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 previously cancelled four-year development, features a unique gameplay loop centered around "Matterlings," Funko Pop-esque creatures that players interact with on their home island.

Exploration extends beyond the home island to diverse biomes, each offering unique building materials and encounters with different Matterlings and challenges. The Minecraft-inspired element is apparent in the biome-specific resource gathering; forests, for example, provide ample wood.

Matterlings, resembling stylized creatures with large heads, add a charming touch to the game's world. Their designs draw inspiration from both fantastical creatures like dragons and familiar animals such as cats and dogs, with variations based on their attire.

Under the lead of Fabien Lhéraud (a 24-year Ubisoft veteran) and creative director Patrick Redding (known for his work on titles like Gotham Knights and Far Cry 2), "Alterra" has been in development for over 18 months. While this information is promising, it's crucial to remember that the project is still in development and subject to change.

What are Voxel Games?

Voxel games utilize a unique rendering technique, employing tiny cubes or voxels to construct 3D objects. Think of it as a digital LEGO system. This differs from games like Minecraft, which, despite its blocky aesthetic, uses traditional polygon-based rendering for its blocks. True voxel games, unlike polygon-based games, offer a unique solidity; players can't typically clip through objects.

Games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 utilize polygon rendering, resulting in empty space when clipping through objects. Voxel games avoid this issue due to their block-based construction. While polygon rendering remains prevalent for its efficiency, Ubisoft's foray into voxel technology with "Alterra" is noteworthy.