Ubisoft Montreal's "Alterra": A New Voxel-Based Social Sim Game
Ubisoft Montreal, renowned for titles like Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Far Cry 6, is reportedly developing a new voxel game codenamed "Alterra," as revealed by Insider Gaming on November 26th. This project, drawing inspiration from both Minecraft and Animal Crossing, reportedly emerged from a previously cancelled four-year voxel project.
Blending Building and Social Interaction
The gameplay loop, according to sources, will resemble Animal Crossing. Instead of anthropomorphic villagers, players will interact with "Matterlings," creatures described as resembling Funko Pops, featuring large heads and designs inspired by both fantasy creatures (like dragons) and common animals (cats, dogs). These Matterlings exhibit variations in appearance based on their attire.
Players will establish a home island, customize their dwellings, and engage in social interactions with the Matterlings. Exploration extends beyond the home island, with players venturing into diverse biomes to gather resources and encounter new Matterlings. However, these journeys aren't without peril, as enemies will pose a challenge. The Minecraft influence is evident in the biome-specific building materials; forested biomes, for example, offer abundant wood.
Development and Team
"Alterra" has been in development for over 18 months, led by producer Fabien Lhéraud (24 years at Ubisoft), 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 involvement in a "Next Gen Unannounced Project" starting December 2020.
Voxel Games Explained
Voxel games utilize tiny cubes (voxels) as their fundamental building blocks, creating 3D objects through their aggregation. Unlike Minecraft, which uses a voxel-like aesthetic but employs traditional polygon models for its blocks, true voxel games, like the planned "Alterra," offer a distinct visual and interaction style. This contrasts with polygon-based rendering (used in games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2), where objects are constructed from triangles, potentially leading to clipping issues.
While still in development and subject to change, "Alterra" promises a unique blend of social simulation and voxel-based construction, offering a potentially exciting new gaming experience. Remember to approach this information with cautious optimism.
