Universal Studios Japan’s Super Nintendo World theme park was set to open on February 4. But on Thursday, the company announced plans to postpone the opening due to a spike in COVID-19 and an “emergency declaration” in Osaka Prefecture. The park will open sometime after February 4, when the state of emergency is no longer in effect. Due to the nature of the pandemic, it is not entirely clear when this will happen.
That postponement comes less than a month after Nintendo dedicated an entire Direct to the new theme park. Nintendo and Universal Studios Japan spent the past year teasing fans about the park, revealing their fantastic-looking food, as well as their Mario Kart themed tour, Koopa’s Challenge.
Universal Studios will open a version of the Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood and Orlando. The company has not given a timetable for these expansions and will probably not do so until the Universal Studios Japan version is officially opened.
It has been a difficult year for theme parks, as COVID-19 has proven to be very dangerous for a reasonable visit. But someday – hopefully sooner or later – the world will open up again and we can finally get our hands on that Mario pancake sandwich.