While Ubisoft are primarily known for producing AAA games in genres like platforming, racing, action-adventure and both first and third party shooters, they have over the years released more experimental, niche games like Child of Light and Valiant Hearts: The Great War. The developer/publisher have announced that their Reflections studio (Who have collaborated on games such as The Crew and Just Dance 2015) have developed a new “experimental” climbing game which they have titled Grow Home.
To be available through Steam from February 4th, Grow Home asks players to explore an open world of floating islands, majestic caves and waterfalls – all of which they claim are enhanced by a minimalist artistic style. Players take on the role of BUD (Botanical Utility Droid), an excitable, child-like robot sent on a mission to search the galaxy for a new species of plant that can oxygenate his home world. By growing and directing the giant Star Plant into a towering organic sculpture, players reshape the planet and create a magnificent landscape that lets them climb to new heights. Your job is to continue climbing as you seek to reach higher ground. The issue is, one wrong move could send you plummeting downwards…. a long… long… way downwards.
Similar in the approach taken by Ubisoft Montreal with Child of Light, Grow Home was developed by a small team of just eight developers – rather than the massive teams that most Ubisoft games require.
Pete Young | Producer at Ubisoft Reflections
Whether it’s BUD’s charming, procedurally generated animation, the awesome structure of the Star Plant players create or the beautiful landscapes, there is a peaceful, innocent vibe about Grow Home that makes the game utterly unique.
