EXCLUSIVE: How Ubisoft and Nintendo's Partnership Ended With a Canceled Zelda Title

September 24, 2026 - 23:45

A planned collaboration between Nintendo and Ubisoft that would have produced a new Zelda title has officially fallen apart. The project, which had been in early development, was shelved after a prototype was completed in late 2023. Sources familiar with the situation say the cancellation came after both companies failed to agree on the creative direction of the game.

The partnership had been viewed as a major move for both sides. Ubisoft, known for its open world design in franchises like Assassin's Creed, was expected to bring a different flavor to the Zelda universe. Nintendo, historically protective of its flagship properties, had reportedly been open to the idea of letting an outside studio take the lead on a spin off. That openness did not last.

According to people close to the project, the prototype showed promise but struggled to balance Ubisoft's signature style with the expectations fans have for a Zelda game. Internal reviews were mixed. Some felt the game drifted too far from the core identity of the series. Others worried it felt too similar to existing Ubisoft titles.

By the end of 2023, the decision was made to cancel the project. Staff who had been working on it were moved to other teams. Neither company has made a public statement about the end of the partnership. For now, the cancelled Zelda title remains another what if moment in gaming history.