Highlights
- David Soliani departed Ubisoft after 25 years, leaving behind the successful Mario + Rabbids series he helped create.
- Despite initial skepticism, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle became a hit, winning accolades and becoming one of the top-rated Mario games.
- The latest installment, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, faced sales challenges but ultimately sold 3 million copies by January 2024.
As a dedicated fan of the gaming industry and a follower of the extraordinary journey of Davide Soliani, I can’t help but express my admiration for this talented game developer who breathed life into the innovative and captivating Mario + Rabbids series at Ubisoft.
As a seasoned gamer and long-time fan of the Mario + Rabbid series, I was surprised to learn that its creative director, Davide Soliani, has recently left Ubisoft after an impressive 25-year tenure. This news came following the release of the latest installment, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, which hit the Switch in late 2022.
A unique crossover between clashing Nintendo and Ubisoft franchises, the first Mario + Rabbids game, 2017’s Kingdom Battle, was the brainchild of Ubisoft Milan creative director Davide Soliani and Ubisoft brand producer Xavier Manzanares. While the project was initially met with some negativity, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle bagged accolades from the likes of The Game Awards, and it is now one of the highest-rated Mario games on the Switch. Mario + Rabbids continued to find some success with Sparks of Hope, but the series will now have to enter uncharted waters following the recent departure of its longtime franchise head.
In a tweet, Soliani shared that he had parted ways with Ubisoft to pursue a new endeavor. However, the creator of “Mario + Rabbids” was tight-lipped about his future plans. Soliani and Ubisoft Milan continue to aim to bring joy, excitement, and inspiration to gamers.
Who Created the Mario + Rabbids Series?
- Davide Soliani and Xavier Manzanares
Soliani stayed at Ubisoft for 25 years, 11 of which were spent on the Mario + Rabbids series. He was known by many in the gaming community for being the face of a heartwarming moment at E3 2017 that involved the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto. The memorable scene spawned the Don’t Cry Ubisoft Man meme, which Soliani and the Ubisoft Milan team often joked about, the studio revealed.
Before departing from Ubisoft, Soliani contributed to the development of the last DLC installment for “Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope,” titled “Rayman in the Phantom Show.” This expansion was unveiled in August and showcases Rayman, the main character from Ubisoft’s Rayman series. An intriguing secret message is concealed within the “Sparks of Hope” DLC, accessible solely to players who have completed it in its entirety. (Soliani shared this information.)
At its release, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope was a top-selling physical game in Japan. However, Ubisoft announced at the beginning of 2023 that the game’s sales fell short of expectations. Now, reports indicate that as of January 2024, Sparks of Hope has sold approximately 3 million copies. In contrast, the initial Mario + Rabbids game drew over 10 million players according to previous statements from series producer Cristina Nava.
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2024-07-24 21:23