ARK’s Newest AI DLC Trailer Sparks Massive Community Backlash
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- ARK released a trailer for Aquatica, their upcoming paid DLC expansion map.
- The trailer was widely criticised by viewers for its overuse of AI.
- The Voice Actor is AI-generated, while the visual assets also appear to be created by AI.
ARK revealed their newest expansion map trailer, showcasing the underwater region of Aquatica. The trailer showcased widespread use of AI – the narrator was evidently AI generated, while the assets appear to be AI generated as well.
The game’s community did not respond positively to the AI festered trailer. The YouTube video trailer currently sits at 213 likes and 6.4 thousand dislikes, making for more than a 96% dislike ratio. As for the comments, gamers are almost unanimously speaking out against the use of AI – a trend that big game companies may continue to push for.
“This is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves,” the top rated comment said. The comment was created by YouTuber Syntac, an ARK gaming YouTuber who has gained a respectable following on the platform.
The expansion is planned to release in June 2025. As of March 19, no real gameplay footage has been revealed – only AI generated cut scenes and environments. The Aquatica expansion celebrates the “special 10 year-anniverasry” for ARK – a celebration which apparently warrants the exploration of AI over passionately created game development art.
Here are the game features being added in the new expansion:
- Fully Underwater Gameplay Experience: Explore a completely submerged ARK, introducing new mechanics and survival challenges.
- Family-Friendly Starting Biome: Begin your adventure in a more approachable biome designed for players of all ages.
- Reimagined ARK Universe: Experience a fresh perspective on the ARK world, pushing the boundaries of lore and exploration.
- Exclusive ASE Official Server Support: Limited-time support for official servers, enhancing the multiplayer experience.
Aquatica’s posting on Steam shows no explicit communication regarding the use of AI – and neither does the official trailer.
The original studio behind ARK, Studio Wildcard, is not responsible for this expansion. Publicly revealed on Twitter, “Aquatica is being developed by SnailGamesUSA Colorado. […] Studio Wildcard remains entirely dedicated to the production of ARK: Survival Ascended & ARK 2.”
