Ubisoft Milan's Zelda spin-off starring Ganondorf was rejected by Nintendo

Reports indicate that Ubisoft Milan developed a prototype for a The Legend of Zelda spin-off titled ‘Project Goliath,’ which was ultimately rejected by Nintendo in late 2023. The project, led by Davide Soliani—the director behind the Mario + Rabbids series—was intended to be an ambitious adventure set within the Zelda universe.

While the initial concept featured an original protagonist, Nintendo reportedly requested that the character be replaced by the franchise's iconic villain, Ganondorf. This would have marked the first time Ganondorf served as a central, playable protagonist in a Zelda title. Despite the development of a prototype, Nintendo declined the project for undisclosed reasons.

The cancellation of Project Goliath reportedly led to a breakdown in communication between Nintendo and Ubisoft. Following the rejection, Ubisoft Milan attempted to pitch other Nintendo intellectual properties, such as Star Fox or Mario-related titles, but these discussions failed to progress. The fallout resulted in the dissolution of the development team, with several key members, including Soliani, leaving Ubisoft to found the independent studio Day 4 Night.