Ubisoft Montreal, the acclaimed developer behind titles like Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Far Cry 6, is reportedly crafting a new voxel-based game named "Alterra." This exciting project, which has been in development for over 18 months, emerged from the remnants of a previously canceled voxel game that was in the works for four years. According to a report by Insider Gaming on November 26, "Alterra" aims to blend the engaging gameplay mechanics of Minecraft and the cozy, social simulation elements of Animal Crossing.
In "Alterra," players will experience a gameplay loop reminiscent of Animal Crossing, but with a twist. Instead of interacting with anthropomorphic NPCs, players will engage with "Matterlings" on their home island. These Matterlings, inspired by creatures such as dragons and animals like cats and dogs, are designed to resemble Funko Pop figures with large heads and varied clothing. Players can customize their homes, catch wildlife, and socialize with these unique characters, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Venturing beyond the home island, players can explore diverse biomes to gather materials and interact with different Matterlings. However, the journey is not without peril, as enemies pose a threat along the way. Similar to Minecraft, each biome in "Alterra" offers specific building materials; for example, a forested biome is rich in resources for constructing wood-based structures.
Leading the development of "Alterra" is Fabien Lhéraud, a 24-year veteran at Ubisoft, serving as the lead producer. His LinkedIn profile indicates he's been working on a "Next Gen Unannounced Project" since December 2020. Patrick Redding, known for his work on Gotham Knights, Splinter Cell Blacklist, and Far Cry 2, is the creative director. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding this project, it's important to remember that "Alterra" is still in development and subject to changes.
What are Voxel Games?
Voxel games are characterized by their use of tiny cubes or pixels to model and render objects in 3D, much like LEGO bricks. A prime example is Teardown, where players meticulously interact with environments, destroying objects pixel-by-pixel. Interestingly, Minecraft employs a voxel-like aesthetic but uses traditional polygon models for its blocks.
In contrast, polygon-based games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and Metaphor: ReFantazio use millions of tiny triangles to create surfaces. When players clip inside objects in these games, they often encounter empty spaces. Voxel games, however, maintain volume through stacked blocks or pixels. Despite the efficiency of polygon rendering, Ubisoft's "Alterra" promises to deliver a compelling experience with its voxel-based graphics.
