Report: Ubisoft Developing a Social Simulation Game Inspired by Animal Crossing

Rumor has it that Ubisoft is brewing up something fascinating—a new voxel-based social simulation game called ‘Alterra.’ This title is set to join the ranks of beloved life simulation games like Stardew Valley, Coral Island, and Castaway Paradise. As Xbox players already have a fair share of Animal Crossing-inspired games, Ubisoft’s venture definitely faces some competition!

According to Insider Gaming, Alterra seems to draw inspiration from the charming world of Nintendo’s Animal Crossing. It offers players the joy of inhabiting an island alongside quirky Funko Pop-style characters known as Matterlings. But that’s not all—Ubisoft is reportedly incorporating Minecraft-like building mechanics, enabling players to craft and customize their ideal island getaway.

In addition to personalizing our home turf, Alterra is expected to offer explorations to different worlds, complete with diverse biomes. Imagine venturing into these themed realms to gather new materials for constructing unique items back home. Each world will have its own distinct Matterlings—sporting large Funko-esque heads—alongside themed enemies and resources, inspired by both fantastical creatures and real-world fauna.

The buzz suggests that Ubisoft plans to introduce new Matterlings over the game’s lifecycle, each sporting varied outfits and characteristics. There’s also talk about player interaction, though details on the multiplayer aspect remain under wraps. Could we soon be exploring each other’s worlds?

Interestingly, Alterra’s origins trace back to another canceled voxel project. Development has reportedly been underway for about 18 months at Ubisoft Montreal, with Patrick Redding, formerly of Gotham Knights, leading the creative charge. Meanwhile, Ubisoft veteran Fabien Lhéraud is steering the project as lead producer.

In other Ubisoft happenings, there’s fresh chatter about some intriguing stealth elements in the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows. But back to Alterra—does the prospect of a social sim from Ubisoft excite you? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!