The recent release of the Ark: Aquatica DLC for Ark: Survival Evolved has significantly disrupted gameplay, rendering some progress unplayable, and resulting in numerous player complaints. This DLC was highly anticipated, but its performance has fallen short of expectations.

Ark: Survival Evolved initially launched in 2017 and has since thrived, with total sales exceeding 76 million. Despite the early access launch of the remastered Ark: Survival Ascended in 2023, the original game remains popular, with continuous support from developer Studio Wildcard. However, the Ark: Aquatica DLC, which debuted on July 15 and was expected to add a substantial underwater biome system, has not delivered the desired results.

Issues reported include players encountering empty maps, slow performance, and compatibility problems with existing mods. Developer Snail Games acknowledged these concerns and activated a public branch of the game reflecting the version before the recent update, intending to mitigate player frustrations while addressing the underlying problems.

Community Reaction

The gaming community has reacted negatively to the DLC’s launch, as it accumulates “Overwhelmingly Negative” reviews on Steam. Moreover, the promotional trailer for Ark: Aquatica faced criticism for allegedly using AI-generated content, raising significant backlash among fans. Studio Snail Games has denied any involvement of generative AI tools in the DLC’s production.

As these issues unfold, Studio Wildcard continues to develop ARK 2, which is yet to receive a definitive release date. Earlier this year, it was revealed that a new DLC for Ark: Survival Ascended titled Ark: Lost Colony is slated for release in November 2025, effectively connecting the narratives of ARK: Extinction and ARK: Genesis in anticipation of ARK 2.