Studio Wildcard, the developers behind ARK: Survival Evolved, has resorted to giving players a tiny incentive to acquire more votes for the Steam Awards.

With Steam's winter sale still in full gear, players are flocking to the library to purchase games at steeply discounted prices, and with it comes along Steam's heavy promotion of its own awards, with a number of titles up for wacky awards.

Studio Wildcard Gunning For A Steam Award

The Steam Awards, judging by the categories, are seemingly for fun and games only, instead of coming off as a weighted accolade. But some developers are taking it more seriously than others, like Studio Wildcard for example. The studio is now promising future content for ARK: Survival Evolved, coaxing players to vote for the game to win its nomination for the "Best Use of a Farm Animal" category.

In a post on the game's Steam community discussion forum, a studio representative urged players to issue their votes for the game. Should it win, Ovis, a sheep, will be added in a future update.

"If ARK wins the award, we will ensure that our fluffy friend quickly makes its debut on the ARK in the next major version update! Let's face it, ARK does have the raddest animals and what better way to thank them for all farming & fighting they do than by honouring them with the 'Best Use Of A Farm Animal' Award,'" the now-defunct post read.

However, the developers can't sweep the dust under the rug so easily, as it was archived.

Now, some Steam players didn't take the studio's nudging too well, drawing upset responses from the community. Some are even calling the gesture as an underhanded bribe, with some lamenting Studio Wildcard's sly earnestness.

ARK: Survival Evolved

ARK: Survival Evolved is an open world survival game released last year in June. It tasks players to hunt, harvest, grow crops, and build shelters to survive a harrowing world inhabited by dinosaurs. Players can kill, tame, breed, and ride these primeval creatures, navigating the sprawling island called ARK.

Those who want to cast their votes for ARK: Survival Evolved may do so by visiting the Steam Awards page. Steam will announce all the winners at the beginning of January.

Cast your votes yet? Will you heed Studio wildcard's call? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!