Ubisoft seems to be setting its sights on creating a sim game that might just rival Animal Crossing. If the whispers can be trusted, their latest venture is code-named Alterra. This comes in the wake of a significant lull—over four years, to be precise—since New Horizons, the latest in Nintendo’s beloved series, took the gaming world by storm. That title itself came after an eight-year wait following New Leaf. But, if all goes according to plan, eager fans won’t have to count down nearly as long for their next cozy-game fix.
While Animal Crossing has always enjoyed a dedicated fan base, New Horizons catapulted it into an entirely new league of popularity. As the second best-selling game for the Switch, it even outperformed heavyweights like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Since then, however, Nintendo has kept pretty quiet about the series’ future, aside from its mobile spin-off, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. Should these rumors about Ubisoft turn out to be accurate, fans may find their next go-to comfort game was worth the wait.
An inside source recently spilled some beans to Insider Gaming, suggesting that Alterra might replicate the addictive gameplay loop seen in Animal Crossing, spiced up with building elements à la Minecraft. This intriguing project is reportedly 18 months into development, following Ubisoft’s decision to scrap a similar game that had been in the works for four years. While the gaming landscape features several indie games inspired by Animal Crossing, a project with Ubisoft’s backing would certainly merit attention if these rumblings are indeed true.
According to Insider Gaming’s source, Alterra might whisk players away to islands where they can engage with Matterlings, characters somewhat reminiscent of Animal Crossing’s villagers. Players would have the chance to hop between islands, meet other players, mingle with new Matterlings, and gather distinctive resources, much like what New Horizons offers. However, Alterra could take things further by enabling players to construct creations using the resources they collect, akin to the mechanics in Minecraft. Given the natural synergy between Animal Crossing’s charm and Minecraft’s creativity, it’s no surprise Ubisoft might want to blend these two beloved concepts.
Alterra’s Matterlings are poised to be more than just charming stand-ins for the usual animal villagers. Some will mimic real animals, while others will dive into fantasy realms, portraying dragons and other mythical creatures. As for its visual flair, Alterra will harness a voxel-based style similar to Minecraft with Matterlings sporting a design reminiscent of Funko Pops. It’s worth noting that for now, any specifics remain speculative. Should Alterra see the light of day, it might still be several years in the making. Meanwhile, there’s buzz about a potential Animal Crossing release in 2026, a timeline that might just edge past Alterra, assuming these gossip lines hold any water.
