A new Minecraft and Animal Crossing-inspired game, codenamed "Alterra," is reportedly in development at Ubisoft Montreal. This voxel-based game promises a unique blend of building and social simulation mechanics. Let's dive into the details!
Minecraft and Animal Crossing Inspired Voxel Game in Development
Building and Social Sim Mechanics Combine
According to a November 26th Insider Gaming report, Ubisoft Montreal—the studio behind Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Far Cry 6—is developing "Alterra." This project reportedly emerged from a previously canceled four-year voxel game.
Sources suggest the gameplay will be similar to Animal Crossing, but instead of anthropomorphic animals, players interact with creatures called "Matterlings" on their home island. Think cozy home design, bug catching, and socializing, all hallmarks of the Animal Crossing experience.
Beyond the home island, players can explore diverse biomes, gathering materials and interacting with different Matterlings. However, the journey isn't without peril; enemies will challenge players along the way. The game also incorporates Minecraft-like mechanics, with biomes providing specific building materials—for example, forests offer plentiful wood.
Matterlings are described as resembling Funko Pop figures, with large heads and designs inspired by both fantastical creatures (like dragons) and familiar animals (cats, dogs, etc.). Variations exist within each species, based on their attire.
Development on "Alterra" began over 18 months ago, led by producer Fabien Lhéraud (a 24-year Ubisoft veteran) and creative director Patrick Redding (known for his work on Gotham Knights, Splinter Cell Blacklist, and Far Cry 2). Lhéraud's LinkedIn profile confirms his work on a "Next Gen Unannounced Project" starting in December 2020.
While this news is exciting, remember that "Alterra" is still under development and subject to change.
Understanding Voxel Games
Voxel games utilize a unique rendering technique. Objects are constructed from tiny cubes or voxels, assembled and rendered in 3D—think digital LEGO bricks. While Minecraft uses a voxel-like aesthetic, it actually renders its blocks using traditional polygon models.
This contrasts with polygon-based games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 or Metaphor: ReFantazio, which use millions of tiny triangles to create surfaces. Voxel games offer a unique solidity; you won't clip through objects as easily. While polygon rendering is often favored for efficiency, Ubisoft's use of voxels in "Alterra" presents an intriguing prospect.
