Ubisoft is allegedly working on a game inspired by Animal Crossing called Alterra. It has players building their homes on islands inhabited by NPCs called “Matterlings.” Players are able to leave their home to discover new biomes, Matterlings, and materials out in broader environs.
Development of Alterra was first reported by Insider Gaming. According to the article, the game will use voxels to generate its world. Voxels display graphics via cubes on a grid, like Minecraft. Alterra will also feature building and crafting mechanics, allowing players to construct locations and items out of materials they find out in the world. The report claims that Alterra was developed from a previous project that featured voxel graphics.
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Furthermore, Insider Gaming claims they have seen images of Alterra’s NPCs. The Matterlings reportedly resemble Funko Pops (cartoony figures with large heads, in a voxel style). Some Matterlings resemble fictional creatures such as dragons and other real-world animals like polar bears and birds.
The report states that Alterra is under development at Ubisoft Montreal. Patrick Redding (former lead on Gotham Knights) is serving as the project’s creative director. Fabien Lhéraud (marketer, band, and media manager at Ubisoft for over 20 years) is serving as Alterra’s lead producer. Finally, the report indicates that the game has been in development for 18 months and is likely years away.