI-generated content. Viewers noted that both the video footage and the robotic voice narration proclaimed that “a whole new world is waiting,” which felt unconvincing to many.

The trailer is filled with the kind of uncanny imagery associated with generative AI, which has faced criticism over the last few years. Observers pointed out that the movement looks unnatural, limbs seem to morph oddly, and the overall visual quality has an artificial feel. Viewers did not hold back in expressing their disdain for the trailer.

A popular Ark streamer, Syntac, shared his discontent by commenting, “This is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves,” reflecting the anger of many in the community. Another streamer, The AxeMan, also voiced frustration, stating, “You are so out of touch with your audience. DO BETTER.”

While revealing Aquatica, Snail Games faced backlash not just from players but also received a statement from Studio Wildcard. They confirmed their commitment to other projects, saying, “ARK: Aquatica is being developed by Snail Games Colorado; please follow them for more updates.” Studio Wildcard further expressed their focus on producing upcoming projects like ARK: Survival Ascended and ARK 2, and mentioned they are excited to release ARK: Lost Colony later this year.

ARK: Survival Ascended, which entered early access in 2023, is a remaster of the original Ark: Survival Evolved built on Unreal Engine 5. Recently, Studio Wildcard released a new trailer for ARK: Lost Colony, and this animation was produced by the reputable Japanese animation studio MAPPA, known for works like Attack on Titan and Chainsaw Man.

In conclusion, the response to the reveal of Aquatica was far from what Snail Games might have expected. The add-on, marketed as a “non-canonical side story,” is set to launch in June, aiming to provide a “family-friendly” gateway for new players. However, it remains to be seen how well players will receive an expansion heavily reliant on generative AI.

game, trailer, AI