Bloody Hell, Soliani's Back! Mario + Rabbids Creator's New Badger Game Is a Parody Love Letter to Gaming (and its Peculiarities)

AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer · Fri Dec 12 2025

Davide Soliani, the famed 'Ubisoft Crying Man' and creator of *Mario + Rabbids*, has unveiled his new studio Day 4 Night's first game: *Bradley the Badger*. This mascot platformer, co-created with *Red Dead Redemption* writer Christian Cantamessa, is a meta-parody of the games industry, featuring an adventurous badger exploring unfinished worlds and spoofing iconic games with a frying pan and a "Kit" that modifies assets. It promises a witty blend of love letter and satire, born from the creators' desire to reignite their passion and deliver something 'out of the chorus' for players.

Right, so you know that feeling when you've been working on a particularly gnarly spell for ages, finally get it right, and then promptly decide to invent a whole new branch of magic just for the sheer chaos of it? That's kinda what Davide Soliani, the legendary 'Ubisoft Crying Man' behind the utterly brilliant *Mario + Rabbids* tactical romps, seems to have done. He’s gone and conjured up a brand-new studio and a game that sounds like it’s going to tickle the ribs of the entire gaming industry – and frankly, I'm already hooked.

This fascinating insight comes to us courtesy of Ed Nightingale over at Eurogamer, who dug into the details published on December 12, 2025. And believe me, mate, these details are wilder than a rogue teleportation spell in a crowded marketplace.

Soliani, having gracefully exited Ubisoft last year after a quarter-century of dedicated service (including 11 years making those delightfully surprising Rabbids games sing on Switch), has teamed up with none other than Christian Cantamessa. Now, if that name rings a bell, it should: he's the wordsmith who helped weave the narratives for titans like *Red Dead Redemption* and *Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor*. Quite the pairing, eh? It’s like a whimsical bard joining forces with a grizzled loremaster to write a sitcom about dragons. Together, they've launched Day 4 Night Studios, and their first offering? A mascot platformer starring a badger. Oh, but not just *any* badger.

Meet *Bradley the Badger*. And Bradley, my friends, is apparently here to spoof the entire blooming games industry. Imagine that! A digital badger, traipsing through a meta-narrative that sounds like *Wreck-it Ralph* had a late-night, philosophical discussion with *Who Framed Roger Rabbit?* – and then they both decided to become an existentialist video game.

Now, my ears perked up at the mention of Bradley's adventure blending live-action and animation. This badger isn't just running through pretty levels; he’s exploring a variety of "unfinished worlds" and "would-be reboots of his series," each one a different genre, all designed to lovingly (or perhaps not-so-lovingly) poke fun at the industry's own peculiar habits. Unfinished games? Reboots of defunct series? Sound familiar? You bet it does. It's the kind of premise that's both a love letter and a gentle, sarcastic jab, and honestly, I reckon we're all ready for it.

Gameplay-wise, Bradley’s got "The Kit," which allows him to modify those unfinished assets and solve puzzles. And for when things get a bit hairy? He’s smacking enemies with a frying pan. A *frying pan*. Just imagine the physics! But the real kicker, the bit that sent a little shiver of delight down my spine, is the promise of "plenty of tongue-in-cheek game references." The article even features an image of what appears to be a *Bloodborne* parody titled "Badgerborne." Honestly, if that's not peak meta-gaming, I don't know what is. My inner wizard is already picturing a badger in a trench coat, wielding a frying-pan-saw-cleaver hybrid.

Soliani himself shared some genuine, heartfelt motivation for this new journey, stating they "wanted to make something that would reignite us, something capable of taking us back in time to when, with younger eyes, the whole world of videogames seemed to shine." And, crucially, they want their mechanics to be the "perfect bridge between the past and the future." That's not just corporate PR speak, mate; that's the genuine yearning of a creator who's been in the trenches for decades, looking to recapture that initial spark. Cantamessa echoed this, calling *Bradley* "part love letter to videogames and part satire of them," directly inspired by their "adventures making them" – from "self-doubt to the joy of building worlds." It sounds like a deeply personal project, cleverly disguised as a slapstick platformer.

Soliani’s move from Ubisoft was, at the time, shrouded in mystery – a "new adventure" he couldn't say much about. But now, with *Bradley the Badger* revealed, the picture becomes clearer. He noted earlier this year a "growing interest from the player towards games that are a bit, let's say, out of the chorus. They are a bit different. They are willing to tell different stories…that's what we are observing as developers and as players." And honestly, he’s not wrong. We've seen a surge in demand for unique experiences, for games that aren't afraid to be a bit odd, a bit challenging to pigeonhole. After years of sequels, remasters, and battle passes, a fresh, clever parody could be exactly the palate cleanser we didn't know we needed.

So, what does this all mean for us, the eager gamers? Well, it means there’s a genuine passion project brewing, led by creators who’ve given us some truly memorable experiences. It’s got the potential to be more than just a funny game; it could be a sharp, insightful commentary on where we are, and where we're going, in the gaming landscape. Will it stick the landing? Will the humour resonate? Will 'Badgerborne' get its own spin-off? Only time, and perhaps a bit of digital magic, will tell. But fair dinkum, I'm optimistically chaotic enough to be buzzing for this one. It's the kind of unexpected gem that reminds you why we love this bonkers industry in the first place.

Tags: Mascot Platformer, Game Parody, Indie Dev, Davide Soliani, Gaming Industry

Original article: Eurogamer