A reported Zelda spin-off with Ganondorf as the lead was being developed by Ubisoft, but it failed to materialize, and that failure could have brought an end to the partnership between Nintendo and Ubisoft.
The Pitch From Ubisoft Milan
In 2023, after releasing Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, Ubisoft Milan pitched a much bigger idea. The game would star a new, never-before-seen protagonist. It was codenamed Goliath and pitched to Nintendo in early 2023.
The idea was well received, but Nintendo proposed a major shift: Ganondorf would take over as the main figure of the side project. A modest group, guided by Ubisoft Milan veteran Davide Soliani, started building a prototype that had to be wrapped up by the close of the year.
The Prototype That Got Rejected
Soliani and the team had a working model ready by November 2023, which they then displayed to Nintendo. The Mario company declined the prototype, though the stated grounds for rejection remain unclear.
Other Nintendo IP Followed
Once the partnership was called off, Ubisoft started pitching games built around other Nintendo intellectual property, such as a possible Star Fox game or another title set within the Mario universe. Communication between Nintendo and Ubisoft began to break down by early 2024.
The Team Left In July 2024
Ubisoft did not offer a public statement about the matter. Several developers departed the company in July 2024, among them Gian Marco Zanna, Cristina Nava, and Soliani.
They described the reason for leaving during an interview, saying it was because a project they had invested their energy into never came to fruition.
What Happened To The Team
A team came together to build Day 4 Night, and they are currently developing a platformer called Bradley the Badger, which they describe as looking cool.
The Timeline Of The Project
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Early 2023 | Goliath pitched to Nintendo |
| End of 2023 | Prototype deadline |
| November 2023 | Prototype shown to Nintendo |
| July 2024 | Soliani, Nava, Zanna leave Ubisoft |
Key Facts Box
- Codename: Goliath
- Lead character: Ganondorf
- Developer: Ubisoft Milan
- Pitched: Early 2023
- Prototype deadline: End of 2023
- Rejected: November 2023
- Team left: July 2024
Our Take
The tale grows odder as it goes on. A game built around Ganondorf, a villain from The Legend of Zelda, was greenlit as a spin-off, even though the premise seemed wrongheaded. The project reached a working model before it was abandoned, with Nintendo liking the idea behind it but refusing to accept the final version. That rejection led to members of the team departing.
That the idea was rejected despite its appeal stands out as the most surprising element. It demonstrates how a concept can land with audiences yet still fail at execution.
The partnership may have brought the relationship to an end. Communication stopped in early 2024, which happened at roughly the same time the team departed.
This story warns against ambition. Ideas that look brilliant on paper can fail in real life, and such failures can cost a studio its most talented employees.
Source material: “Ubisoft Was Reportedly Working On A Legend Of Zelda Spin-Off Starring Ganondorf,” Kotaku.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.