Pokémon Now Emerges as Replacement Land for Universal's Islands of Adventure

For years, the idea of Pokémon arriving at Universal Orlando has lived in that strange space between rumor and inevitability. Fans have speculated, insiders have whispered, and concept art has floated around message boards, but nothing ever crossed the line into official confirmation. That changed this week — just not in Florida.

Universal has now officially announced that immersive Pokémon experiences are coming to Universal Studios Japan, marking the first major step toward a full-scale theme park presence for one of the most valuable entertainment franchises on the planet. And while Islands of Adventure was not named in that announcement, the implications for Orlando are suddenly very real.

Because once Pokémon enters the Universal theme park ecosystem in a permanent way, the next question becomes obvious: where does it go next?

The Japan Announcement That Changed Everything

Universal Studios Japan and The Pokémon Company confirmed that a bold new global project will launch in Japan beginning in early 2026, bringing large-scale, immersive Pokémon experiences to the park. Universal executives made it clear this is not a one-off event or limited-time overlay, but the start of something much bigger.

In their announcement, Universal leadership emphasized that this project is designed to expand beyond Japan and eventually reach other Universal destinations around the world. That single idea — global expansion — is what immediately caught the attention of theme park watchers in Orlando.

Universal does not enter into a massive franchise partnership like this unless there is a long-term, multi-park strategy behind it.

And when you look at what is already happening in Florida, the timing suddenly makes a lot more sense.

Universal’s Long-Term Nintendo Strategy

Universal has been very open about one part of its Nintendo plan: SUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Epic Universe. That land is already built, already announced, and will be one of the defining areas of the park when Epic Universe opens.

But insiders have been saying for years that Epic Universe was only step one.

The long-standing rumor is that Universal wants a major Nintendo presence in each of its three Orlando theme parks.

Epic Universe already has Mario and Donkey Kong covered. That leaves Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure as the two remaining pieces of the puzzle.

For a long time, it was unclear how Universal could fit that many Nintendo properties into one resort without oversaturating the brand. Now, with Pokémon officially entering the picture, the strategy finally feels complete.

Why The Lost Continent Is Suddenly the Top Target

If a new land is coming to Islands of Adventure, there is one obvious place it would go.

The Lost Continent has been in decline for years.

Once a richly themed land anchored by Sinbad and Poseidon’s Fury, it has slowly been hollowed out. Poseidon’s Fury is gone. Sinbad has been gone even longer. What remains today is mostly restaurants, shops, and wide walkways connecting Hogsmeade to Seuss Landing.

From a business standpoint, it is the weakest land in the park.

From a creative standpoint, it is also the easiest to replace.

The footprint is large. The infrastructure is aging. And most importantly, removing it would not require closing a major headliner attraction.

If Universal wants to build something new in Islands of Adventure without disrupting the rest of the park, this is the location that makes the most sense.

Why Pokémon Fits Better Than Any Other Franchise

If Universal is serious about adding a third Nintendo land in Orlando, Pokémon is the safest and most logical choice.

It has a global fanbase that spans children, teenagers, adults, and longtime gamers. It sells merchandise at a level few franchises can match. And it offers endless creative possibilities for rides, shows, and interactive experiences.

More importantly, Pokémon is not represented in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.

Mario, Yoshi, and Donkey Kong are already spoken for. Pokémon is the missing pillar.

By placing Pokémon in Islands of Adventure, Universal would effectively create a Nintendo trilogy across its three parks — something no other theme park resort has ever done.

That kind of long-term branding does not happen by accident.

The Timing Suddenly Makes Sense

What makes this moment different from past rumors is timing.

Universal is about to open Epic Universe, the most ambitious project in the company’s history. When a new park opens, the older parks always face a new challenge: how do you stay just as exciting?

Historically, Universal follows major expansions with aggressive reinvestment in its existing parks.

Islands of Adventure, in particular, has not received a brand-new land in many years.

With Poseidon’s Fury gone and The Lost Continent already functioning as a transitional zone, Universal is facing a rare opportunity: a full land replacement without demolishing a beloved active attraction.

And now, for the first time, they have a confirmed Pokémon project in development that could be scaled globally.

What a Pokémon Land Could Look Like

While no concept art exists for Orlando, the Japan announcement offers important clues.

Universal has made it clear this will go far beyond parades or temporary shows. The focus is on immersive environments, interactive technology, and long-term installations.

In Islands of Adventure, that could translate into:

• A central city hub inspired by regions like Kanto or Galar
• A flagship dark ride focused on Pokémon battles or gym challenges
• Interactive elements where guests “catch” Pokémon throughout the land
• Character meet-and-greets with Pikachu, Eevee, and the starter Pokémon
• Retail spaces themed as Poké Marts and training centers

From a design perspective, Pokémon also solves a major layout problem.

It visually bridges the gap between the whimsical world of Seuss and the hyper-detailed streets of Hogsmeade better than almost any other franchise could.

Bright, colorful, but still capable of deep world-building.

Why Universal Has Not Announced Anything Yet

It is important to be clear about one thing.

Universal has not officially announced a Pokémon land for Islands of Adventure.

And there are good reasons for that.

First, the Japan project has not opened yet. Universal will want to see how guests respond before committing to a massive rollout elsewhere.

Second, Epic Universe is still the company’s top priority. Universal does not want to dilute attention away from its newest park by announcing another blockbuster land too early.

Third, land replacement projects take years of planning, permitting, and design. Even if the decision has already been made internally, public confirmation would likely come much later.

In theme park development, official announcements almost always come long after the real planning begins.