Ubisoft Milan, the studio behind the Mario + Rabbids series, reportedly pitched a Legend of Zelda spin-off game starring Ganondorf. According to a report from Insider Gaming, the project, codenamed Goliath, was proposed to Nintendo in early 2023 after the release of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope.
Sources familiar with the situation indicated that Nintendo was initially receptive to the concept, suggesting that Ganondorf should be the central character. Following this feedback, a small team at Ubisoft Milan, led by veteran Davide Soliani, began developing a prototype for the game. This prototype was reportedly completed and presented to Nintendo by November 2023.
However, Nintendo ultimately rejected the prototype for reasons that remain unclear. Following this decision, Ubisoft reportedly began exploring pitches for other games based on Nintendo intellectual property, including potential Star Fox titles or further entries in the Mario universe. Communication between the two companies allegedly dwindled by early 2024.
In July 2024, Soliani, along with other key Ubisoft Milan developers Cristina Nava and Gian Marco Zanna, departed the company. In a subsequent interview, they cited the cancellation of an ambitious project they were passionate about as the primary reason for their departure. These developers have since formed a new studio named Day 4 Night and are currently working on a platformer titled Bradley the Badger.