Super Nintendo World Confirmed For Universal Orlando’s New Theme Park Epic Universe
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Universal Orlando has confirmed that Super Nintendo World will be coming to its Epic Universe Theme Park in Florida, meaning visitors will be able to play out their Super Mario fantasies in real life. LET'S-A-GO!
The news was revealed in an investor call for Universal's parent company, Comcast, on Thursday morning, with execs describing the forthcoming attraction as Universal Orlando's 'fourth gate' - the first three being Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and the Volcano Bay water park.
According to Forbes, Comcast executives said during the call: "Nintendo, based on our research, is the biggest potential driver in attendance you can have in terms of intellectual properties."
They added: "It's up there with Harry Potter, and in some of our parks, HP drives incremental attendance of 2 million people."
Super Nintendo World had long been rumoured as a land coming to Epic Universe, which was announced by Universal back in August 2019.
At the time, promises were made that the park would create 14,000 jobs, while also doubling its total theme park acreage.
Of course, Epic Universe's Super Mario-themed land won't be Universal's first, as it will also be debuting one in Japan this summer.
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Some of the details were announced at a press event on 14 January, where journalists were told that 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'.
Super Nintendo World will use tech + smartphone app:zap: Wearable wrist bands called the "Power Up Band" will make you feel like you're part of the game world :video_game: You can collect digital coins and compete with others #SuperNintendoWorld #MarioKart pic.twitter.com/ltloaNqCCE
- Kurumi Mori (@rumireports) January 14, 2020
At the event, Thierry Coup, the chief creative officer of Universal Creative, said: "Think of Super Nintendo World as a life-size, living video game where you become one of the characters. You're not just playing the game; you're living the game, you're living the adventure."
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.'
While there's still no official launch date just yet, the park is still set to open 'before the Summer Olympics at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka'.
