Mario Kart Producer Addresses Cow Diet Controversy

After three decades of peacefully grazing the fields of Moo Moo Farm and Moo Moo Meadows, Cow has emerged as the unexpected fan favorite among Mario Kart World's expansive character lineup. When we sat down with Mario Kart World Producer Kosuke Yabuki, we couldn't resist asking about the game's most surprising superstar.

"Thank you for asking about Cow," Yabuki responded enthusiastically - possibly the best interview introduction we've ever heard. "We included Cow simply because we thought players would enjoy it. But the overwhelming response has far exceeded our expectations. It's been an incredible surprise."

Yabuki's reaction mirrors Nintendo of America's Bill Trinen, who admitted their team underestimated Cow's eventual popularity.

The backstory makes Cow's inclusion even more delightful. In last month's Ask the Developer series, Yabuki revealed that a developer's lighthearted sketch of Cow driving a truck inspired the team to make her playable. This decision paved the way for other unconventional "NPC Drivers" like Snowman, Penguin, and Swooper.

"Cow truly opened the floodgates," Yabuki explained. "Once we added one unconventional character, our designers got inspired - suddenly we had Penguin, Pokey, and others joining the roster. Things moved so quickly that honestly, I can't even remember which character followed Cow!"

However, Cow's rise to stardom comes with an intriguing ethical dilemma. The new Dash Food items, collected from Yoshi's drive-thrus, include traditionally beef-based foods like steak kabobs - which Cow can consume. When pressed about whether these are vegetarian alternatives, Yabuki playfully deflected: "Sorry, that's classified information."

Yes, Cow CAN eat steak in Mario Kart World. pic.twitter.com/qN5PZ9IIM4

— IGN (@IGN) April 4, 2025

Other mysteries remain, including whether Diddy Kong will appear with his new redesign. "I can't comment on that yet," Yabuki stated. Players won't have to wait much longer for answers, with the Nintendo Switch 2 and its flagship Mario Kart World launching in just two days. For more insights, check out our final hands-on preview where we evaluated the racing mechanics and Free Roam mode, along with our look at the $10 launch title Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.