Universal Studios Japan postponed the opening of its much-anticipated Super Nintendo World theme park after a worsening spread of the coronavirus prompted the government to expand its state of emergency declaration.
The addition to the Universal Studios Japan amusement park in Osaka won¡¯t open on Feb. 4 as planned, and has been put on indefinite hiatus in accordance with the government¡¯s urging to restrict non-essential travel and activities. The organizers said they will reevaluate and decide on a new date once the state of emergency has been lifted.
The new attraction is envisioned as a life-sized replica of Kyoto-based Nintendo Co.¡¯s most popular game characters and environments. It includes rides, shops and walk-through activities. One of the first attractions will be a Mario Kart ride inside a recreation of Bowser¡¯s Castle. Borrowing an idea from the Super Mario franchise, visitors will be able to collect virtual coins by wearing a dedicated wristband as they explore the area and interact with park features via a Switch console.
The showcase is one of the largest projects ever conceived by Universal Studios Japan, costing close to $580 million (?60.3 billion). It was originally slated for a summer opening before getting its first pandemic-imposed postponement. It marks an important step in Nintendo¡¯s efforts to broaden its franchises beyond console players. Movies, merchandise stores and smartphone apps are all designed as a hook to lure new users to buy game-dedicated machines and software.
Japan this week expanded its state of emergency beyond the Tokyo region to encompass the country¡¯s other main economic hubs including Osaka, as it battles to contain a record surge in infections.
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