The creative minds behind the acclaimed Mario + Rabbids series nearly brought a Zelda spin-off starring Ganondorf to life before Nintendo ultimately pulled the plug. According to a report from Insider Gaming, Ubisoft Milan and Nintendo were in talks during 2022 for their next major collaboration following the release of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. The initial pitch centered on an original Zelda spin-off with a brand-new protagonist, but Nintendo reportedly liked the core concept and requested that the iconic villain Ganondorf take the leading role instead.
Under the internal codename Project Goliath, Mario + Rabbids creative director Davide Soliani and a small team spent the winter refining the concept. By early 2023, Ubisoft Milan believed they had crafted the perfect pitch and were given until the end of the year to deliver a compelling prototype. Despite their efforts, Nintendo rejected the prototype in late November 2023 for undisclosed reasons.
Following the rejection, Ubisoft Milan attempted to pivot to save the partnership. Internal rumors suggested the studio considered pitching a Star Fox title or another game set in the Mario universe. However, conversations between Nintendo and Ubisoft completely broke down by early 2024.
The development team was subsequently dissolved and reassigned to other projects within Ubisoft. Key figures, including Soliani, Cristina Nava, and Gian Marco Zanna, eventually left the company to found a new studio, Day 4 Night, alongside Christian Cantamessa. Their debut game, Bradley the Badger, was announced in October 2024. This isn't the first time an external studio attempted to tackle the franchise; Metroid Prime developer Retro Studios previously worked on its own unreleased Zelda spin-off pitch.
The Missed Potential of a Villain's Journey
Nintendo's decision to pass on a Ganondorf-led Zelda spin-off represents a massive missed opportunity to explore one of gaming's most enduring antagonists. While the Mario + Rabbids franchise proved that Ubisoft Milan could successfully handle Nintendo's most precious IP with tactical depth and humor, a Ganondorf game would have required a drastically different tonal shift.
The breakdown in communication between the two gaming giants suggests a broader strategic pivot for Nintendo as it prepares its next-generation hardware, likely preferring to keep its flagship franchises strictly in-house during the transition. This cancellation not only ended a fruitful partnership but also cost fans a rare chance to experience Hyrule from the perspective of its greatest threat.
