Introducing the Surprise Star of Mario Kart World: Cow

After three decades of wandering the lush fields of Moo Moo Farm and Moo Moo Meadows, Cow has unexpectedly become the breakout character of Mario Kart World’s extensive roster. Her popularity took everyone by surprise, sparking curiosity among fans and developers alike. When Nintendo invited us to a special roundtable interview with the game’s producer, Kosuke Yabuki, we knew exactly what to ask—what’s the story behind Cow’s rise to fame?

The Unexpected Popularity of Cow

“Thank you for asking about Cow,” Yabuki began, setting a cheerful tone for our conversation—an opening I haven’t heard in many interviews before. “Including Cow was a decision based on how much joy she could bring to players. We thought fans would really enjoy seeing her in the game. However, the response from the community far exceeded our expectations, which was a fantastic surprise for us. We’re thrilled about it.”

The Evolution of Cow and Other NPC Drivers

Yabuki’s astonishment at Cow’s success echoes similar sentiments shared by Nintendo of America’s Bill Trinen, who mentioned that their internal expectations for Cow weren’t nearly as high as her current popularity suggests. Interestingly, Cow’s origins are just as amusing as her rise to fame. During a recent developer Q&A, Yabuki revealed that Cow was initially just a playful sketch—a developer’s joke depicting her driving a truck. That simple idea convinced the team to turn her into a fully playable character.

As the development progressed, the team expanded their roster of “NPC Drivers,” a group that now includes characters like Snowman, Penguin, Swooper, and many others. “Adding Cow really opened the floodgates for us,” Yabuki explained. “Once we had her in, it sparked a wave of ideas for new characters. Designers got excited and started suggesting more, like Penguin and Pokey. The creative momentum was unstoppable.”

He admits that the rapid influx of character proposals made it hard to remember the exact order of their introduction, but Cow’s inclusion undeniably set the stage for a wide array of new characters in the game.

The Mystery of Cow’s Appetite and the Darker Side

Among the new features in Mario Kart World is Dash Food, which characters can collect from Yoshi’s drive-thrus scattered across the open world. Shortly after the game’s reveal, IGN’s Brian Altano pointed out at a preview event that Cow seemed to be able to eat items traditionally associated with beef, such as steak kebabs and hamburgers. Naturally, this raised an intriguing question—are these just vegetarian options, or is there something more?

Yes, Cow CAN eat steak in Mario Kart World. pic.twitter.com/n5PZ9IIM4

— IGN (@IGN) April 4, 2025

Yabuki responded with a playful mystery: “Sorry, that’s top secret,” he chuckled. “I can’t disclose what she’s actually eating.”

What’s Next for Mario Kart World?

The mysteries don’t end there. Fans are eager to find out if Diddy Kong will make an appearance in Mario Kart World with his new redesign. Yabuki simply replied, “I’m afraid I can’t say anything about that at this time.”

With the launch of Nintendo Switch 2 just two days away, anticipation is mounting for the official release of Mario Kart World. Our recent hands-on preview praised the racing mechanics but expressed reservations about the Free Roam feature. Meanwhile, the $10 launch game, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, continues to generate buzz among gamers eager to explore the new console’s capabilities.

About the Author

Logan Plant is the host of Nintendo Voice Chat and manages IGN’s database and playlist curation. A lifelong fan of The Legend of Zelda, he is eagerly awaiting the day Nintendo announces a new F-Zero title. You can follow him online @LoganJPlant.

Emma Blake

Emma is a tech-savvy news editor who thrives on staying ahead of the curve. With a background in digital journalism and media studies, she brings readers up-to-the-minute updates on gaming, tech, and entertainment trends. Emma’s writing is sharp, insightful, and always backed by credible sources. Her mission is to keep the community informed and curious about the fast-changing digital world.