Ark: Survival Evolved’s poop button was a suicide alternative

‘It’s the only conceivable biological function you could kill yourself with’

Dino-themed survival sandbox Ark: Survival Evolved is a bit poop-obsessed, reaching Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain “Do it (Defecate)” heights of in-game feces.

And while Ark‘s poop button is funny and even has resource use in the crafting and farming systems, it was born of a need to have a way to let players kill themselves, Studio Wildcard co-founder Susan Stieglitz told Kotaku.

“If you’re trapped in a room,” she explained, “it’s the only conceivable biological function you could kill yourself with. Originally, we were debating putting in a suicide key to escape situations like that.

“Pooping is obviously pretty funny, and it had some marketing value, but it actually emerged as a solution to the idea of a suicide hot key — of instant death that would just feel cheap.” Pooping with style, then, kind of like LittleBigPlanet adorable POP! suicide button, but more gross. Stayed tuned for more poop-related tales from this GDC. The show was heavy with them.