Ubisoft veteran behind Mario + Rabbids games and one of the sweetest E3 moments ever is leaving to “embark on a new adventure” after 25 years

Ubisoft Milan creative director Davide Soliani, who’s best known for his work on the turn-based tactical crossover series Mario + Rabbids, has announced that he’s leaving the company after 25 years of service. 

Soliani was the creative director of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and its sequel, Sparks of Hope, as well as Rabbids: Alive & Kicking and Just Dance 4. However, you might recognize him as the lovely man behind one of E3’s most heartwarming moments. He cried tears of joy and relief at E3 2017 when the first Mario + Rabbids game was introduced to a cheering crowd by Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, who at the time said he was “very excited to see what kind of humor the Rabbids could bring to the Mario world.”