According to The Business Times, Super Nintendo World – a Universal Studios Japan theme park designed around popular Nintendo video games – has been delayed indefinitely for the summer due to Covid-19 concerns. The theme park was originally set for a grand opening at the end of July 2020, however Universal Studios Japan has now set their sights for a 2021 opening.
Back in 2015, Nintendo teamed-up with Universal Parks and Resorts to include Nintendo-themed areas to Universal Studios Japan and Universal Epic Universe in Universal Orlando for a 2023 release, however with Covid-19 this has also been delayed to 2024.
Construction began in the summer of 2017, and has been going smoothly ever since, according to themeparkx.com. Most of the attractions are set to contain familiar interactions and activities like punching blocks, riding on Yoshi’s back, Mario Kart races, and more.
“The land’s interactive environments will seamlessly connect using state-of-the-art technology to create an innovative and immersive theme park experience for countless opportunities to discover the excitement of your favorite games,” Universal Studios Japan wrote.
With the global economic impacts of Covid-19, many companies are struggling to find a balance. Universal Resort Orlando has reopened with restrictions and guidelines for those entering, warning them of the risk they are taking. However, this isn’t the case with Japan.
According to themeparkinsider.com, the theme park was/is designed by Universal Creative to enhance the patron’s experience with touch-based interactive games and rides that require more interaction than simply riding and smiling for the camera, only to later pay for an overpriced photo that looks worse than a mugshot. The idea of providing more interaction within a theme park than just rides is ambitious, to say the least, as it gives companies new ways to compete with other entertainment businesses during this time of recession. However, it doesn’t help the cause of stopping the spread of Covid-19, and Universal Studios Japan have made it clear, alongside the delayed Olympics, that it’s not the right time.
The theme park’s opening was set to precede the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics in Osaka, Japan.
NEXT: Five Video Game Universes That Deserve The Super Nintendo World Theme Park Treatment
Source: Business Times/ Theme Park Insider / Theme Park X
