The opening date of Universal Studio Japan’s Super Nintendo World theme park has now been postponed. The delay of the highly-anticipated addition is due to the increasing cases of Covid-19 in the area. On Thursday, the theme park announced plans to postpone the grand opening because of an “emergency declaration” in Osaka prefecture (where the theme park is located). This is the second time Universal Studio Japan has had to push back Super Nintendo World’s launch date. The addition was originally slated for the summer of 2020, then February 2021 and now, a new date hasn’t been established just yet.
Super Nintendo World will be entirely Mario-themed and will feature Peach and Bowser’s respective Castles. The company has been teasing the addition since its announcement in 2015, revealing merchandise, food, and shop layouts. A Mario-Kart ride named Koopa’s Cup will also be a part of the theme park. Concept art also revealed staples from the Super Mario Bros. franchise, like question boxes and Piranha Plants.
The “emergency declaration” was originally set for surrounding areas of Tokyo but was later extended to other prefectures after a steady rise of cases. According to The Verge, “the countermeasures aren’t particularly strong compared to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions elsewhere — people are discouraged from making non-essential trips outside, and establishments like restaurants and movie theaters are asked to close earlier in the evening,” making it a less than ideal time to be unveiling a new attraction. The theme park will announce a new grand opening for Super Nintendo World after the “emergency declaration” expires. Universal Studios also has plans to open a Super Nintendo World stateside, however, it’s not known when these expansions will come to Universal Studios Hollywood and Orlando.