Ubisoft Milan spent months developing a high-ambition Legend of Zelda spin-off codenamed Goliath featuring Ganondorf as the lead character before Nintendo ultimately rejected the prototype in late November 2023. The canceled collaboration subsequently strained ties between the two companies and prompted key creative departures.
The gaming industry almost witnessed one of its most unusual crossovers when Ubisoft Milan set out to build an original title within The Legend of Zelda universe. Following the release of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Davide Soliani and a small team began discussions with Nintendo for their next collaborative project. Rather than rolling out a standard sequel, the developers aimed for a massive expansion in scope.
Internal communications and reporting indicate that the project, internally known as Goliath, started with a different premise entirely. Early pitches centered on an original story featuring a previously unknown protagonist before Nintendo intervened during the concept phase.
How Nintendo Shifted Goliath Toward Ganondorf
During the initial concept phase in early 2023, Nintendo reacted favorably to the broad pitch but suggested a major narrative adjustment. Executives asked the development team to swap the original lead character for one of the most recognizable villains in video game history.
“Instead of a sequel or prequel, the game was set to be a new spinoff in the Zelda universe, with the player controlling a new, never-before-seen protagonist. That later changed during the concept phase to have the player control Ganondorf, the archenemy of Link and Zelda.”
Photo: gamerant.com
Insider Gaming and Nintendolife
The team worked through the winter months to build a working concept that would satisfy Nintendo’s greenlight requirements. Gian Marco Zanna, a long-serving Ubisoft veteran, described the studio’s immense ambition for the undertaking in subsequent interviews with Italian gaming outlets.
“Davide didn’t want to aim for the sun; he wanted to aim for the entire universe; he wanted to create a new big bang in the video game universe.”
Gian Marco Zanna, via Insider Gaming
Ubisoft Milan faced a strict deadline to deliver a compelling prototype by the end of 2023. By late November, however, Nintendo rejected the proposal. The specific rationale behind the cancellation has not been publicly clarified.
Communications Breakdown and Studio Departures
The sudden halt to Goliath triggered internal shifts across Ubisoft’s operations. The Milan development team was split up, with various staff members reassigned to other franchise pipelines or placed on availability status without assigned work.
Photo: Kotaku
Proposals for alternative projects utilizing other Nintendo properties—including internal rumors involving Star Fox or additional Mario titles—failed to gain traction. Between late 2023 and early 2024, communication between Nintendo and Ubisoft deteriorated significantly.
By July 2024, Davide Soliani, Cristina Nava, and Gian Marco Zanna officially left Ubisoft. The departing developers teamed up with industry veteran Christian Cantamessa to establish a new independent studio named Day 4 Night.
