In May of 2015, Nintendo boldly ventured into new territory by announcing a groundbreaking partnership with Universal Parks & Resorts. This collaboration aimed to bring the beloved worlds and characters of Nintendo to life through immersive theme parks. Fast forward a decade, and this vision has materialized into the enchanting Super Nintendo World, a vibrant hub of entertainment featuring thrilling rides, interactive experiences, themed gift shops, and character-inspired dining in locations across Japan, Los Angeles, Florida, and soon, Singapore.
With the anticipation building for the launch of Universal's new Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, and the exciting addition of the Donkey Kong Country expansion to the U.S. for the first time, I had the privilege of speaking with Shigeru Miyamoto. The legendary game designer behind iconic characters like Super Mario and Donkey Kong shared insights into the creation of these parks, his collaboration with the next generation of Nintendo game developers, and his enthusiasm for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console.