Pokemon for Universal Studios Japan and Orlando announced 1/22/26

[Stitchon]

Press release came out today. Project is unnamed and unspecified, but it's coming.

Link here: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000798.000005761.html

Text:

U S-J, LLC (Headquarters: Konohana-ku, Osaka; President: Taku Murayama) has announced a new project to provide a more innovative world-class Pokémon experience with Pokemon Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Tsunekazu Ishihara). This project is part of the ongoing enhancement of Universal Studios Japan's park experience and further enhancing guest satisfaction.


Universal Studios Japan is pleased to launch a project to create an more interactive Pokémon experience than ever before based on collaboration with Pokemon Corporation. The new Pokémon experience will be available at Universal Destinations & Experience (headquartered in Orlando, Florida, USA) after its debut in Japan. Details of the project will be announced at a later date.

At the full-scale launch of this new project, Universal Destination & Experience Chairman and CEO Mark Woodbury, President of U.S.J., Taku Murayama, President of U.S.J., LLC, and Tsunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO of Pokemon Corporation, commented as follows.



Universal Destinations & Experiences Chairman and CEO Mark Woodbury


"Collaboration with Pokemon Corporation, which fascinates the world with its imaginative and innovative content development, gives us the power to create amazing attraction experiences that exceed the expectations of our guests. Pokemon is one of the most beloved franchises in the world. Through this ongoing partnership, we will bring the fascinating world of Pokémon to our guests in innovative ways."


Taku Murayama, President of U.S.J., LLC


"Universal Studios Japan has been developing a variety of contents such as parades and stage shows with the talented people of Pokemon Co., Ltd., and has been delivering a "realistic Pokémon experience" to domestic and overseas guests. Together with the Pokemon loved around the world, we will create an unprecedented and innovative experience. We are very pleased to launch this global project to the world from Universal Studios Japan.


We believe that this global project will provide an experience that goes beyond the traditional entertainment framework and greatly exceed the expectations of guests, and will make a meaningful contribution to society. They are “no limits!” It embodies the spirit of , and I am sincerely looking forward to the future."




Pokemon Co., Ltd. President and CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara


"Since announcing the alliance in 2021, NO LIMIT! has collaborated with Universal Studios Japan's outstanding creative creativity and world-class technological capabilities. We have produced various "realistic Pokemon experiences" such as parades and Halloween shows.


This year, as Pokémon celebrates its 30th anniversary, we are very happy to be able to start a full-scale new project with you at that major milestone. Every day, we produce Pokémon with the mission of "enriching both the real and virtual worlds through the existence of Pokemon." In this project, as a rich experience in the real world, we will create new entertainment unique to theme parks and continue to provide surprises to everyone around the world."

 

[ToTBellHop]

I wonder if this replaces Simpsons or goes into the Supercharged building.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I wonder if this replaces Simpsons or goes into the Supercharged building.

Lost Continent.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Lost Continent.

I’m not sure you could pick a more jarring setting to place right next to Hogsmeade.

 

[MK-fan]

So Hollywood and Orlando will get a Pokémon experience as well, it’s inevitable I guess. I’m sure they won’t begin the process until after the Pokémon experience scheduled for Japan opens. It’s heavily speculated that it will replace the vacant Spider-Man bldg in Tokyo so I wonder if that means the Transformers attractions will be replaced with a Pokémon theme.

 

[BrianLo]

Lost Continent.

It’s super odd that they are implying this is the same experience. For Florida and Japan.

 

[lazyboy97o]

It’s super odd that they are implying this is the same experience. For Florida and Japan.

Is there an official translation? The wording is just odd. It almost seems like they’re trying to say that the first land will be at Universal Studios Japan and then there will be other lands at other parks. I’m not sure the intent was to announce the Florida land. They note that Universal Destinations & Experiences is headquartered in Orlando, but don’t specifically name the Universal Orlando Resort.

 

[disney fan 13]

I’m not sure you could pick a more jarring setting to place right next to Hogsmeade.

On the other hand I suppose it would make sense coming from Suess.

Of the Nintendo franchises, Zelda does make a bit more sense for that plot. But they could be saving that for the expansion plot next to Nintendo.

 

[Andrew C]

It’s super odd that they are implying this is the same experience. For Florida and Japan.

It is all very vague...

 

[JT3000]

Unless it's a bad translation, the article says nothing about Orlando, other than a mention of Universal parks being headquarted here. I'm sure the IP is coming here at some point, but they already insinuated as much years ago. The replacement for Spider-Man in Japan is the only project that's actually been announced.

 

[Andrew C]

Unless it's a bad translation, the article says nothing about Orlando, other than a mention of Universal parks being headquarted here. I'm sure the IP is coming here at some point, but they already insinuated as much years ago. The replacement for Spider-Man in Japan is the only project that's actually been announced.

The full article translates with this, "After its debut in Japan, this new Pokémon experience will be rolled out at Universal Destination & Experience's global locations in Orlando, Florida, USA. Details of the project will be announced at a later date."

 

[JT3000]

The full article translates with this, "After its debut in Japan, this new Pokémon experience will be rolled out at Universal Destination & Experience's global locations in Orlando, Florida, USA. Details of the project will be announced at a later date."

I'm getting "After its debut in Japan, this new Pokémon experience will be rolled out to Universal Destinations & Experiences' (headquarters: Orlando, Florida, USA) global locations."

Either way, the only new implication here is that it will be the same experience, which I'm extremely iffy on if they're just retheming Japan's Spider-Man, but I honestly don't know what the ride system is.

 

[DCBaker]

Here's what the release Universal put out says:

Universal Studios Japan and The Pokémon Company today announced their plan to offer more innovative, immersive, and world-class Pokémon experiences. The project is part of Universal Studios Japan’s ongoing effort to enhance its offerings and bring fan-first, trip-driving characters to the park.

Universal Studios Japan is proud to build on its prior success and bring to life the world of Pokémon in new and enriching ways for the first time. Following its debut in Japan, Universal Destinations & Experiences will deliver unique Pokémon experiences across the company’s global footprint. Further details about the project will be announced at a later date

 

[ToTBellHop]

Here's what the release Universal put out says:

Universal Studios Japan and The Pokémon Company today announced their plan to offer more innovative, immersive, and world-class Pokémon experiences. The project is part of Universal Studios Japan’s ongoing effort to enhance its offerings and bring fan-first, trip-driving characters to the park.

Universal Studios Japan is proud to build on its prior success and bring to life the world of Pokémon in new and enriching ways for the first time. Following its debut in Japan, Universal Destinations & Experiences will deliver unique Pokémon experiences across the company’s global footprint. Further details about the project will be announced at a later date

Ah, so different rides elsewhere. Makes more sense.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I completely understand how popular Pokemon is but I don’t care - the games are almost entirely low effort janky slop that get by on name alone and this does not deserve a land before or in place of Zelda.

 

[BrianLo]

Ah, so different rides elsewhere. Makes more sense.

Great! Just a bad translation. I’d throw my hands up if they were just doing scoop again for Florida.

 

[Brer Oswald]

I’m not sure you could pick a more jarring setting to place right next to Hogsmeade.

If they base it off the more beautiful landscapes of the first four games, I think it will work well.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I completely understand how popular Pokemon is but I don’t care - the games are almost entirely low effort janky slop that get by on name alone and this does not deserve a land before or in place of Zelda.

Zelda’s not dead. The order what gets built isn’t just about planning but also what concepts get developed into something that seems viable.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

With Pokemon being shifted from Simpsons to IOA at UOR, I wonder if the plan is to have Pokemon replace Simpsons in Hollywood.

 

[Andrew C]

I completely understand how popular Pokemon is but I don’t care - the games are almost entirely low effort janky slop that get by on name alone and this does not deserve a land before or in place of Zelda.

Pokemon video games are just a small component of their reach. But zelda will be the parks in some form eventually.