We’ve come across a striking claim that, if true, would have rewritten how third-party studios and Nintendo collaborate on its biggest franchises. Nintendo Life reports — drawing on an “exclusive” from Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson — that Ubisoft Milan pitched a bold Zelda spinoff that ultimately never made it past the concept phase.
What Was Reported
Per Nintendo Life, the cancelled project carried the codename "Goliath", a name chosen to reflect the scale of the idea. The pitch allegedly began in late 2022, after the release of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, and was led by creative director Davide Solani.
The core claim: Ubisoft Milan originally designed the game around a “previously unknown protagonist,” but Nintendo supposedly asked the team to instead centre the project on Ganondorf. The team reportedly worked through the winter and had what they called a “perfect pitch” by early 2023. They were given time “until around the end of 2023 to deliver a compelling prototype,” but in “late November” of that year, Nintendo rejected the prototype and the project was shut down. The reasons for Nintendo’s decision “remain unclear,” according to the report.
Project Timeline
- Concept originated in late 2022.
- Small team led by Davide Solani worked through the winter; pitch complete by early 2023.
- Deadline set for “around the end of 2023”.
- Project reportedly rejected in “late November” and shut down.
The Source & Credibility
Nintendo Life attributes these claims to Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson, noting the story is based on “reporting conducted over more than 18 months” and has been “independently corroborated.” The write-up also cites two developers “privy to high-level talks” for additional context about what happened after Nintendo’s decision.
Take this with a pinch of salt: the report uses phrases like “supposedly” and “allegedly,” and Nintendo’s final reasons are described as unclear. The write-up also mentions an internal shake-up at Ubisoft Milan — communication between Nintendo and Ubisoft allegedly began to “break down” around “late 2023 and early 2024,” the team was split across different Ubisoft projects, and “Soliani & other key members departed Ubisoft Milan in July 2024.” Note the source uses both “Solani” and “Soliani” when naming the creative lead and later departures.
There’s also a broader historical note in the report: cancelled Zelda projects aren’t unheard of — the piece reminds readers that the Metroid Prime developer Retro Studios also had plans for a few titles in the past.
What It Could Mean
If these claims hold up, it suggests several big things about how Nintendo manages collaborations and its IP. First, the report implies Nintendo was comfortable with third-party studios proposing dramatically different takes on its universe, at least in concept. Second, Nintendo’s alleged intervention to swap an original lead for a franchise cornerstone — Ganondorf — would show the company’s hands-on approach to character usage.
There’s also the internal angle inside Ubisoft Milan: according to the report, after the cancellation a proposal surfaced for the studio to work on “different Nintendo IP,” with internal rumours pointing at Star Fox or another Mario-set game. Those discussions supposedly faltered as communication declined between the two companies, and key team members departed in mid-2024.
All of this raises questions about creative control, franchise stewardship, and how far Nintendo will let external studios push with tone and protagonists. It’s an especially intriguing tidbit given how unusual it would be for a game to centre on one of the series’ principal antagonists.
Curious readers who follow broader Nintendo rumour cycles may find connections to other whispers about company plans; for instance, our pieces about Zelda 40th and Ganondorf in other media tap into the ongoing appetite for major Zelda announcements — though those links aren’t direct confirmations of this specific claim.
Why This Matters
Whether you’re excited or sceptical, this rumour matters because it touches on how Nintendo evaluates and approves big creative shifts for its most valuable franchises. A failed collaboration of this scale — if the timeline and departures noted in the report are accurate — could have ripple effects for third-party partnerships and for studios that hope to work with Nintendo’s IP in future.
Again: everything here is based on the report as relayed by Nintendo Life. These are alleged events, and key details — including Nintendo’s reasons for rejection — remain unclear. We’ll keep digging and will report any confirmed updates or clarifications as they emerge. For now, imagine a Zelda spinoff titled "Goliath" starring Ganondorf: tantalising, divisive, and, per this report, ultimately unrealised.
