Ubisoft Is Making An Animal Crossing-Style Game, Report Claims

Ubisoft is reportedly working on an Animal Crossing-inspired game called Alterra. In the game, players will build their home on an island inhabited by NPCs called “Matterlings.” Players can leave their home to discover new biomes, Matterlings, and materials out in broader environs.

Insider Gaming first reported on Alterra’s development. According to the report, the game will use voxels to generate its world. For the unfamiliar, voxel graphics display cubes on a grid, a la Minecraft. Alterra is also set to feature building and crafting mechanics, letting players construct items and locations out of materials they find out in the world. The report claims Alterra was developed from a cancelled project which also used voxel graphics.

Insider Gaming claims they have seen images of Alterra’s NPCs. The Matterlings are reported to resemble Funko Pops, i.e. cartoon figures with large heads, albeit in a voxel style. Some Matterlings resemble fictional creatures like dragons, others real-world animals like birds and polar bears.

The report asserts that Alterra is under development at Ubisoft Montreal. Patrick Redding (formerly lead on Gotham Knights) is the project’s creative director. Fabien Lhéraud–who has worked as a marketing, brand, and media manager at Ubisoft for over 20 years–is Alterra’s lead producer. The report indicates that the game has been in development for 18 months and is likely still years away.