Pikmin Expands Presence at Super Nintendo World and Beyond: Shigeru Miyamoto Discusses IP’s Future

Universal Orlando Resort officially launched its highly anticipated Epic Universe theme park this week, offering visitors a new immersive experience.

Among the five distinct lands opening within Epic Universe is Super Nintendo World, a vibrant area themed around Nintendo’s celebrated lineup of intellectual properties.

Super Nintendo World is divided into two primary zones—one inspired by the iconic Super Mario franchise and another highlighting Donkey Kong.

However, eagle-eyed visitors and longtime Nintendo fans will also spot clever references to other beloved Nintendo IPs, most notably Pikmin, throughout the area. In a recent detailed interview with IGN, Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo’s renowned game designer and creative visionary, shared valuable insights into Pikmin’s unique role within Super Nintendo World and its expanding presence in other mediums.

Though Miyamoto acknowledged that Nintendo typically follows an internal guideline of keeping characters confined to their respective franchises within cross-media projects, Pikmin is a notable exception to this rule.

As a result, fans can discover various Pikmin hidden in both the Mario and Donkey Kong sections—a subtle but meaningful nod to the small yet resilient heroes from the Pikmin series. Expanding on the topic, Miyamoto expressed his enthusiasm for Pikmin’s potential to reach wider audiences.

He stated that while many characters may lose charm as players age, Pikmin’s appeal remains consistent and spans both younger and older demographics, not just in Japan but worldwide.

He conveyed his hopes for the franchise to flourish on a global scale and suggested that a future animated feature or television series could provide Pikmin with even greater visibility.

‘Pikmin has a distinctive charm that attracts people across different age groups.

It would be exciting to see the series realized in new ways, such as a film or a show,’ Miyamoto remarked in the interview. Nintendo’s efforts to elevate the Pikmin IP have been evident in recent years.

In 2021, Pikmin Bloom—a mobile application developed in collaboration with Niantic—was launched, encouraging players to explore the real world and interact with virtual Pikmin companions.

Furthermore, Pikmin 4 for Nintendo Switch was released on July 21, 2023, earning critical acclaim for its inventive gameplay and charming art direction. Complementing the growing prominence of the franchise, a Pikmin Bloom pop-up tent event is taking place at Union Square, home to Nintendo’s San Francisco location.

The event, running select weekends from May 23 to July 23, offers fans an opportunity to collect limited-edition Pikmin while exploring a floral-inspired display, creating a tangible connection between the digital app and the physical world. Super Nintendo World’s inclusion of Pikmin—as well as Nintendo’s ongoing investment in both digital and real-world experiences—shows the company’s dedication to expanding its popular franchises beyond video games.

With iconic characters and universal appeal, Pikmin is poised to continue captivating audiences across theme parks, mobile platforms, and possibly new forms of entertainment in the near future.

Nintendo Shigeru Miyamoto Super Nintendo Universal Orlando Super Nintendo World Universal Pikmin Orlando Miyamoto Pikmin Bloom Nintendo Switch IGN Union Square Nintendo San Francisco