ARK: Aquatica DLC - Release Date, New Features, AI Trailer Controversy, & More

It has been over three years since the last DLC was released for ARK: Survival Evolved. Now, however, the wait for a new release is almost over! The ARK: Aquatica release date is only days away, and this release promises new locations, creatures, engrams, and more. We have all the information you need down below!

ARK: Aquatica - Release Date & New Features

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=OWTdUtQHRSg&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE You won't have to twiddle your thumbs for too long, as ARK: Aquatica releases on July 15! It will cost $8.99 US for the first two weeks of its release, and then $14.99 US. This puts it slightly on the cheaper side of ARK: Survival Evolved DLCs, but the developers promise plenty of new features can be enjoyed.

Under the Sea

The biggest addition is, of course, the enormous amount of undersea exploration. As the developers at Snail Games put it, ARK: Aquatica is a "non-canonical" side story DLC map. In it, there will be five different underwater biomes to travel through. In fact, roughly 95% of the DLC's new playable areas are completely submerged. Throughout each deepwater area, you'll discover a variety of new flora, fauna, ruins, and threats. You'll need to carefully navigate areas of increasing water pressure, sparse light, and underwater currents. Of course, you must also manage your oxygen levels while dredging the depths or you'll go belly up. It sounds dangerous, but the promise of new secrets and environments to explore might be worth the risk!

New Friends & Anemones

Some of those new secrets are 21 new aquatic creatures! These undersea threats and friends are waiting to be conquered or tamed, and some will feature brand-new abilities. Sadly, additional details on the new creatures are sparse at this point in time. However, we do know two upcoming critters:

• Mudpuppy
• Monodon

Unfortunately, the names are all we have to go on. It's safe to assume that these new animals will have their preferred undersea locations, and finding all 21 of the new beasties will take time. In addition to new creatures, there will be 74 new Engrams to discover and create. Again, details are few, but we know some Engrams will assist in adapting land creatures for water, constructing air pockets, and more! However, not knowing what's in store can be great. It can make one's journey through dangerous new locations feel even more rewarding.

ARK: Aquatica AI Trailer Controversy

On the other hand, plenty of players aren't feeling too eager to dive into ARK: Aquatica. Back in March 2025, a teaser trailer for the expansion was released. This trailer has since been removed from YouTube, as it was universally criticised due to its involvement in AI-generated content. As evidenced by the video being taken down, the fallout from fans was enormous. Since that AI-created trailer, fans have taken to forums like Reddit, less than pleased with new announcements. In response to the ARK: Aquatica July 15 release date, one user wrote, "Most anticipated delay in the franchise." Ouch. Still, many fans are eager to see the DLC arrive regardless of the poorly received AI trailer. With only a few days left until release, we won't have to wait long to see how everything turns out!