Mario + Rabbids Creator Reveals New Game: Bradley the Badger
▼ Summary
– Davide Soliani, creator of Mario + Rabbids, has announced his first new project, “Bradley the Badger,” after leaving Ubisoft and forming Day 4 Night Studios.
– The game is a platformer with a meta story where players help the mascot navigate its creator’s unfinished work, featuring nods to other major games and actor Evan Peters.
– It is being developed by a team of industry veterans, including co-founder Christian Cantamessa and several former Ubisoft employees.
– The gameplay involves traversing unfinished creations using an in-game Developer Kit, supplemented by brief live-action scenes.
– Soliani describes the project as a love letter to creativity and the game industry, reflecting his personal journey and the challenges of game development.
The gaming world has a new mascot on the horizon, as industry veteran Davide Soliani unveils his first major project since departing Ubisoft. Titled Bradley the Badger, this inventive platformer blends classic gameplay with a deeply meta narrative, tasking players with guiding the titular character through the unfinished creations of his own designer. Revealed during The Game Awards 2025, the trailer showcased a surprising mix of influences, from the grim atmosphere of Bloodborne to the neon-drenched streets of Cyberpunk 2077, and even featured Marvel star Evan Peters providing the voice for Bradley.
This game marks the debut title from Day 4 Night Studios, a new venture founded by Soliani alongside Christian Cantamessa, a seasoned writer and designer known for his work on Red Dead Redemption and Shadow of Mordor. They are joined by a core team of former Ubisoft colleagues, Cristina Nava, Gian Marco Zanna, and Luca Breda, whose collective experience spans the Mario + Rabbids, Just Dance, and Ghost Recon series.
The core premise involves navigating Bradley through various incomplete game worlds using an in-game Developer Kit. This mechanic allows for creative traversal and problem-solving within environments that feel deliberately unfinished. The experience is punctuated by brief live-action sequences that frame the player’s progress, adding a layer of reality to the digital journey. An official description frames it as “a love letter to games, creativity, and everyone who has ever felt stuck in their career or artistic journey,” promising an adventure that playfully explores popular genres and media tropes.
Soliani rose to prominence as the passionate creative director behind the charming and unexpected Mario + Rabbids franchise for Nintendo. His heartfelt reaction to the game’s positive reception at E3 2017 endeared him to fans worldwide. After a 25-year tenure, he left Ubisoft in 2024 following the release of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot later expressed that the sequel’s launch timing was a regret, feeling it could have made a larger impact if held for Nintendo’s next-generation hardware.
Regarding his new studio’s vision, Soliani shared, “What we are crafting at Day 4 Night is a reflection of everything I’ve ever wanted to experience as a player. It’s a lullaby for my soul and a serenade to our industry, to the magic and the madness of creating worlds from nothing. This is a story about triumphs, challenges, and dreams, meant to light the path we walk together.” With its unique concept and seasoned development team, Bradley the Badger aims to be a poignant and playful commentary on the art of game development itself.
(Source: IGN)