Ubisoft Milan Pitched Nintendo a Zelda Spin-Off Starring Ganondorf

Ubisoft Milan pitched Nintendo on an original Legend of Zelda spin-off built around the series villain Ganondorf, according to Insider Gaming. The project, known internally as Goliath, never got past the prototype stage.

Nintendo rejected the finished build in late November 2023, and the collaboration was shut down soon after. Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson broke the story as part of research for a forthcoming book on cancelled games, work he says spanned more than 18 months.

From New Hero to Series Villain

The idea began in late 2022, after Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope shipped to strong reviews but soft sales.

Ubisoft and Nintendo were still keen on further collaboration, and Mario + Rabbids creative director Davide Soliani wanted the next project to be bigger than a third entry in that series.

Soliani's team spent the winter of 2022 developing new concepts and landed on a pitch by early 2023. It was originally built around a brand new, unnamed protagonist set in the Zelda universe rather than a direct sequel or prequel.

Nintendo liked the pitch but asked for a change. The company wanted players to control Ganondorf himself, Nintendo Life reported. Ubisoft Milan agreed and rebuilt the concept around Link and Princess Zelda's longtime nemesis.

The Prototype Deadline

Ubisoft Milan was given until roughly the end of 2023 to deliver a playable prototype. That was the gate the project needed to clear to move forward.

Nintendo rejected it in late November 2023. The exact reasons for the decision have not been disclosed.

Talks did not end immediately. Two developers with knowledge of the discussions said Nintendo and Ubisoft floated other franchises for Ubisoft Milan to work on instead, including Star Fox and another Mario game.

Neither idea went anywhere, and communication between the two companies broke down through late 2023 and early 2024.

Where the Team Landed

Once Goliath was cancelled, Ubisoft Milan staff were spread across other internal projects. Some were left without an assigned project at all.

Soliani and several colleagues left Ubisoft in July 2024. Alongside veteran writer Christian Cantamessa, they founded a new studio called Day 4 Night, which is now working on a game called Bradley the Badger.

Ganondorf has never been a playable lead outside Super Smash Bros. A Switch 2 remake of Ocarina of Time, the game that introduced the character, is set for release on November 5.

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