The recent trailer for Snail Games' Aquatica DLC for ARK: Survival Evolved has faced severe backlash from the community, with fans accusing it of relying heavily on AI-generated visuals. Observations include bizarre animations where characters display unrealistic features, such as a person appearing to have three hands or underwater creatures phasing in and out of existence. This has prompted prominent content creators in the ARK community, like Syntac, to voice their disappointment, questioning the effort put into the trailer. Studio Wildcard, the original developer, has distanced itself from the project, confirming that they are focused on their own titles while leaving Aquatica's development solely to Snail Games. The backlash highlights the expectations of long-time players who feel that the quality standards should be upheld for a franchise that has been around for over a decade.

Why are fans upset about the Aquatica DLC trailer for ARK: Survival Evolved?

Fans are upset due to perceived poor quality in the trailer, which features unrealistic animations and visuals that appear to be AI-generated, leading to questions about the creative effort and standards expected from a long-standing franchise like ARK.

ARK: Survival Evolved is a survival game that has captivated players since its release, allowing them to tame and interact with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures in a vast open-world environment. Following its debut, the game has continued to evolve through expansions and updates, creating a dedicated community. The announcement of ARK 2, featuring Vin Diesel, and the recent ARK: Survival Ascended remaster reflects the franchise's ongoing evolution and attempts to improve player experiences.