Overview
- Several outlets are amplifying an Insider Gaming investigation that says Ubisoft Milan pitched a large Zelda spinoff codenamed Goliath that originally starred a new protagonist.
- According to the reporting, Nintendo asked the studio to replace that original lead with Ganondorf during concept work and approval talks.
- Ubisoft Milan completed a playable prototype but Nintendo declined the pitch in November 2023, and the project was cancelled for reasons the companies have not publicly explained.
- Following the cancellation, communication between Nintendo and Ubisoft reportedly broke down and key Ubisoft Milan leads left in mid‑2024 to form the independent studio Day 4 Night.
- The episode highlights a recurring pattern in Nintendo licensing where outside teams must meet strict creative approval and shows how such rejections can reshape studio plans and prompt talent departures.