Ubisoft Milan’s Cancelled Zelda Spin-Off Featuring Ganondorf
- Ubisoft Milan pitched a Zelda spin-off featuring Ganondorf, initially approved by Nintendo.
- Development, known as Project Goliath, was halted in November 2023 due to Nintendo’s rejection of the prototype.
- Mario + Rabbids co-creator Davide Soliani departed Ubisoft to form his own studio after the project was cancelled.
Ubisoft Milan, the studio responsible for the acclaimed Mario + Rabbids series, reportedly approached the idea of a Zelda spin-off centered on Ganondorf rather than the traditional protagonist Link. Despite initial interest from Nintendo, the project was ultimately scrapped.
According to a report from Insider Gaming, Ubisoft Milan began developing the pitch in 2022, shortly after the release of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. Following the game’s moderate sales, discussions between Ubisoft Milan and Nintendo for a new collaboration commenced.
Insider sources indicate that Davide Soliani, co-creator of Mario + Rabbids, aimed for a more ambitious project, leading Ubisoft Milan to create a comprehensive proposal for a new spin-off entitled Project Goliath, which would feature a unique character as the main protagonist.
Though Nintendo showed enthusiasm for the initial concept, they requested a shift from the new character to featuring Ganondorf instead. Development progressed until November 2023, when Nintendo decided to reject the prototype, leaving the project’s fate uncertain. The rationale behind the rejection remains unspecified.
In the aftermath of the cancellation, alternative projects involving Nintendo IPs were briefly considered, including speculations regarding a new Star Fox game or another Mario spin-off. However, by late 2023 into early 2024, negotiations between Nintendo and Ubisoft began to falter. Subsequently, team members were reassigned within Ubisoft, and Davide Soliani, with 25 years at the company, opted to leave and launch his own studio, Day 4 Night.
Currently, Ubisoft Milan is collaborating with Ubisoft Montpellier on Rayman Legends Untold. Despite the cancellation of the spin-off, the concept of Ganondorf in his own Zelda game may still be a possibility for the future.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
