Ubisoft has discontinued its cozy life simulation game Alterra, inspired by Animal Crossing and Minecraft, following nearly three years of development at Ubisoft Montréal. Staff were informed of the cancellation on April 21 and sent home for the day, with employees reassigned to other projects within the company. Ubisoft confirmed its practice of assessing projects but did not directly address Alterra.
Insider Gaming reported on April 21 that Ubisoft Montréal had been leading development on Alterra under creative director Patrick Redding, a veteran of Splinter Cell and Far Cry, and lead producer Fabien Lhéraud. The project, first mentioned in late 2024 as an Animal Crossing-inspired social sim with Minecraft elements, faced cancellation amid Ubisoft's ongoing portfolio reviews. No layoffs have occurred, though the status of support studios remains unclear, according to sources cited by the outlet. Staff were placed on availability for other internal projects after the news was shared on Tuesday, April 21. Ubisoft responded to inquiries from IGN with a general statement on its development process. A spokesperson said: “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.” The cancellation follows other Ubisoft project shutdowns, such as the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake.