In May 2015, Nintendo unveiled a partnership with Universal Parks & Resorts to develop theme parks inspired by its beloved games and characters. This strategic move signaled Nintendo's ambitious push into new entertainment frontiers. A decade later, that vision has materialized as Super Nintendo World—a dynamic theme park featuring immersive rides, interactive attractions, themed merchandise shops, and character-driven dining experiences across locations in Japan, Los Angeles, Florida, and soon, Singapore.
Ahead of the grand opening of Universal's Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida—which will also debut the Donkey Kong Country expansion for the first time in the United States—I had the opportunity to speak with Shigeru Miyamoto. The legendary game designer behind iconic franchises like Super Mario and Donkey Kong shared insights on the park's development, his collaboration with Nintendo's next-generation developers, and his enthusiasm for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console.
