Mario Rabbids Director’s New Studio Signs Bradley the Badger with Focus Entertainment

Focus Entertainment has secured publishing rights for Bradley the Badger, a new 3D platformer created by Day 4 Night, the studio led by former Mario Rabbids creative director Davide Soliani, alongside Red Dead Redemption writer Christian Cantamessa and core Ubisoft Milan veterans. The partnership aims to elevate this ambitious satire of modern game development, first revealed at The Game Awards, for a global release.

Bradley the Badger marks the debut title from Day 4 Night, a new studio formed in 2024 by Davide Soliani, renowned for his work on the Mario + Rabbids series at Ubisoft, and Christian Cantamessa, narrative leader on Red Dead Redemption. Additional founding members include Mario Rabbids producers Cristina Nava and Gian Marco Zanna. The game was officially announced at The Game Awards, presenting itself as a 3D platformer deeply inspired by and satirising contemporary video game culture.

Focus Entertainment confirmed its publishing partnership on 10th June 2026. Vincent Chataignier, deputy chief executive officer of Focus Entertainment Publishing, explained their reasoning: “Focus Entertainment supports projects that carry a strong vision, a clear identity, and the promise of a unique experience for players. Bradley the Badger immediately stood out through its tone, personality, and potential. We are very proud to partner with Day 4 Night, a studio founded by highly accomplished and experienced creators, to amplify the excitement surrounding this exceptional game and help it fully realize its potential.”

The Day 4 Night team brings together decades of combined experience in AAA development. Soliani is credited with reinvigorating turn-based tactics via Mario + Rabbids. Cantamessa’s narrative leadership shaped the tone of Red Dead Redemption, widely considered a high point in interactive storytelling. Nava and Zanna contributed production leadership on key Ubisoft Milan titles.

• Studio formation: Day 4 Night, founded in 2024
• Key personnel: Davide Soliani (Creative Director), Christian Cantamessa (Writer), Cristina Nava (Producer), Gian Marco Zanna (Producer)
• Publisher: Focus Entertainment
• Game reveal: The Game Awards (date not specified)
• Genre: 3D Platformer, Satire of game development

Bradley the Badger: A Satirical 3D Platformer

Bradley the Badger sets itself apart by blending playful 3D platforming with sharp commentary on the gaming industry. The game includes worlds titled ‘BadgerBorne’, ‘CyberBadger’, and ‘The Last Badger’—obvious parodies of major genre titles. Live-action sequences intertwine with gameplay to drive the narrative and amplify its satirical edge. According to development details shared with VGC prior to The Game Awards reveal, the title offers a new approach to platformers driven as much by humour and meta-narrative as by gameplay mechanics.

The team at Day 4 Night outlined their ambitions, stating, “With Bradley the Badger, we set out to create an adventure shaped by everything we love about games, their sense of wonder, their ability to surprise, and the emotional stories behind them. It is a project about imagination, creativity, and rediscovering the spark that made us fall in love with video games. This is exactly the kind of original, sincere, and fun experience Day 4 Night was founded to make.”

Day 4 Night also credited Focus Entertainment for its reputation supporting creative teams, saying, “Focus Entertainment is the ideal partner for Bradley. They are known for their respect for creative talent, belief in bold ideas, and ability to bring them to players around the world.”

Sector Impact and Industry Commentary

Bradley the Badger is positioned as a “love letter to games,” explicitly acknowledged by VGC’s coverage and directly by Soliani and his team. The game not only marks a major new IP from veterans of two genre-defining studios, but also signals Focus Entertainment’s ongoing push into creatively ambitious partnerships. Given Day 4 Night’s foundation in 2024 and its remarkable roster, expectations are high for both critical and commercial impact once Bradley the Badger launches.

• Bradley the Badger was described at reveal as, “a project about imagination, creativity, and rediscovering the spark that made us fall in love with video games.”
• Live-action sequences will be used throughout the game to enhance the narrative and satire.
• Official quote from Focus: “We are very proud to partner with Day 4 Night, a studio founded by highly accomplished and experienced creators, to amplify the excitement surrounding this exceptional game and help it fully realize its potential.”
• Originality: The game’s worlds and tone directly parody and pay homage to industry trends.