Ubisoft Allegedly Axes Life-Simulation Game Alterra

It has been reported that Ubisoft has cancelled its life-simulation project, Alterra. According to Insider Gaming, the team was informed of the cancellation on April 22, with no layoffs taking place and affected staff being reassigned to other projects. Previously, Insider Gaming revealed that Alterra was an Animal Crossing-style game featuring voxel creation, with approximately 18 months of development time following the cancellation of a prior project. The game was allegedly being developed at Ubisoft Montréal under the leadership of Patrick Redding and lead producer Fabien Lhéraud. In response to a query from IGN, Ubisoft declined to comment directly on Alterra but stated: "As part of our approach to managing our portfolio and evolving creative house-led model, we continually evaluate projects at all stages of development to ensure they align with our strategic priorities, quality goals, and long-term market potential. Projects that no longer meet these expectations may be discontinued." Earlier this year, Ubisoft introduced its Creative House structure and cancelled three games, including the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake and an Assassin's Creed multiplayer title. Additionally, Ubisoft announced a final round of cost-cutting measures and studio closures to achieve €200 million in savings, including the closure of Ubisoft Stockholm and Ubisoft Halifax. Last month, the company laid off 105 employees at Red Storm Entertainment and ceased game development. In response to its new structure and cost-reduction program, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot stated: "My commitment is to listen, lead responsibly, and keep our teams engaged. At the same time, we can't ignore that we are part of an industry that is more competitive and demanding than ever. Delivering at the level of quality and ambition our players expect requires strong alignment, speed of execution, and close collaboration. The decisions we are making are guided by that reality."