Ubisoft Montreal Unveils "Alterra," a Novel Voxel-Based Social Sim
Ubisoft Montreal, renowned for titles like Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Far Cry 6, is reportedly developing a new voxel game codenamed "Alterra," as revealed by Insider Gaming on November 26th. This project, drawing inspiration from both Minecraft and Animal Crossing, reportedly emerged from a previously cancelled four-year voxel project.
The core gameplay loop, according to sources, mirrors the charm of Animal Crossing. Instead of anthropomorphic characters, players interact with "Matterlings," creatures resembling Funko Pops with large heads and designs inspired by both fantasy creatures (dragons) and familiar animals (cats, dogs). These Matterlings exhibit variations in appearance based on their attire.
Beyond the home island, players can explore diverse biomes, gathering unique materials for construction. This Minecraft-esque element ties biome exploration to building materials; forests, for example, provide ample wood. However, exploration isn't without peril; enemies inhabit these different environments.
The game, led by producer Fabien Lhéraud (a 24-year Ubisoft veteran) and creative director Patrick Redding (known for his work on Gotham Knights, Splinter Cell Blacklist, and Far Cry 2), has been in development for over 18 months, beginning in December 2020.
While the details are exciting, it's crucial to remember that "Alterra" is still under development and subject to change.
Understanding Voxel Games
Voxel games employ a unique rendering technique. They utilize tiny cubes (voxels) to construct and render 3D objects, much like digital LEGO bricks. This contrasts with polygon-based rendering (used in games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2), which utilizes triangles to create surfaces. The voxel approach provides a distinct visual style and eliminates the clipping issues often found in polygon-based games. While polygon rendering is often preferred for efficiency, Ubisoft's embrace of voxel technology in "Alterra" is noteworthy.
While Minecraft utilizes a voxel-like aesthetic, it's technically not a true voxel game; its blocks are rendered using traditional polygon models. "Alterra," however, promises a genuine voxel experience.
