Nobody Wants To Take Responsibility For ARK’s Bizarre AI Trailer – Aftermath

🔍 Summary:

The recent trailer for “ARK: Aquatica,” an undersea DLC for the game “ARK: Survival Evolved,” has faced significant backlash from fans due to its poor quality and apparent reliance on AI-generated visuals. Released at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) by Snail Games, the trailer has been criticized for its unnatural effects and confusing content, leading to nearly 500,000 views but only 1,600 upvotes on YouTube. The top comment on the trailer, with 21,000 upvotes, calls it “disgusting.”

In response to the controversy, Studio Wildcard, the original creator of “ARK: Survival Evolved,” has distanced itself from the project, stating that Snail Games Colorado is handling the development and directing fans to follow them for updates. Studio Wildcard emphasized its focus on other projects, including “ARK: Survival Ascended” and the upcoming “ARK 2.”

Matt Kohl, the lead game designer at Snail Games, explained that the problematic trailer was produced by the marketing department without input from the development team, using AI to animate game assets. He clarified that AI has not been used in the actual development of “Aquatica.” Despite this, the marketing decision has raised concerns about the use of AI in game promotion, highlighting the potential for misrepresentation and the impact on a game’s reception.

The incident underscores the challenges and risks associated with AI in creative processes, particularly in how it can affect the perception of a project and the broader implications for developers and publishers in managing their relationships and maintaining control over their products’ marketing.

📌 Source: https://aftermath.site/ark-aquatica-ai-trailer-snail-games-studio-wildcard-youtube