Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, Augmented reality ride at Universal Studios Japan, Osaka
Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge is an amusement ride in Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan, merging digital racing with physical sets. Passengers wear augmented reality goggles and steer a four-person kart through projected courses filled with animated rivals and obstacles.
Nintendo and Universal Studios Japan worked together for six years on this ride, which opened in March 2021. The project emerged as a central component of the new Super Nintendo World themed area.
The ride combines physical sets with augmented reality technology to recreate the racing experience from the Nintendo video game franchise Mario Kart.
Children must be at least 107 centimeters (about 42 inches) tall to ride and need an adult companion if shorter than 122 centimeters (about 48 inches). The ride lasts several minutes and requires no prior experience with the video game.
Each ride experience differs as players collect items from boxes and launch virtual projectiles at enemies while racing through Bowser's Castle.
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