Ubisoft has reportedly cancelled its life simulator project, codenamed Alterra.
According to Insider Gaming, staff were notified of the cancellation on April 22. No layoffs occurred; affected employees are supposedly being reassigned to other projects.
Insider Gaming previously reported that Alterra was an Animal Crossing-style game featuring voxel creation. It had been in development for about 18 months after a prior project was cancelled.
The game was reportedly in development at Ubisoft Montréal, led by Patrick Redding and lead producer Fabien Lhéraud.
In a statement to IGN, Ubisoft declined to comment directly on Alterra but 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.”
Earlier this year, Ubisoft introduced its Creative House structure and cancelled three games, including its Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake and an Assassin’s Creed multiplayer title.
Ubisoft also announced a final round of cost-cutting 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 its cost-reduction program, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said: “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.”
