Social Sim Game "Alterra" Dev'd by Ubisoft

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 resurrected from a previously canceled four-year development, features a unique gameplay loop.

Players will interact with "Matterlings," creatures resembling Funko Pops, inspired by fantasy and real-world animals, each with unique variations in clothing. The core gameplay involves building and socializing on a home island, but also venturing into diverse biomes to gather resources and encounter challenges. Different biomes provide distinct building materials, mirroring Minecraft's resource-gathering system.

The game has been in development for over 18 months, led by producer Fabien Lhéraud (a 24-year Ubisoft veteran) and creative director Patrick Redding (known for his work on titles like Gotham Knights and Splinter Cell). While details are still emerging, the use of voxel technology, unlike Minecraft's voxel-aesthetic approach, promises a unique visual experience.

Understanding Voxel Games:

Voxel games utilize small cubes or pixels to create 3D objects, akin to digital LEGO bricks. This differs from polygon-based games (like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2) that use triangles to render surfaces. Voxel's block-based construction provides a distinct visual style and eliminates the "clipping" issues often found in polygon-based games.

While polygon rendering remains the industry standard for efficiency, Ubisoft's commitment to voxel technology in "Alterra" is a noteworthy development. Remember, this information is preliminary and subject to change as the game is still under development.