Summary
- 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.
Veteran game developer Davide Soliani, the creative director of the Mario + Rabbid games, has parted ways with Ubisoft after working with the company for more than 25 years. The series' latest game, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, was released for 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.
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In a post on Twitter, Soliani explained that he left Ubisoft to embark on a new adventure, but the Mario + Rabbids creator noted that he could not disclose more information regarding his plans moving forward. Both Soliani and Ubisoft Milan still wish to make gamers have fun, scream with delight, and dream, the studio said in a series of posts.
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.
Prior to leaving Ubisoft, Soliani worked on the third and final DLC for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope that was released last August, Rayman in the Phantom Show. The expansion prominently features the titular protagonist of Ubisoft's Rayman series, and the Sparks of Hope DLC hides a secret message that only players who fully complete it can read, Soliani said.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope was one of the best-selling retail games in Japan at the time of its launch, but Ubisoft claimed at the start of 2023 that the title underperformed in terms of sales. The sequel has managed to mount a comeback, with Sparks of Hope having sold 3 million copies as of January 2024, according to reports. In comparison, series producer Cristina Nava claimed in the past that the first Mario + Rabbids game attracted more than 10 million players.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
- Released
- October 20, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Team up with Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Rabbid Peach, Rabbid Luigi, and their friends on a galactic journey to defeat a malevolent entity and save your Spark companions. Explore planets throughout the galaxy as you uncover mysterious secrets and compelling quests!
