Ubisoft seems to be cooking up something exciting that could resonate with fans of Animal Crossing—a potentially new game with its working title, Alterra. It’s an endeavor that’s said to embrace the charm of Animal Crossing, combined with creative building elements akin to Minecraft. The development team is rumored to have been engaged in bringing this concept to life for about a year and a half, following the cancellation of a similar project that was already four years deep into its creation cycle. What’s intriguing is that Alterra could feature a voxel-based style, reminiscent of construction games like Minecraft.
The gaming community has witnessed Animal Crossing become a beloved staple over time, but its launch of New Horizons literally catapulted its status into the stratosphere. Standing proudly as the second best-selling Switch game, New Horizons has even surpassed titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in terms of copies sold. Despite its runaway success, Nintendo has kept mum on significant updates for the series’ future, leaving fans thirsty for more of its enchanting magic. With whispers of Ubisoft’s project circulating, it seems there might be a new cozy title on the horizon to keep players engaged.
An inside source revealed to Insider Gaming that Alterra could incorporate gameplay aspects similar to those found in Animal Crossing but with innovative building features that borrow from Minecraft’s playbook. This combination could set Alterra apart, especially given Ubisoft’s heavyweight status in the industry, making it noteworthy amidst several Animal Crossing-inspired indie titles already in the market.
The idea of Alterra paints a picture of players inhabiting an island where they can interact with friendly NPCs named Matterlings. This setup is reminiscent of Animal Crossing: New Horizons with a twist, as players will have opportunities to hop between islands, discover new Matterlings, and gather unique materials. Imagine combining all this with the ability to craft and build as you do in Minecraft; it’s a creative match fans have often speculated about, and Ubisoft may be setting the stage to bring it to life.
Unlike Animal Crossing’s villagers, Alterra’s Matterlings won’t just be animals. They could range from dragons to various fictional creatures, adding a sprinkle of fantasy to the mix. The game promises a voxel-based aesthetic, likely to give it a distinct look, potentially similar to the popular Funko Pops. While all these details fuel anticipation, it’s crucial to note that nothing is officially confirmed yet. If Alterra is indeed in the pipeline, fans might have to wait a little while before it hits the shelves. Rumors suggest that the next Animal Crossing installment might debut in 2026, possibly beating Alterra to the punch, but who knows what the future holds? All these snippets of information certainly leave room for speculation and excitement.
