Updated:
As construction on Universal Studios Japan's Super Nintendo World nears completion, the company has decided to delay the opening of the theme park indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Super Nintendo World was originally slated to open on July 1. The new park would have increased visitor numbers to Universal Studios Japan, which is already attempting to keep the number of guests at a minimum by only allowing park visitors who are annual pass holders or from the six prefectures of Kansai. No official opening date has been given. The original story follows.
Pop culture theme parks are all the rage right now. Universal Studios Orlando has popular attractions like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Springfield (home of The Simpsons) while Disney recently opened Galaxy’s Edge, its Star Wars theme park.
Now, new details have been released about the newest entry into this increasingly crowded space: Universal Studios Japan’s Super Nintendo World. After breaking ground back in 2017, Universal Studios Japan and Nintendo have recently released more information about what to expect from the project.
See Also: Disney announces opening dates for Star Wars-themed parks
In the same way Galaxy’s Edge was designed to make guests feel as if they were staring in their own Star Wars adventure, Super Nintendo World wants to make people feel like they have been teleported inside their favorite Nintendo games, with Universal Studios Japan describing the park as “a life-size, living video game.”
Guests will be able to explore Mushroom Kingdom, Peach’s Castle, and Bowser’s Fortress and also play a real life version of Mario Kart. Custom designed wrist bands, dubbed Power Up Bands, will link to a smart phone app and connect guests to iconic Nintendo items throughout the land, like coins, keeping track of what they earn and competing against other guests.
Super Nintendo World is slated for completion this summer ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Related Stories
| Jan 31, 2014
6 considerations for rehabbing student union buildings
Most colleges and universities feel pressure to offer the latest amenities in order to attract and retain the best and brightest students. While hauling in the bulldozer to create modern facilities is attractive in some regards, deciding to renovate can be just as effective and, in some cases, even preferable to new construction.
| Jan 30, 2014
How reverse engineering nature can spur design innovation
It’s not enough to copy nature. Today’s designers need a deeper understanding of environmental nuance, from the biome in.
| Jan 29, 2014
Notre Dame to expand football stadium in largest project in school history
The $400 million Campus Crossroads Project will add more than 750,000 sf of academic, student life, and athletic space in three new buildings attached to the school's iconic football stadium.
| Jan 28, 2014
16 awe-inspiring interior designs from around the world [slideshow]
The International Interior Design Association released the winners of its 4th Annual Global Excellence Awards. Here's a recap of the winning projects.
| Jan 28, 2014
Big Ten Conference opens swanky HQ and museum [slideshow]
The new mixed-use headquarters includes a museum, broadcast studios, conference facilities, office spaces, and, oh yeah, a Brazilian steakhouse.
| Jan 13, 2014
Custom exterior fabricator A. Zahner unveils free façade design software for architects
The web-based tool uses the company's factory floor like "a massive rapid prototype machine,” allowing designers to manipulate designs on the fly based on cost and other factors, according to CEO/President Bill Zahner.
| Jan 11, 2014
Getting to net-zero energy with brick masonry construction [AIA course]
When targeting net-zero energy performance, AEC professionals are advised to tackle energy demand first. This AIA course covers brick masonry's role in reducing energy consumption in buildings.
| Dec 30, 2013
Calatrava facing legal action from his home town over crumbling cultural complex
Officials with the city of Valencia, Spain, are blaming Santiago Calatrava for the rapid deterioration of buildings within its City of Arts and Sciences complex.
| Dec 27, 2013
Grand Cancun to be first net-zero energy luxury eco-tourism resort
Using a marine platform concept instead of an artificial island, the development will create more space with less impact in the fragile marine ecosystem.
| Dec 19, 2013
Mastering the art of crowd control and visitor flow in interpretive facilities
To say that visitor facility planning and design is challenging is an understatement. There are many factors that determine the success of a facility. Unfortunately, visitor flow, the way people move and how the facility accommodates those movements, isn’t always specifically considered.
