Back in May of 2015, Nintendo announced that they’ve partnered up with Universal Studios to create theme park attractions using Nintendo IP. Last month, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Universal’s Mark Woodbury shared an update on the project, revealing that they’re planning attractions for Universal Japan, Universal Orlando, and Universal Hollywood and that their goal is to create “an entire Nintendo world” that will make customers feel like they “just walked into their game platform.”

We recently received another update on the project courtesy of Universal Studios Japan. In a new press release, the theme park’s name was officially revealed as “Super Nintendo World,” and Universal is pushing to have it completed before the 2020 Olympics.

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD

COMING TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN®



in Time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics



The World’s First*1 Nintendo Themed Area Being Developed



with More than 50 Billion Yen



December 12 (Mon), 2016



“SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™” is coming to Universal Studios Japan and will be the first such opening in the world*1, featuring globally renowned characters and game worlds from Nintendo. Super Nintendo World is targeted to open in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. While Universal Studios Japan will be the first location to open, Nintendo themed areas are also coming to Orlando and Hollywood as announced by Nintendo and Universal Parks & Resorts on November 29, 2016.



Super Nintendo World will be comprised of expansive and multilevel environments filled with unprecedented, state-of-the-art rides*2, interactive areas, shops and restaurants, all featuring Nintendo’s most popular characters and games. Development cost at Universal Studios Japan is currently expected to exceed 50 billion Yen. Super Nintendo World will be developed mainly using the park’s current parking area and part of an area designated for future expansion. Katsuhiro Miyamoto, Professor Emeritus of Kansai University estimates that Universal Studios Japan — after opening Super Nintendo World — will bring economic benefits following its opening of approximately 6.2 trillion Yen for the Kansai region, 11.7 trillion Yen for Japan as a whole, and will create approximately 1.1 million jobs in Japan within a decade after opening*3. Universal Studios Japan will introduce the wonder of the world-class, Japan-based entertainment brand of Nintendo not only to Japan but to the world.

Super Nintendo World will feature characters and themes from the “Super Mario” series, which has continued over the years to win the hearts of devoted fans around the world. The attraction area will also feature a variety of other globally popular Nintendo characters. Nintendo characters and the worlds they inhabit will be re-created at the highest level of quality through the strong partnership between Mr. Shigeru Miyamoto, Creative Fellow at Nintendo, and Mark Woodbury, President of Universal Creative, renowned for creative and technical excellence. Super Nintendo World will allow guests to fully immerse themselves and all five senses in the worlds of Nintendo, and is expected to attract guests from Japan and the world over. *1 Based on an internal survey of Nintendo brand characters and their worlds at other parks and themed areas around the world

*2 Based on company research of the theme parks in operation worldwide in November 2016



*3 Announced by Kansai University (December 12, 2016)



So far, only

Super Mario series attractions have been confirmed, but recent patents filed by Universal Studios seem to hint at Mario Kart and Donkey Kong attractions. The latest cost estimate for this massive undertaking is ¥50 billion, or about $433 million, which is more than what Harry Potter World cost.

Super Nintendo World in Japan is the first planned Nintendo theme park, but attractions are coming to Orlando and Hollywood as well. Unfortunately, we don’t yet have a timetable for those projects.

Source: Universal Studios Japan

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