Ubisoft Allegedly Creating a Social Sim Inspired by Animal Crossing

There’s some exciting buzz around Ubisoft’s latest project, rumored to be a game called ‘Alterra’. Word on the street is that the company is diving into the world of voxel-based social simulations with a style reminiscent of Animal Crossing. This new venture comes at a time when games like Stardew Valley, Coral Island, and Castaway Paradise are already winning hearts on Xbox, setting the stage for some interesting competition.

Insider Gaming reports that Alterra is set to blend the charming essence of Animal Crossing with the creative mechanics of Minecraft. Imagine having an island home teeming with Funko Pop-like characters known as Matterlings. These NPCs fill the vibrant world, while you get to flex your creativity using building mechanics akin to those in Minecraft to piece together your dream island sanctuary.

But the fun doesn’t stop at your island’s shores. Alterra will take players on adventures to diverse biomes across different worlds, perfect for hunting down unique materials to bring back to your own domain. Each world is expected to boast its own theme, complete with Matterlings that share the locale’s style — think big-headed, quirky creatures inspired by both the animal kingdom and fantasy.

Additionally, Ubisoft plans to keep the game dynamic and fresh by introducing new Matterlings over time. These characters will even sport different outfits, adding a touch of variety. Interaction with other players seems to be on the cards too, although details on the multiplayer aspect remain a bit of a mystery. Perhaps there’ll be opportunities to visit and explore others’ carefully crafted worlds?

Alterra reportedly emerged from the ashes of a canceled voxel project, with its creation process underway for the last 18 months spearheaded by the team at Ubisoft Montreal. Patrick Redding, known for his work on Gotham Knights, is serving as Creative Director, while the seasoned Fabien Lhéraud takes the lead as producer.

In more Ubisoft tidbits, there’s buzz around the intriguing new stealth elements being introduced in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. But sticking with Alterra—what do you think about Ubisoft diving into the social sim genre? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to share in the comments!