Ubisoft Montreal is developing a new voxel-based game, codenamed "Alterra," blending the building mechanics of Minecraft with the social simulation aspects of Animal Crossing. This exciting project, reportedly born from a cancelled four-year development, features a unique gameplay loop.
Players will interact with "Matterlings," Funko Pop-esque creatures inspired by fantasy and real-world animals, on their home island. The cozy atmosphere encourages home design, collecting, and socializing. Beyond the home island, diverse biomes offer exploration, resource gathering, and encounters with both friendly and hostile Matterlings. The Minecraft influence is clear in the biome-specific building materials; forests provide wood, for example.
Matterlings, with their distinctive large heads, offer a wide variety of appearances depending on their species and clothing. The project, over 18 months in development, is led by producer Fabien Lhéraud (24 years at Ubisoft) and creative director Patrick Redding (known for work on titles such as Gotham Knights and Splinter Cell Blacklist).
While promising, remember that "Alterra" is still in development and details are subject to change.
Understanding Voxel Games:
Voxel games utilize tiny cubes (voxels) to construct 3D environments, much like digital LEGO bricks. This contrasts with polygon-based games, which use triangles to create surfaces. The voxel approach provides a unique aesthetic and solid object construction, unlike polygon-based games where clipping through objects is possible. While polygon rendering is often preferred for efficiency, Ubisoft's choice of voxel graphics for "Alterra" suggests a visually distinct and potentially innovative gaming experience.
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