Official: Pokémon is coming to Universal Studios

A permanent Pokémon attraction is officially coming to Universal Studios.

In a press release, The Pokémon Company and Universal Studios announced that the multi-billion dollar franchise will join Nintendo, Harry Potter and other properties at the Japan and US theme parks, in the form of an “interactive experience”.

“Based on a hyper-realistic experience that stimulates all five senses, it will bring the Pokémon world to life in an unprecedentedly interactive and rich way,” an announcement reads.

The Pokémon experience will appear first at the Osaka, Japan Universal park, before rolling out to Universal Studios’ US-based park in Orlando, Florida at a later date.

No timeframe has been given for when the project will open. Pokémon characters already appear at USJ in its parades, stage shows, and merchandise, but this is the first time the park will have a permanent attraction.

“Pokémon is one of the most beloved franchises in the world, said Universal theme parks boss, Mark Woodbury. “Through this ongoing partnership, we will provide our guests with the fascinating world of Pokémon in an innovative way.”

Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara added: “In this project, we will continue to create new entertainment unique to theme parks as a rich experience in the real world and continue to provide surprises to everyone around the world.”

Universal Studios Japan’s Pokémon project is one of many that have been announced this year to celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary.

This is a separate project from PokéPark Kanto, a permanent Pokémon theme park experience that’s set to debut this year in Tokyo, Japan.

That park will be split into Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town. Forest is a trail filled with statues of Pokémon from across the series, while Sedge Town will contain shops, performance spaces, and other attractions.

The first PokéPark began in 2005, but at that time was a travelling fairground attraction, rather than a permanent part of a larger theme park like its upcoming modern iteration. The original PokePark was open between March 18, 2005 and September 25, 2005 in Japan.