ARK: Aquatica Surfaces with New Trailer – But Can It Dive Deep Enough to Please Fans?
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
ARK: Survival Evolved's Aquatica expansion is here, bringing underwater adventures and a new trailer aiming to make up for a rocky start, but whether it can fully submerge players in a good experience remains to be seen. Early adopters get a discount, so maybe it's worth taking the plunge to see if the game has found its depth.
Right, so ARK: Survival Evolved just chucked a brand-new expansion, Aquatica, into the deep end, and to celebrate, they've splashed out a new trailer. Snail Games, bless their cotton socks, announced this ambitious underwater adventure way back at GDC, promising a whopping 95% of gameplay would be submerged. Blimey, that's a lot of H2O!
But here's where things get a bit murky. Remember that initial trailer? Yeah, the one that got roasted harder than a Christmas turkey because folks spotted what looked suspiciously like AI-generated imagery? Ouch. And the follow-up teaser? Barely enough to whet the appetite of a goldfish, let alone a hardcore ARK player.
This new launch trailer, though, looks like they're trying to make amends. We're talking prehistoric beasties galore – both the aquatic and land-lubbing kind – chilling alongside tribes of humans. Apparently, these humans are using their dino-pals for transport both above and below the waves via… wind funnels? Okay, I'm intrigued. And it's not all dolphin-friendly, there's some proper underwater scraps too. Plus, some genuinely stunning underwater vistas. Noice.
Aquatica throws players into the first submerged ARK, complete with islands poking above the waterline. Expect fresh survival challenges, some seriously hazardous environments, a massive map to explore, and unique gameplay twists. We're talking 21 new creatures to tame (good luck with that, mate!), 74 new Engrams to unlock, including seven tek Engrams, and new ways to breathe underwater, like air pockets and, get this, propulsion vehicles! Sounds like a right ol' treasure hunt, doesn't it?
And apparently, there's a narrative connecting multiple ARKs. What does this all mean? Perhaps a deeper story than just "survive the dinosaurs". *Perhaps*. ARK: Aquatica is currently a PC exclusive on Steam and, for the first two weeks, they've knocked 40% off the price, bringing it down to a more palatable $8.99. There's also a new bundle up for grabs, ARK: New Depths, that gets you both ARK: Survival Evolved and the Aquatica Expansion Map at a 20% discount. A decent deal if you're new to the franchise, or just looking to dive in with a fresh perspective.
Will this expansion be enough to wash away the bad taste of the earlier trailers? Only time will tell. But hey, at least it looks like they're actually trying this time around. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to tame a megalodon. Wish me luck.
Tags: ARK: Survival Evolved, Aquatica, Expansion, Underwater, Trailer
Original article: IGN South Africa