A new Ark: Survival Evolved expansion trailer from publisher Snail Games has sparked widespread condemnation from the Ark community due to its use of low-quality generative AI imagery.

The trailer was released following Snail Games' GDC announcement of its "in-house developed new expansion map, Ark: Aquatica." The studio describes this expansion as a non-canonical side story set in an ambitious underwater environment, where 95% of the gameplay occurs beneath the surface.

"This is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves," stated Irish YouTuber Syntac in a top comment on the Ark: Aquatica trailer. With over 1.9 million subscribers, Syntac's strong reaction reflects the sentiment of many in the Ark community. Other viewers echoed similar sentiments, describing the trailer as "pathetic" and "embarrassing." The trailer is filled with obvious signs of AI-generated content, including fish that blur in and out of existence, a deformed hand holding a spear gun, a levitating octopus in front of an ambiguous shipwreck, and human feet morphing into flippers.

Behold the spectacle of a man's foot transforming into a fin.

In response, the original Ark: Survival Evolved developer, Studio Wildcard, has distanced itself from the controversy, clarifying on social media that Ark: Aquatica is not being developed by their team. They reaffirmed their commitment to Ark: Survival Ascended & Ark 2, and expressed excitement about the upcoming release of Ark: Lost Colony later this year.

After missing its previously planned late 2024 release window, the future of Ark 2 has been uncertain among fans. However, 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 serve as a lead-in to the sequel.

Notably, Ark: The Animated Series star Michelle Yeoh reprises her role in the trailer.