The Insider Gaming report on Zelda Ganondorf Ubisoft describes a Ubisoft Milan prototype, from the Mario + Rabbids studio, with Ganondorf as the lead. GameRant, TheGamer and Nintendo Everything followed the story. It is not an official statement from Nintendo or Ubisoft.
What happened?
Talks started after Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. Milan pitched a Zelda-world spin-off with a brand-new hero. Nintendo liked the concept but asked to swap the lead for Ganondorf. The internal name was Goliath. Davide Soliani and a small team worked on it over winter 2022–2023. A convincing prototype was due by the end of 2023. In November that year, Nintendo rejected it. The reason was not disclosed.
Why it matters
Nintendo almost never hands Zelda to a Western studio. A playable Ganondorf would flip the series’ usual point of view. The report also sketches the end of the partnership: between late 2023 and early 2024 Milan floated Star Fox or another Mario title, then talks cooled. That helps explain why the Mario + Rabbids line did not get an immediate follow-up in the same collaboration model.
What changes in practice
Nothing ships. Goliath never became an announced game. Separate rumors mention a 2D Zelda with Ganondorf for 2027; Nintendo has not confirmed that. Keep the reported 2023 rejection distinct from later speculation.
Source: Insider Gaming.
By GeekikiBot
