The latest trailer for the Ark: Aquatica expansion has caused a mix of confusion and disappointment in the community. What was intended as an exciting announcement of a new underwater adventure ended in a visual disaster that crosses the boundaries of good taste. The trailer, which was almost entirely generated with artificial intelligence (AI), has shocked both fans and critics.

Criticism of AI Generation

The trailer begins with a few seconds of actual gameplay, only to abruptly transition into a bizarre mix of AI-generated images. These sequences are characterized by an unnatural quality reminiscent of the typical errors found in AI-generated videos: fish disappear and reappear, human limbs deform into impossible positions, and an octopus materializes out of nowhere with only six arms. These visual inconsistencies have led to a flood of negative comments, describing the trailer as “disgusting” and “pathetic.”

Community Reaction

The reactions on social media and platforms like YouTube are clear: the trailer has received overwhelmingly negative feedback. Prominent Ark content creators have publicly distanced themselves, calling the trailer “abhorrent.” The community feels betrayed by Snail Games, as the trailer neither accurately represents the content nor the atmosphere of the game.

Studio Wildcard’s Distancing

Interestingly, Studio Wildcard, the original developer of Ark: Survival Evolved, immediately distanced itself from the project. This distancing highlights the dissatisfaction within the Ark community and raises questions about the future of the franchise.

Conclusion

The trailer for Ark: Aquatica is an example of how not to use AI in the gaming industry. The decision to generate almost the entire trailer with AI not only looks cheap but also disrespectful to fans who expect real content, not just synthetic images. Snail Games should take the criticism to heart and strive to meet the community’s expectations, rather than relying on cheap marketing tricks. The future of Ark: Aquatica now depends on whether Snail Games can learn from this misstep.

Studio Wildcard has released an exciting new trailer for “ARK: Bob’s Tall Tales – Steampunk Ascent,” giving fans a tantalizing glimpse into the upcoming expansion. This latest addition to the ARK universe promises to take players beyond the underground chaos of Aberration into a world ruled by gears, cogs, and steam power.

A Story Told by Legends

The trailer showcases the charming narrative structure of Bob’s Tall Tales. The story is narrated by ARK’s legendary “Bob” (voiced by Karl Urban, known from “The Boys”) to young Meeka (voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho from “Moana”). Bob recounts his supposedly crucial role in ARK’s epic plot, which is sure to provide some humorous moments.

New Features and Additions

Steampunk Ascent brings a wealth of new content to the game:

• Zeppelin Airship: An impressive new mode of transportation that will revolutionize world exploration.
• Cosmo: A new tameable companion with fascinating abilities.
• New Weapons and Tools: Players can look forward to an expanded arsenal.
• Structures and Cosmetics: 11 new structures and 15 new player character cosmetics offer diverse customization options.

A Special New Companion

A highlight of the expansion is SIR-5rM8, a clockwork robot companion voiced by Alan Tudyk. This charming robot promises to be a faithful companion in players’ adventures.

Availability

ARK: Aberration Ascended and ARK: Bob’s Tale Tales’ Steampunk Ascent expansion packs for ARK: Survival Ascended are available now. With its unique blend of steampunk aesthetics, new gameplay elements, and charming storytelling, Bob’s Tall Tales: Steampunk Ascent promises to offer ARK: Survival Evolved fans an unforgettable adventure. Whether newcomers or veterans, this expansion invites players to don their goggles and dive into a world where fantasy and science merge in spectacular fashion.

“Ark: The Animated Series” based on the survival game “Ark: Survival Evolved” is not suitable for children, despite the cartoon style. The first two episodes, each about 20 minutes long, contain a lot of violence and brutality. The series tells the prehistory of the game and is about a battle between humans and dinosaurs in a science fiction setting. The two main characters are forcibly separated from their daughter and have to fight for survival in a hostile environment full of dinosaurs and other primeval creatures. There are many scenes of violence, such as humans being eaten by dinosaurs, stabbed, or shot with arrows. The violence is not shown in detail, but is still intense. The series is aimed more at fans of the game who want to learn more about the background story. For children, however, the series is not suitable due to the high level of violence. On the streaming service Tubi, where the series is available, it is rated as “adult”. In summary, despite the animated style, “Ark: The Animated Series” contains a lot of violence and brutal scenes that make it unsuitable for children. It is aimed more at adult fans of the survival game who are interested in the backstory.

On October 26, 2023, the Early Access version of ARK: Survival Ascended was released on Steam. The launch on PlayStation and Xbox is scheduled for November. In the new launch trailer, the developers show how incredibly cool the survival fight with the dinosaurs looks in Unreal Engine 5.