Insider Gaming says Ubisoft Milan, the studio behind Mario + Rabbids, once pitched a Zelda spin-off codenamed Goliath. The concept centered on Ganondorf, but Nintendo rejected it in late 2023.
Reporter Tom Henderson says the story is based on more than 18 months of research. In his report, Ubisoft Milan began exploring the project after Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope and had until late 2023 to put together a prototype.
Henderson also says the pitch didn’t start out as a Ganondorf game. It reportedly began with a new character in a new part of the Zelda universe, then shifted after Nintendo asked for a Ganondorf-focused rework. Had that version moved forward, Ganondorf could have become the first main playable villain in the series.
The report also sketches out the bigger picture. This reportedly wasn’t a Link-in-Hyrule sequel or prequel, but a broader spin-off. Former Ubisoft developer Gian Marco Zanna allegedly described it as a “new big bang in the video game universe.” Nintendo’s rejection in November 2023 still hasn’t been explained. Ubisoft reportedly declined to comment. And the fallout may have damaged the working relationship between Ubisoft and Nintendo before left in July 2024 to found Day 4 Night.
If you follow Zelda closely, Henderson’s report for Insider Gaming is worth reading.
You can read the full report on Insider Gaming.
Author: Emmanuel Bosque
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