Core Viewpoint - The partnership between Snail Games and the game "ARK: Survival Evolved" has turned from a seemingly successful collaboration into a problematic situation, with Snail Games heavily reliant on this title for revenue, leading to significant challenges as player engagement declines [1][3][23]. Group 1: Company Overview - Snail Games has been largely sustained by "ARK," which accounted for over 90% of its total revenue, highlighting the company's dependence on this single title [3]. - The company has struggled to adapt to the changing gaming landscape, missing out on the mobile gaming boom and relying on "ARK" as its primary revenue source [3][23]. Group 2: Player Engagement and Game Performance - "ARK" has seen a decline in online player numbers since 2023, with peak concurrent players dropping to 37,316 in August and further declining to 26,244 in September [6][7]. - Despite attempts to boost engagement through new DLC releases, such as "ARK: Summer Ocean," these efforts have not reversed the downward trend in player numbers [7][9]. Group 3: Game Development and Community Response - The release of "ARK: Survival Ascended," a remastered version of the original game, has been met with criticism as it requires players to pay for access despite owning the original game [11][14]. - Players have expressed dissatisfaction with monetization strategies, including the introduction of paid features and DLCs that create a divide among players [18][20]. Group 4: Future Prospects and Challenges - Snail Games is attempting to diversify its revenue streams by developing "ARK 2" and exploring mobile versions, but these efforts have had mixed results [23][25]. - The company's reliance on "ARK" raises concerns about its long-term sustainability, as the game’s profitability may be reaching its limits, necessitating a search for new successful titles [23][29].