Ubisoft's Canceled Zelda Game Starring Ganondorf Revealed

Ubisoft Milan pitched a Zelda spin-off with Ganondorf as the protagonist, but Nintendo rejected it. Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson reports the canceled project, codenamed Goliath.

What if Ganondorf was the hero of his own Zelda game? That's almost what happened. Ubisoft Milan reportedly pitched a Zelda spin-off to Nintendo that would have starred the series' ultimate villain, but the project was ultimately rejected.

According to Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson, the project was internally called Goliath, a nod to its ambitious scale. Former Ubisoft developer Gian Marco Zanna described it as a "new big bang in the video game universe." The game would have been set in a new universe with a brand-new, never-before-seen character as the protagonist.

But during early concept talks, Nintendo reportedly asked Ubisoft to change that protagonist to Ganondorf. That would have marked the first time the villain took center stage as a playable character in a Zelda game. It sounds like a dream come true for fans, but sadly, it wasn't meant to be.

Sources told Henderson that Ubisoft Milan had until late 2023 to produce a prototype. When the deadline arrived, Nintendo rejected the proposal, and the reasons remain unclear. Ubisoft Milan had just released the critically acclaimed Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, which IGN scored a 9/10. The studio began ideating Goliath shortly after that success.

We can't help but wonder what this game could have been. A Ganon origin story? A fresh take on the Zelda lore? Since it was a spin-off, not a sequel or prequel, the possibilities were endless. And what about the original protagonist Ubisoft had in mind? We may never know.

Ubisoft did not respond to Henderson's requests for comment, but the company had internally acknowledged a journalist asking about Goliath beforehand. This canceled project joins the ranks of gaming's biggest what-ifs, like the Disney Smash Bros.-style game that never saw the light of day.

What do you think? Would you have played a Zelda game starring Ganondorf? Let us know in the comments!