Cristina Nava, a longtime producer at Ubisoft Milan, has announced her departure from the studio, marking another senior exit from the team behind the Mario + Rabbids series.
Nava’s exit follows creative director David Soliani’s departure in July 2024 and comes amid continued scrutiny of the franchise’s commercial performance on the Nintendo Switch platform.
Background and timeline
Ubisoft Milan developed the Mario + Rabbids series in collaboration with Nintendo.
The franchise launched with Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle on Nintendo Switch in 2017 and continued with Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, released for Nintendo Switch in October 2022.
According to reporting from Ubisoft sources, Soliani had been involved with the partnership and the series for roughly 11 years before leaving in July 2024.
Nava’s role and statement
Cristina Nava spent 16 years at Ubisoft, during which she rose to senior production roles.
In announcing her departure, Nava said she was ready to begin a new chapter after “16 incredible years” at the company, but she did not provide further details about her next steps.
The statement reflects a planned exit after a long tenure at Ubisoft Milan.
Context on the franchise and leadership comments
Industry reporting has noted that Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope did not meet Ubisoft’s internal sales expectations.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has publicly acknowledged the company’s assessment of the title’s commercial performance and said Ubisoft likely should have considered the timing of the release in relation to future Nintendo hardware.
Guillemot’s comments framed the company’s reflection on launch timing rather than product quality.
Other projects and developer achievements
Nava recently led production on Ubisoft’s action-adventure title Star Wars Outlaws, part of her wider portfolio of projects at the publisher.
Ubisoft Milan’s work on Mario + Rabbids remains a notable collaboration with Nintendo that helped bring turn-based strategy and franchise mashups to the Nintendo eShop and broader Switch audience.
What is verified
Verified facts include Nava’s departure after 16 years at Ubisoft, Soliani’s exit in July 2024, the release years of the Mario + Rabbids entries (2017 and 2022), and public statements from Ubisoft leadership acknowledging sales outcomes and timing considerations.
No additional specifics about internal restructuring or future Mario + Rabbids projects have been publicly confirmed by Ubisoft or Nintendo.
The departures of both Soliani and Nava mark a significant moment for Ubisoft Milan and the Mario + Rabbids franchise on Nintendo Switch, and industry watchers will look for further official updates from Ubisoft and Nintendo regarding the series’ future.
Nava’s exit follows creative director David Soliani’s departure in July 2024 and comes amid continued scrutiny of the franchise’s commercial performance on the Nintendo Switch platform.
Background and timeline
Ubisoft Milan developed the Mario + Rabbids series in collaboration with Nintendo.
The franchise launched with Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle on Nintendo Switch in 2017 and continued with Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, released for Nintendo Switch in October 2022.
According to reporting from Ubisoft sources, Soliani had been involved with the partnership and the series for roughly 11 years before leaving in July 2024.
Nava’s role and statement
Cristina Nava spent 16 years at Ubisoft, during which she rose to senior production roles.
In announcing her departure, Nava said she was ready to begin a new chapter after “16 incredible years” at the company, but she did not provide further details about her next steps.
The statement reflects a planned exit after a long tenure at Ubisoft Milan.
Context on the franchise and leadership comments
Industry reporting has noted that Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope did not meet Ubisoft’s internal sales expectations.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has publicly acknowledged the company’s assessment of the title’s commercial performance and said Ubisoft likely should have considered the timing of the release in relation to future Nintendo hardware.
Guillemot’s comments framed the company’s reflection on launch timing rather than product quality.
Other projects and developer achievements
Nava recently led production on Ubisoft’s action-adventure title Star Wars Outlaws, part of her wider portfolio of projects at the publisher.
Ubisoft Milan’s work on Mario + Rabbids remains a notable collaboration with Nintendo that helped bring turn-based strategy and franchise mashups to the Nintendo eShop and broader Switch audience.
What is verified
Verified facts include Nava’s departure after 16 years at Ubisoft, Soliani’s exit in July 2024, the release years of the Mario + Rabbids entries (2017 and 2022), and public statements from Ubisoft leadership acknowledging sales outcomes and timing considerations.
No additional specifics about internal restructuring or future Mario + Rabbids projects have been publicly confirmed by Ubisoft or Nintendo.
The departures of both Soliani and Nava mark a significant moment for Ubisoft Milan and the Mario + Rabbids franchise on Nintendo Switch, and industry watchers will look for further official updates from Ubisoft and Nintendo regarding the series’ future.
