Cancelled Project Codenamed Goliath
For several years, Nintendo and Ubisoft collaborated very closely and fruitfully. The main result of this alliance was the tactical dilogy Mario + Rabbids, which garnered acclaim from both critics and players. However, it has been revealed that the studios almost greenlit development of a game set in an entirely different iconic universe.
According to an investigation by Insider Gaming, the studio Ubisoft Milan, together with well-known game director Davide Soliani, was developing a prototype for a spin-off of The Legend of Zelda series, where the main character was to be Ganondorf himself.
Details About the Cancelled Game
- Ubisoft's Initiative: The Ubisoft Milan team pitched Nintendo a concept for an original Zelda spin-off right after the release of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope.
- Ganondorf in the Lead Role: Initially, the authors planned to introduce a completely new character; however, Nintendo itself suggested replacing the unknown protagonist with Ganondorf.
- Codename: The project was internally codenamed Goliath, and a small team led by Davide Soliani worked on it.
- Prototype Rejection: Ubisoft Milan was supposed to deliver a working prototype by the end of 2023. However, at the end of November 2023, Nintendo decided to cancel the project for unknown reasons.
Failed Negotiations for Other Franchises
After the cancellation of the Ganondorf game development, the Ubisoft Milan team pitched ideas for working on other franchises of the Japanese giant—notably considering Star Fox and new projects in the Mario universe. However, negotiations reached an impasse, and by early 2024, cooperation between the companies ceased completely.
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