Ubisoft Milan worked on a Zelda spin-off with Ganondorf in 2023; Nintendo rejected the prototype
According to a report, Ubisoft Milan worked on an unreleased Zelda spin-off with Ganondorf in 2023. Nintendo reportedly rejected the prototype in late 2023.
- The project reportedly started with a new protagonist, but Nintendo allegedly asked for Ganondorf to be the lead character.
- Ubisoft Milan reportedly showed a prototype in November 2023, after which Nintendo rejected the project.
What happened
Insider Gaming reported that Ubisoft Milan was working on a new Zelda project after Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. Internally, the project reportedly carried the codename Goliath. The information comes from a report based on sources and has not been officially confirmed by Nintendo or Ubisoft.
According to the same report, the original concept was adjusted after Nintendo gave feedback. In the version that was eventually developed further, Ganondorf reportedly took the lead role. Davide Soliani, who was previously involved with Mario + Rabbids, is said to have led a small team working on a prototype.
That prototype was reportedly shown to Nintendo in November 2023. Nintendo then allegedly rejected the project, although the reason has not been made public. The report also does not mention a release date or an official announcement, so it remains unclear how far development had progressed.
After the rejection, Ubisoft reportedly explored other Nintendo directions, including Star Fox and a project in the Mario universe. That part is also unconfirmed and remains limited to the reported sources.
Timeline
Early 2023: Ubisoft Milan reportedly pitched a Zelda spin-off to Nintendo under the codename Goliath.
Early 2023: Nintendo reportedly gave feedback and asked for Ganondorf to be the lead character.
2023: a small team led by Davide Soliani reportedly worked on a prototype.
November 2023: the prototype was reportedly shown to Nintendo.
Late 2023: Nintendo reportedly rejected the prototype.
After the rejection: Ubisoft reportedly explored other Nintendo ideas, including Star Fox and a Mario project.
Background
Ubisoft Milan had previously worked with Nintendo on Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. That existing partnership makes it plausible, according to the report, that a new pitch meeting about a Zelda project took place at all. The report does not say Nintendo formally approved the project, however.
Davide Soliani is a notable name in this story because the sources say he was involved with the prototype team. His earlier role on Mario + Rabbids places the reported Zelda project within the same Ubisoft Milan and Nintendo collaboration, but the details still come from an unconfirmed report.
The core of the report is that a Zelda spin-off was reportedly in development, Nintendo saw a prototype, and the project was then rejected. Why Nintendo said no remains unknown.
Related GAME-scanner articles
Sources
- Insider Gaming, via Kotaku: report on a supposed Ubisoft Milan Zelda spin-off with Ganondorf in the lead role.