Ubisoft has made the decision to cancel an unannounced life simulation game known as Alterra, a project that had been in development for nearly three years. This ambitious title sought to blend elements reminiscent of Animal Crossing with the voxel building mechanics of Minecraft. Fortunately, the cancellation has not led to any immediate layoffs within the company.
Project Overview and Development Team
As reported by Insider Gaming, the development team behind Alterra was informed of the game’s cancellation on Tuesday, April 21st. The developers have been offered the opportunity to transition to other ongoing projects within Ubisoft. However, the impact on unnamed support studios that had also contributed to Alterra remains uncertain.
In response to inquiries from IGN regarding the cancellation, a Ubisoft spokesperson refrained from commenting specifically on Alterra. Instead, they emphasized the company’s commitment to a strategic portfolio management approach:
“As part of our portfolio management approach and evolving creative house-led model, we continuously assess projects at every stage of development to ensure alignment with our strategic priorities, quality ambitions, and long-term market potential. Projects that no longer meet these expectations may be discontinued.”
Alterra was being spearheaded by Patrick Redding, known for his role as the creative director on Gotham Knights, alongside lead producer Fabien Lhéraud. Redding’s impressive resume includes pivotal roles in the development of Splinter Cell: Blacklist and Far Cry 2.
Context of Recent Changes at Ubisoft
The cancellation of Alterra is part of a broader trend of restructuring at Ubisoft, which has seen a series of cuts and project discontinuations in the early months of this year. Notably, the long-established Tom Clancy studio, Red Storm, was informed that it would no longer be developing games, resulting in the layoff of 105 employees.
Earlier in January, Ubisoft also announced the cancellation of the highly anticipated Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake, along with five other titles. These decisions, coupled with job cuts, sparked significant unrest, leading to strikes within the company.
