Universal Studios Hollywood and Nintendo have announced the official opening date for Super Nintendo World is set for 2023 with the portion of the park finally completed. The Nintendo and Universal theme park deal was first confirmed back in 2015, and Nintendo fans can finally explore Super Nintendo World next year.
The Nintendo brand has largely been built around Mario and the Super Nintendo World videos largely focus on the plumber and his friends in areas full of Goombas, Koopas, and Piranha Plants. With everything looking like it does in Nintendo games, Super Nintendo World will utilize augmented reality technology to further immerse park goers in the Super Mario experience.
Universal Studios Hollywood and Nintendo of America have both announced that the anticipated Super Nintendo World park expansion will be opened on February 17, 2023. The Super Nintendo World launch day video begins by going through a warp pipe before showing a columned room with the formerly octagonal sun mosaic from Peach's castle in the middle of the floor with light pouring in as it does in the castle from Super Mario 64. The Super Nintendo World trailer then shows Peach's Castle, Bowser's Castle, 1-Up Factory, and the Toadstool Cafe, which will presumably offer park attendees various Nintendo-themed foods. Only hinting at some of the Universal Studios Hollywood attractions, the video highlights Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge as the sole ride, while the interactive activities done utilizing AR tech may be the main attraction when the park opens.
Some interactive activities that Super Nintendo World fans can do using their Mario-themed bracelets are teased in the Universal Studios Hollywood reveal, including pressing a coin block to make the satisfying sound effect from the games, triggering a Thwomp that slams down and makes a trademarked grunt, moving a Koopa shell through a warp pipe, and more. These challenges may be completed by using one of the six Mario bracelets that feature icons that represent heroes from the Nintendo universe like Daisy, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, and the titular hero himself. Beyond the aforementioned Super Nintendo World tasks that fans can do when the portion of the park opens in February is a character meet and greet which will allow Nintendo players to take photos with and say hello to their favorite characters.
While many Nintendo enthusiasts proclaimed their excitement for the Universal Studios expansion, others offered their own ideas for Super Nintendo World like references to the original Super Mario Bros. movie and the Virtual Boy, a Donkey Kong ride, and more. Other franchises that Nintendo fans expressed their interest in seeing more of include The Legend of Zelda, Kirby, F-Zero, Metroid, and Star Fox, with one fan suggesting a Samus-based laser tag game.