Ubisoft's "Alterra": A New Voxel Game Blending Minecraft and Animal Crossing

Ubisoft Montreal, renowned for titles like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Far Cry 6, is embarking on an exciting new venture with a voxel game codenamed "Alterra." According to a report from Insider Gaming on November 26, this project has risen from the remnants of a previously canceled voxel game that was in development for four years. With over 18 months already invested in "Alterra," the game promises a unique blend of building and social simulation mechanics, drawing inspiration from the beloved games Minecraft and Animal Crossing.

Building and Social Simulation at the Core

The gameplay loop of "Alterra" is said to mirror that of Animal Crossing, where players interact with "Matterlings" on their home island. These Matterlings, designed to resemble Funko Pop figures with large heads, are inspired by various creatures including dragons, cats, and dogs, and come in different variations based on their attire. Players will have the opportunity to design their homes, engage in activities like catching bugs and other wildlife, and socialize with these unique characters.

Beyond the cozy confines of the home island, adventurers can explore diverse biomes, each offering unique building materials. For instance, a forested biome would provide ample resources for constructing wood-based structures. However, these explorations are not without risk, as players will encounter enemies along the way, adding an element of challenge to the otherwise serene experience.

Leadership and Development

Guiding the development of "Alterra" is Fabien Lhéraud, a seasoned Ubisoft veteran with 24 years of experience, serving as the lead producer. His LinkedIn profile hints at his involvement in a "Next Gen Unannounced Project" since December 2020. Patrick Redding, known for his work on Gotham Knights, Splinter Cell Blacklist, and Far Cry 2, joins the team as the creative director, bringing a wealth of experience to shape the game's vision.

While the details of "Alterra" are still under wraps and subject to change, the project's progress and Ubisoft's commitment to voxel-based graphics suggest a promising addition to the gaming landscape.

Understanding Voxel Games

Voxel games stand out for their distinctive approach to modeling and rendering game worlds. They use tiny cubes or pixels, much like LEGO bricks, to construct and render objects in 3D. This method contrasts with traditional polygon-based rendering, which uses millions of tiny triangles to create surfaces. In voxel games, every block or pixel contributes to the object's volume, eliminating empty spaces when players clip through objects.

Notable examples of voxel games include Teardown, where players execute heists by manipulating the environment pixel by pixel. Interestingly, despite its blocky aesthetic, Minecraft does not qualify as a true voxel game; its blocks are rendered using traditional polygon models. In contrast, games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and Metaphor: ReFantazio employ polygon-based rendering for efficiency.

Ubisoft's decision to develop "Alterra" using voxel-based graphics sets it apart and hints at a rich, immersive world waiting to be explored.