Nintendo reportedly canceled a Legend of Zelda spin-off game developed by Ubisoft Milan that would have featured Ganondorf as the playable protagonist. According to a report from Insider Gaming, the project, internally codenamed "Goliath," initially featured a new protagonist before shifting to focus on the franchise's long-standing antagonist.
This would have marked a significant departure for the Zelda series, with Ganondorf typically serving as the primary antagonist. Outside of his appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series, playing as the character in a mainline or spin-off Zelda title would have been a first for the franchise. Nintendo ultimately rejected the prototype for the game in late 2023, leading to the cancellation.
Following the project's shelving, key members of the development team, including Davide Soliani, who directed the Mario + Rabbids games, reportedly left Ubisoft to form their own studio, Day 4 Night. This new independent studio is currently working on a game called "Bradley the Badger."
Despite the cancellation of the Ganondorf-centric Zelda game, Ubisoft reportedly attempted to pitch Nintendo on other intellectual property concepts, including Star Fox and Mario titles, but these efforts were unsuccessful. This is not the first time a Zelda spin-off has been canceled; Retro Studios' rumored Sheik-focused "Project X" was reportedly scrapped during the Wii's lifespan.
Fans looking forward to new Zelda content will soon be able to play a remake of "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" for the Nintendo Switch on November 5.