As we prepare for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced’s full reveal tomorrow, Ubisoft isn’t done yet with project cancellations. Following high-profile shutdowns like the Sands of Time remake, an original project has been hit.
We first heard rumblings about Alterra in late 2024, when it was described as an “Animal Crossing-inspired social sim” that would also feature Minecraft-like elements. Yesterday, 21st April, Insider Gaming (who first broke the 2024 news) exclusively revealed the game was no more.
“The news was broken to staff working on the game on Tuesday, and they were all sent home for the day.” The site’s report was pretty much immediate, but its sources claim no layoffs were happening following the project’s cancellation, at least not yet: “Employees working on the game were put on availability for other projects within the company. That said, it’s unclear what all this means for the support studios that had been working on the game as well.”
Ubisoft Montréal had been developing the title for “nearly three years” under the leadership of creative director Patrick Redding (a Splinter Cell and Far Cry veteran) and lead producer Fabien Lhéraud.
IGN reached out to Ubisoft for clarification, and while Ubisoft didn’t comment directly on Alterra’s existence and cancellation, a spokesperson gave a statement: “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.”
