A reported Nintendo project would have placed Ganondorf at the centre of a new The Legend of Zelda spin-off. The game never reached release, and its cancellation was followed by several notable departures from Ubisoft Milan.
A very different Zelda concept
Following the release of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope in 2022, Ubisoft Milan reportedly began work on a larger and more ambitious idea. Codenamed Goliath, the project was pitched to Nintendo in early 2023 as a Zelda spin-off featuring a completely new protagonist.
Nintendo reportedly responded positively to the concept but proposed a substantial change: Ganondorf should become the lead character. A small team led by Ubisoft Milan veteran Davide Soliani then began creating a prototype, with the aim of completing it by the end of 2023.
The prototype was rejected
There are no reported details about the prototype’s gameplay or format. The team is said to have completed it in November 2023 and presented it to Nintendo, which rejected the project for reasons that remain unclear.
Insider Gaming reported that Ubisoft later explored additional Nintendo-related pitches, potentially including a Star Fox project or another game set in the Mario universe. By early 2024, communication between Nintendo and Ubisoft reportedly began to decline.
Ubisoft declined to comment on the reported Zelda project.
Ubisoft Milan veterans move on
Soliani left Ubisoft in July 2024, alongside developers including Cristina Nava and Gian Marco Zanna. When discussing their departures, they explained in an interview that an ambitious project they had worked on failed to reach release.
The former colleagues subsequently founded Day 4 Night, which is now developing the platformer Bradley the Badger. The story is another example of the kinds of development news covered in RETROCADE’s arcade and gaming news.
Why the cancelled project stands out
A Ganondorf-led adventure would have been an unusual direction for The Legend of Zelda, while also potentially extending the Nintendo and Ubisoft relationship established through the Mario + Rabbids series.
For players interested in how digital game ideas translate into dedicated hardware, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide explains the practical considerations involved in choosing a cabinet. Those exploring physical gaming setups can also browse the available arcade machines.
There is no indication that Goliath will be revived, and no confirmed information about what the prototype contained. For now, the reported project remains an intriguing Nintendo spin-off that never became a finished game.
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