In May of 2015, Nintendo made a groundbreaking announcement: they were partnering with Universal Parks & Resorts to bring their beloved games and characters to life in the form of immersive theme parks. This ambitious move signaled Nintendo's intent to venture into new realms of entertainment, expanding their iconic universe beyond screens and into the physical world. Fast forward to today, and that vision has materialized into Super Nintendo World, a dynamic theme park filled with thrilling rides, interactive experiences, themed gift shops, and character-inspired dining. These parks have successfully opened in Japan, Los Angeles, and Florida, with Singapore set to join the fun soon.
As Universal gears up to launch the new Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, and introduces the first-ever Donkey Kong Country expansion in America, I had the privilege of sitting down with the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto. The mastermind behind iconic characters such as Super Mario and Donkey Kong, Miyamoto shared insights on how these theme parks were brought to life, his collaboration with the next generation of Nintendo game developers, and his enthusiasm for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console.