Summary
Making massive waves online following the first Nintendo Switch 2 Direct showcase ofMario Kart World, the Cow NPC will soon be a playable character in the latest racing franchise entry, and the character’sMario Kartorigins within the Nintendo development team have finally been confirmed as a small joke that became a stellar idea.Mario Kart Worldis set to launch alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 console on June 5, and new insights from the developers have sparked further enthusiasm among fans of the game’s impressive lineup of racers.
The next entry in the iconicMario Kartgame series,Mario Kart Worldwill feature a slew of new characters, multiple game modes, a Photo Mode, and more. In spite of controversy around the pricing structure of the game, one unexpected entry in the playable roster has become a hit meme and driven fan anticipation forMario Kart World.
In Volume 18 of Nintendo’sAsk the Developerseries, the developers discuss howMario Kart Worldearned its name and stand-out racers. The team explained thatMario Kart Worldwas originally intended to be released for the Nintendo Switch, but fears of performance limitations postponed the launch to the Switch 2. They further explained that the titleMario Kart Worldwas an early shoo-in due to the open world design of the game. Perhaps the most surprising reveal in the interview was the origins of Cow as a racer. According to the team, a cute sketch of the unassuming Cow driving a truck was so amusing to art director Masaaki Ishikawa that the developers decided to include Cow as a playable character and offer moreNPC racers inMario Kart Worldto take advantage of the franchise’s “untapped resources.”
Mario Kart World New NPC Racers
Mario Kart Worldboasts an impressive lineup of 50 playable characters, with 25 being brand-new NPC racers. The revamped roster includes fan-favorite Cow, along with familiar enemies like Goomba, Monty Mole, Spike, Hammer Bro, and even Cheep Cheep. While Petey Piranha was included in theMario Kart 8 DeluxeDLClineup, it would seem he has been replaced with a generic Piranha Plant, and the standard Boo has also been replaced with the regal King Boo. Other unexpected NPCs hitting the track for the first time include Nabbit, Chargin' Chuck, Stingby, and the skeletal Fish Bone.
Fans applauded Nintendo for the expansion of its racer lineup inMario Kart 8 Deluxe, so it should come as no surprise that audiences are excited for even more characters inMario Kart World. From the impressive variety of NPC drivers to thenew items inMario Kart World, player hype continues to rise in the lead-up to release day. Players can check out all the first-time content inMario Kart Worldwhen the game launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5.
