Universal Studios Japan Will Open Nintendo Land By 2020

Reports of Japanese media state that Universal Studio Japan will be opening a Nintendo Land section. The project, which is reported to be as big as the Harry Potter Land, is projected to be completed by 2020.

Nintendo used to strictly guard its characters and brands. The Japanese company is known for its exciting real-world adventures you can have with Pokémon, Link, Zelda or Mario and Luigi. Last year, Nintendo granted Universal the rights to use some of its properties in theme parks.

It is not much of a surprise that Universal Studio has chosen to create a Nintendo Land section in Nintendo's own homeland. This way, Universal Studio plans to profit more than anywhere else from Nintendo fans.

4) Busy start of 2016 for Nintendo. See the picture below for details (from Sankei: https://t.co/NRejTXGL6Q) // end pic.twitter.com/EMHunhgYFa

— Dr. Serkan Toto (@serkantoto) March 5, 2016

It is reported that by the year 2020, Universal Studio Japan plans to open a Nintendo Land section. According to Engadget, this will be linked to the famous Harry Potter area in the same complex rather than simply being just a building with Nintendo merchandise.

Developing the Nintendo Land will cost around 400 billion yen, roughly $352 million, according to Slash Gear. However, Nintendo's fans should not be worried that this project would unduly tax or distract the gaming company from designing new games. Universal Studio Japan will be the one to pay the bill. Considering how much financial trouble Nintendo already has, it is a good reason for the company to not directly finance the project.

There are no further details about Universal Studio's Nintendo Land project, other than it might be similar to Harry Potter Land in terms of scale. The Wizarding World land has achieved world popularity, especially with its Forbidden Journey ride.

Nintendo Land is definitely an ambitious goal, but it is unclear yet whether the area will focus on a single Nintendo property only. Media rumors claim that it will be a "Mario Area," since this is a more universally known character.