Ubisoft Montreal is developing a new voxel-based game, codenamed "Alterra," blending elements of Minecraft and Animal Crossing, according to a recent Insider Gaming report. This exciting project reportedly emerged from a previously canceled four-year voxel game.
The core gameplay loop draws inspiration from Animal Crossing, featuring a home island and interactions with "Matterlings," creatures described as resembling Funko Pops, with designs inspired by both fantasy creatures and real-world animals. Players can customize their homes, gather resources, and socialize.
Exploration extends beyond the home island to diverse biomes, each offering unique building materials. Combat is also present, adding a layer of challenge to resource gathering. The Minecraft-esque biome system provides different resources depending on the location, for example, forests offer ample wood.
Matterlings boast diverse appearances, with variations in clothing and species (dragons, cats, dogs, etc.). The game has been in development for over 18 months, led by producer Fabien Lhéraud (24 years at Ubisoft) and creative director Patrick Redding (known for Gotham Knights, Splinter Cell Blacklist, and Far Cry 2).
Understanding Voxel Games:
Voxel games utilize tiny cubes (voxels) to construct 3D environments. Unlike Minecraft, which uses a voxel-like aesthetic but relies on traditional polygon rendering, true voxel games build objects from these individual blocks, resulting in a distinct visual style and solid object interaction. This contrasts with polygon-based games (like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2) where objects are often rendered with hollow interiors.
While polygon rendering is generally more efficient, Ubisoft's "Alterra" promises a unique visual experience through its voxel-based graphics. Remember, the game is still in development, so details are subject to change.
