The gaming community has erupted in outrage over a new trailer for the Ark: Survival Evolved expansion from publisher Snail Games, which has been widely criticized for its use of substandard generative AI imagery. The trailer, released following Snail Games’ GDC announcement of the new expansion map, Ark: Aquatica, showcases an ambitious underwater setting where 95% of the gameplay occurs beneath the surface. However, the community's reaction has been overwhelmingly negative.

Irish YouTuber Syntac, a prominent figure in the Ark community 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, is currently the top response to the trailer on YouTube. Other viewers have echoed this sentiment, labeling the trailer as “pathetic” and “embarrassing.” The trailer is filled with glaring AI-generated errors, 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 quickly distanced itself from the project. On social media, the studio clarified that Ark: Aquatica is not being developed by their team and reaffirmed their commitment to Ark: Survival Ascended and Ark 2. They also announced excitement for the upcoming release of Ark: Lost Colony, a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended that will set the stage for the sequel.

Amidst uncertainties following the previously planned late 2024 release window for Ark 2, Studio Wildcard confirmed this week that development on the dinosaur survival sequel is ongoing. Additionally, fans can look forward to Ark: Lost Colony, which promises to bridge the narrative to the much-anticipated sequel.

Adding to the trailer's appeal, Ark: The Animated Series star Michelle Yeoh reprises her role, bringing a familiar face to the new expansion.