Shigeru Miyamoto Shares Insights on Super Nintendo World and Nintendo Switch 2 Innovations

Legendary Nintendo creator Shigeru Miyamoto, renowned for bringing iconic franchises such as Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and Pikmin to life, recently took part in an in-depth discussion with IGN, focusing on the expansion of Super Nintendo World at Universal Orlando's upcoming Epic Universe theme park.

The highly anticipated Donkey Kong Country section, set to debut alongside the Mario-themed attractions, promises to deliver immersive experiences for fans of all ages and underscores Nintendo’s continued investment in bringing its beloved characters beyond video game consoles. During the interview, Miyamoto was guided to keep the conversation focused on the theme park rather than Nintendo's forthcoming hardware.

However, when asked about the Nintendo Switch 2, Miyamoto still managed to provide a glimpse into what excites him most about the next-generation console, while adhering to the company's communication guidelines. Addressing the Switch successor, Miyamoto stated that he was directed by public relations not to discuss the Nintendo Switch 2 in detail.

Nevertheless, he highlighted that upgraded hardware allows original titles to receive enhancement patches, enabling more robust and enriched gaming experiences.

In his words, having more powerful hardware "frees up resources that can be devoted to new and unique experiences," opening doors not just for AAA studios but also empowering indie developers to expand their creative possibilities with smaller teams.

He explained that the expanded capability would facilitate broader innovations, such as advanced features—including mouse or voice chat support—integrated into the Nintendo Switch 2 platform. Miyamoto also expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming Donkey Kong game and spoke briefly on the character’s recent visual reinvention.

According to Miyamoto, the redesign was driven by a desire to make Donkey Kong more expressive and relatable, a significant milestone as Nintendo aims to connect emotionally with its audience both in digital and physical worlds.

The Donkey Kong Country expansion at Universal parks reflects this vision, bringing the energetic ape’s personality to life through state-of-the-art animatronics and interactive attractions. Super Nintendo World first launched in Japan in 2021, followed by rollouts at Universal Studios Hollywood and now Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe, marking a strategic milestone in Nintendo’s efforts to broaden its entertainment footprint.

The park’s attractions, including Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge and the upcoming Donkey Kong Mine Cart Madness ride, blend interactive technology with Nintendo’s celebrated game design ethos, offering fans a tangible way to explore Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. With more than 125 million Nintendo Switch units sold worldwide since its 2017 debut, anticipation for Switch 2 is at a high across the gaming community.

Miyamoto’s reserved yet optimistic comments lend further credibility to expectations that Nintendo’s new hardware will advance both creative possibilities for developers and the immersive enjoyment of players.

As Super Nintendo World and Donkey Kong Country continue to expand globally, Nintendo demonstrates its commitment to innovation not only in gaming platforms but across the entire entertainment landscape.

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