Overview

• Snail Games released the ARK: Aquatica trailer at GDC 2025, featuring AI-generated visuals and narration, which fans widely criticized as low-quality and unrepresentative of the game.
• The trailer was delisted from YouTube following overwhelmingly negative reactions, including a significant dislike ratio and thousands of critical comments.
• Studio Wildcard, the original developer of ARK: Survival Evolved, publicly distanced itself from the project, reiterating its focus on ARK: Survival Ascended and ARK 2.
• Critics and fans expressed broader concerns about the use of AI in game development, viewing it as a cost-cutting measure that undermines artistic and technical quality.
• The backlash highlights ongoing dissatisfaction with Snail Games' management of the ARK franchise, which has faced previous controversies over financial decisions and project delays.