Universal Studios' official Nintendo theme park opens in Japan next year

Universal Studios is opening its official Nintendo theme park in Osaka, Japan next Spring.

CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts Tom Williams made the announcement during Comcast's 2019 Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference, Attraction Magazine reports. The news comes nearly five years following initial reports of Nintendo's partnership with the theme park behemoth.

Starting on its opening day, Super Nintendo World - as the park will be called - will include an omnimover-style ride inspired by Yoshi and a real-world Mario Kart experience. Details on what exactly the latter involves are scant, although the Yoshi ride is said to feature over 40 animatronics and will offer a view of the park from one of Super Nintendo World's upper levels.

The park will also include some level of cross-platform interaction, says Williams. Magnetic wristbands worn by guests will keep track of their score in interactive games around the park. These will sync back to your relevant console at home "so you can build on it and come back again."

“Imagine the fun of stepping into a larger-than-life Nintendo adventure," said Nintendo when news of the park was first revealed. "Gigantic Piranha Plants spring to life. Question blocks, power-ups and more surround you. And Mario and all his friends are there to pull you into a brand-new world. You will enter an entire realm filled with iconic Nintendo excitement, gameplay, heroes and villains. All of the adventure, fun and whimsy you experience through a screen will now be all around you – in breathtakingly authentic ways.”

Three more Super Nintendo Worlds are currently in the works for Universal Studios' Hollywood, Orlando, and Singapore locations. However, no opening date has been offered for those just yet.