​New Super Nintendo World In Japan Will Feature Smart Wrist Bands

Super Nintendo World is shaping up to be one of the most exciting new attractions this year. It's due to open as an expansion to Universal Studios in Japan this spring, ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

We've already had a few sneak peeks of what the park will look like, but now we're starting to get news of some of the finer details - including Mario-themed smart wristbands.

Tokyo-based Bloomberg reporter Kurumi Mori was at a press event on Tuesday, which released new details of some of the features on offer at Super Nintendo World.

In a series of tweets, Mori said the park would be using a smartphone app and wearable wristbands called the 'Power Up Band', which will 'make you feel like you're part of the game world'.

The bands will let you collect digital coins while also competing with other visitors, just like you might in the games.

At the event, Thierry Coup, the chief creative officer of Universal Creative, also said Super Nintendo World would be like a 'life-size, living video game'.

While there's still no official launch date just yet, Mori explained that the park - which now has a slogan of 'No Limit!' - is still set to open 'before the Summer Olympics at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka'.

Construction on the park kicked off back in October 2018, but it wasn't until fairly recently that we were given signs of life behind-the-scenes.

As for what else we can expect, Universal Parks & Resorts CEO Tom Williams confirmed to Attractions Magazine last year that the park will have two rides at launch: a Super Mario Kart experience and something called Yoshi's Adventure, which will join the previously-announced castles for Bowser and Peach as part of the 'first phase of the park.'

Williams said of the planned attractions so far: "It's the best, and we've tested them all, and they're killers. It's a great lineup.

"It takes it to the whole next level. It's gonna redefine what a park experience is like. It really is special."

Referring to the wristbands, which at the time remained a fairly elusive feature, he added: "You will be able to go up and keep score and play with the various games and that also translates to a score-keeping capability, if you choose to do so within the rides and it actually interfaces back with your game console."