Ubisoft’s Bold New Game Mixes ‘Animal Crossing’ Vibes with ‘Minecraft’ Creativity

Ubisoft Montreal is reportedly working on a new game, codenamed ‘Alterra’, blending elements from ‘Animal Crossing’ and ‘Minecraft’. The project is led by Patrick Redding, known for his work on ‘Gotham Knights’.

‘Alterra’ has been in development for about 18 months, following the cancellation of a previous Ubisoft Montreal project that also focused on voxel creation. In ‘Alterra’, players will live on a home island inhabited by NPCs called Matterlings, which resemble Funko Pop figures and include designs inspired by both real and fictional creatures, such as polar bears and dragons.

The game combines social simulation with building mechanics similar to those in ‘Minecraft’. Players can gather resources from various biomes beyond their home island to create items.

Each biome offers unique resources, Matterling types, enemies, and materials. For example, an ice biome features snow-ice Matterlings and allows players to craft objects from snow and ice. Additionally, players may encounter each other while exploring these biomes.

Fabien Lhéraud, a veteran at Ubisoft, is serving as the lead producer for ‘Alterra’. The game’s release is expected to be a few years away.

This development aligns with Ubisoft’s focus on open-world and live-service games, as outlined in their recent financial report. Upcoming titles like ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ and ‘Star Wars Outlaws’ reflect this strategy. Ubisoft is also investing in generative AI to enhance game development and create more immersive experiences.

While ‘Alterra’ is still in the early stages, its combination of social interaction and creative building has the potential to offer a fresh experience for players.

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