Ubisoft’s Ambitious Ganondorf Zelda Spin-Off Collapsed, Fueling Rumors of a Fractured Nintendo Partnership

A fresh report suggests that Ubisoft Milan, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Mario + Rabbids series, was quietly developing a Legend of Zelda spin-off centered on the series’ most notorious villain, Ganondorf — a project that ultimately fell apart and may have contributed to the gradual unraveling of Nintendo and Ubisoft’s once-fruitful collaboration.

According to sources with direct knowledge of the situation, the ambitious endeavor was codenamed “Goliath” and was pitched to Nintendo in early 2023, following the release of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. The studio reportedly proposed a much larger and more ambitious title than its usual turn-based strategy formula, featuring a brand-new, never-before-seen protagonist. Nintendo was said to have warmed to the concept but requested a significant creative pivot: that Ganondorf take the lead role. A small team, spearheaded by Ubisoft Milan veteran Davide Soliani, then set to work on a prototype with a hard deadline of year-end.

A Prototype Rejected, and a Partnership on Thin Ice

While Insider Gaming did not disclose the visual or mechanical details of the prototype, the team reportedly completed a playable build by November 2023 and presented it to Nintendo. The company then rejected the project — for reasons that remain murky to this day. In the wake of the cancellation, Ubisoft is said to have pivoted toward pitching games built on other Nintendo intellectual property, including a possible Star Fox title or another project set within the Mario universe.

However, by early 2024, communication between the two companies reportedly began to dry up entirely. Ubisoft declined to comment on the matter for this report, leaving much of the narrative reliant on insider accounts.

Key Developers Depart, Forming a New Studio

The fallout extended well beyond a single shelved game. Soliani, along with fellow Ubisoft developers Cristina Nava and Gian Marco Zanna, departed the company in July 2024. When pressed on their reasons for leaving, the trio explained in an interview that the decision stemmed from an ambitious project they had been involved in never reaching completion.

That shared frustration ultimately led the group to found a new studio called Day 4 Night, which is now developing Bradley the Badger, a platformer that has drawn attention for its polished, charming presentation.

We left because an ambitious project we were involved in didn’t get to see the light of day.

Day 4 Night founders, speaking in an interview

The departure of these experienced designers raises broader questions about the sustainability of Ubisoft’s outsourcing model and the creative friction that can emerge when a third-party studio’s vision clashes with a first-party publisher’s expectations. The loss of talent from a studio that has delivered some of the most inventive Nintendo collaborations in recent years is a notable signal for the industry.

Looking Ahead

While Ubisoft has not officially confirmed the details of the “Goliath” project or its cancellation, the timing of the reported breakdown aligns closely with the decline in new joint ventures between the two companies. Ubisoft’s most recent Nintendo-backed releases have faced delays and diminishing momentum, and the departure of key creative personnel suggests the relationship may be entering a more cautious phase.

For Nintendo fans who have long enjoyed the creative risk-taking of the Mario + Rabbids franchise, the situation is a reminder of how fragile even the most successful partnerships can be. As Day 4 Night moves forward with Bradley the Badger, the industry will be watching to see whether the departed talent finds new opportunities — and whether Nintendo and Ubisoft can rebuild the trust that once made their collaborations so beloved.