Universal Studios Japan has announced that Super Nintendo World will not open as planned next month. The Osaka Park-themed Nintendo Zone would be opened on February 4 after last year’s launch was delayed, but with Osaka placed under a state of emergency until at least February 7 yesterday, that’s not going to happen anymore. USJ says it will announce a new opening date once the state of emergency is lifted.
The state of emergency in Japan was initially issued for Tokyo and its surrounding areas, but yesterday the order was extended to cover a total of 11 prefectures, including Osaka. The countermeasures are not very strong compared to COVID-19 restrictions for closing elsewhere – people are discouraged from undertaking essential trips outside, and institutions such as restaurants and theaters are asked to close earlier in the evening – but this is of course still not the ideal time to open a theme park.
Super Nintendo World is a major project for Nintendo, which is the most ambitious effort to date to expand its IP into new business opportunities. The park would initially be open in time for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, which itself remains in serious doubt. When it finally opens, it will contain attractions such as an AR-powered Mario Kart tumble train.