Those hoping to check out the Super Mario-themed sights of Super Nintendo World are going to be waiting longer than anticipated. Super Nintendo World is an ambitious theme park Universal Studios is developing alongside Nintendo. In January, Universal Studios discussed the unique interactivity visitors would take part in in the form of wristbands.
Nintendo's consoles might not be the most powerful, but the company has some of the most recognizable characters in the industry. Super Mario is at the forefront, with millions of games sold since his console debut in 1985. The year 2020 celebrates the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. Although not officially confirmed, reports say Nintendo is celebrating with remasters of previous Mario titles. Surprisingly, there haven't been theme park attractions starring Nintendo characters, not even Mario. That is finally changing with Super Nintendo World. The theme park has been in development in Japan for some time now. Images from construction have appeared over time, showing the intricate detail from the games. The Osaka park was originally intended to open in July ahead of the now-postponed Tokyo Olympics.
According to NHK World, Universal Studios Japan is delaying Super Nintendo World's opening indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Japanese news website reports construction on the park is "almost complete." No tentative or estimated release was given for Super Nintendo World's new opening.
This news will likely not come as a surprise. The pandemic has affected public gatherings, affecting theme parks as well. Disney World canceled different park events this year, as one example. NHK World notes Universal Studios Japan did reopen earlier in June, although not for everyone. Given how highly anticipated Super Nintendo World is, it makes sense the company would postpone the opening.
Although it's disappointing fans won't be able to ride on Yoshi yet, it's certainly a wise thing to delay Super Nintendo World. At the moment, social distancing and health concerns are still a major factor. One can see Universal Studios Japan holding off for awhile, until things return to a sense of normalcy. Because of the pandemic, the Orlando version of Super Nintendo World won't be arriving until 2024 at the upcoming Epic Universe park. Waiting is tough, but often necessary. In this case, the wait should be worth it based on what has been seen from Super Nintendo World. The theme park is bringing the world of Mario to life in a grand way. After all this time, fans will be able to hit those Question Blocks themselves.
Source: NHK World