NEWS
US$350m Mario land confirmed for Universal Japan
POSTED 07 Mar 2016 . BY Tom Anstey
The new land will be entirely themed on Mario IPs such as Mario Kart Credit: Nintendo
Universal Studios has finally revealed the first uses of its Nintendo IPs, announcing plans for a Mario-themed land at its park in Japan.

The news came last month that Universal Japan would be the first of the operator’s parks to gain a Nintendo addition after Universal announced a deal for exclusive theme park rights to Nintendo IPs such as Mario, Pokemon and Zelda in May last year, though details have been scarce.

Universal Japan has now confirmed the park will be getting its own Mario section, which will be an immersive experience similar in style to the hugely successful Harry Potter attractions. The Mario-themed expansion will take four years to develop at a cost of US$350m (€319.5m, £247m), with the opening timed to coincide with the 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games, which are to be hosted in Tokyo.

Beyond its plans in Japan, Universal is expected to open further Nintendo attractions across its parks worldwide, with the staggered rollout likely to be similar to that of Harry Potter, which is going from strength-to-strength as it prepares to launch its next site at Universal Studios Hollywood on 7 April.

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IPs such as Mario, Zelda and Pokémon could soon be coming to Universal’s theme parks and resorts after the company agreed a deal with Nintendo to create rides, shows and other attractions based around the videogame developer’s top franchises.
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07 Mar 2016

US$350m Mario land confirmed for Universal Japan
BY Tom Anstey

The new land will be entirely themed on <i>Mario</i> IPs such as <i>Mario Kart</i>

The new land will be entirely themed on Mario IPs such as Mario Kart
photo: Nintendo

Universal Studios has finally revealed the first uses of its Nintendo IPs, announcing plans for a Mario-themed land at its park in Japan.

The news came last month that Universal Japan would be the first of the operator’s parks to gain a Nintendo addition after Universal announced a deal for exclusive theme park rights to Nintendo IPs such as Mario, Pokemon and Zelda in May last year, though details have been scarce.

Universal Japan has now confirmed the park will be getting its own Mario section, which will be an immersive experience similar in style to the hugely successful Harry Potter attractions. The Mario-themed expansion will take four years to develop at a cost of US$350m (€319.5m, £247m), with the opening timed to coincide with the 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games, which are to be hosted in Tokyo.

Beyond its plans in Japan, Universal is expected to open further Nintendo attractions across its parks worldwide, with the staggered rollout likely to be similar to that of Harry Potter, which is going from strength-to-strength as it prepares to launch its next site at Universal Studios Hollywood on 7 April.




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