According to a report from Insider Gaming, Ubisoft Milan and Nintendo explored a Zelda spin-off project that would have featured Ganondorf as the central character.
The proposal reportedly grew out of continuing collaboration between Nintendo and Ubisoft Milan, the studio best known for its work on the Mario + Rabbids series for Nintendo Switch — namely Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (released August 29, 2017) and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (released October 20, 2022).
Insider Gaming's account says the initial concept began as an original Zelda offshoot focused on a new protagonist.
Nintendo, the report states, expressed interest but asked the team to reframe the lead as Ganondorf.
Insider Gaming further reports that Mario + Rabbids creative director Davide Soliani and a small team developed the idea through the winter period, and by early 2023 Ubisoft Milan had what it considered a finished pitch.
Internally, the project carried the codename "Goliath."
Per the report, Nintendo gave Ubisoft Milan until roughly the end of 2023 to produce a compelling prototype.
Insider Gaming says Nintendo ultimately rejected the prototype in late November 2023.
Rewriting the outlet's coverage in journalistic terms: Ubisoft Milan believed it had assembled a deliverable prototype by the target date, but Nintendo declined to move forward with the concept after reviewing the prototype.
Insider Gaming also described internal studio discussions at Ubisoft Milan that considered other franchise opportunities — including ideas tied to Star Fox or additional Mario-set experiences — but those talks reportedly faltered as conversations between Nintendo and Ubisoft deteriorated between late 2023 and early 2024.
In plain terms, in-studio sources indicated multiple pitches were floated, yet negotiations with Nintendo broke down over that period.
Following the breakdown, Insider Gaming reports Ubisoft Milan was reorganized and several key figures left.
Davide Soliani, alongside Cristina Nava and Gian Marco Zanna, departed to form the new studio Day 4 Night with designer Christian Cantamessa; Day 4 Night publicly announced its debut project, Bradley the Badger, in October 2024.
Separately, reports note that Retro Studios — the Texas studio behind the Metroid Prime trilogy — also explored a Zelda spin-off concept of its own.
All details above are drawn from the Insider Gaming report and confirmed studio announcements regarding game release dates and Day 4 Night’s formation and Bradley the Badger reveal.
The developments underscore how collaborations between major publishers and Nintendo can produce ambitious pitches that nonetheless do not reach production or retail on Nintendo Switch or other platforms.
The proposal reportedly grew out of continuing collaboration between Nintendo and Ubisoft Milan, the studio best known for its work on the Mario + Rabbids series for Nintendo Switch — namely Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (released August 29, 2017) and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (released October 20, 2022).
Insider Gaming's account says the initial concept began as an original Zelda offshoot focused on a new protagonist.
Nintendo, the report states, expressed interest but asked the team to reframe the lead as Ganondorf.
Insider Gaming further reports that Mario + Rabbids creative director Davide Soliani and a small team developed the idea through the winter period, and by early 2023 Ubisoft Milan had what it considered a finished pitch.
Internally, the project carried the codename "Goliath."
Per the report, Nintendo gave Ubisoft Milan until roughly the end of 2023 to produce a compelling prototype.
Insider Gaming says Nintendo ultimately rejected the prototype in late November 2023.
Rewriting the outlet's coverage in journalistic terms: Ubisoft Milan believed it had assembled a deliverable prototype by the target date, but Nintendo declined to move forward with the concept after reviewing the prototype.
Insider Gaming also described internal studio discussions at Ubisoft Milan that considered other franchise opportunities — including ideas tied to Star Fox or additional Mario-set experiences — but those talks reportedly faltered as conversations between Nintendo and Ubisoft deteriorated between late 2023 and early 2024.
In plain terms, in-studio sources indicated multiple pitches were floated, yet negotiations with Nintendo broke down over that period.
Following the breakdown, Insider Gaming reports Ubisoft Milan was reorganized and several key figures left.
Davide Soliani, alongside Cristina Nava and Gian Marco Zanna, departed to form the new studio Day 4 Night with designer Christian Cantamessa; Day 4 Night publicly announced its debut project, Bradley the Badger, in October 2024.
Separately, reports note that Retro Studios — the Texas studio behind the Metroid Prime trilogy — also explored a Zelda spin-off concept of its own.
All details above are drawn from the Insider Gaming report and confirmed studio announcements regarding game release dates and Day 4 Night’s formation and Bradley the Badger reveal.
The developments underscore how collaborations between major publishers and Nintendo can produce ambitious pitches that nonetheless do not reach production or retail on Nintendo Switch or other platforms.
