Nintendo Removes Bikini Chef Designs from Kirby Air Riders In-Game Marketplace
As Nintendo continues to shape the player experience on its celebrated hardware, the company has quickly addressed an unexpected trend in its latest title, Kirby Air Riders.
Released for the Nintendo Switch on November 20, 2025, Kirby Air Riders is the newest entry in the long-running Kirby franchise, offering fans a fast-paced racing game built around custom air ride vehicles and vibrant character designs. Shortly after launch, fans took to the in-game marketplace to create and share personalized vehicle designs.
Among the most popular—and controversial—creations was a design featuring Chef Kawasaki, a recurring character from the Kirby series, dressed in a bikini.
The appearance of this humorous and unconventional take on the character quickly gained traction, echoing a meme that had originated in Japan several years prior and subsequently gained cultural significance within the Kirby fan community. Nintendo responded rapidly to the influx of bikini-clad Chef Kawasaki designs.
In an official statement, representatives from the company acknowledged the community's creativity but confirmed that content guidelines and family-friendly standards inform the moderation process for in-game user-generated content.
Using clear language, Nintendo noted, "We appreciate the enthusiasm from our players and the creative spirit displayed by the community.
However, we are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment suitable for all audiences across the Nintendo Switch platform.
Therefore, we have removed select user-generated content that does not align with our established content guidelines." Kirby Air Riders has already made an impressive sales debut, ranking among the top downloads on the Nintendo Switch eShop within its first 24 hours of availability.
The game reaffirms the popularity of the Kirby franchise, which has remained a staple of Nintendo's portfolio since the original Kirby’s Dream Land released in 1992.
Developed by HAL Laboratory in partnership with Nintendo, Kirby Air Riders offers a robust suite of multiplayer features and customization options that have helped foster a passionate, creative player base. Nintendo’s swift action highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing player creativity with content moderation on modern gaming platforms.
As the Nintendo Switch continues to dominate the hardware market—with the Switch family exceeding 140 million units sold worldwide—maintaining family-friendly standards and upholding the brand’s reputation remain key priorities for the company.
This recent move in Kirby Air Riders’ marketplace underscores Nintendo’s commitment to those goals, ensuring that both new and returning players can enjoy a positive and inclusive gaming experience. Kirby Air Riders is now available globally for the Nintendo Switch, continuing the iconic pink puffball’s legacy and providing fans with new ways to connect, compete, and create in the Nintendo universe.
Released for the Nintendo Switch on November 20, 2025, Kirby Air Riders is the newest entry in the long-running Kirby franchise, offering fans a fast-paced racing game built around custom air ride vehicles and vibrant character designs. Shortly after launch, fans took to the in-game marketplace to create and share personalized vehicle designs.
Among the most popular—and controversial—creations was a design featuring Chef Kawasaki, a recurring character from the Kirby series, dressed in a bikini.
The appearance of this humorous and unconventional take on the character quickly gained traction, echoing a meme that had originated in Japan several years prior and subsequently gained cultural significance within the Kirby fan community. Nintendo responded rapidly to the influx of bikini-clad Chef Kawasaki designs.
In an official statement, representatives from the company acknowledged the community's creativity but confirmed that content guidelines and family-friendly standards inform the moderation process for in-game user-generated content.
Using clear language, Nintendo noted, "We appreciate the enthusiasm from our players and the creative spirit displayed by the community.
However, we are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment suitable for all audiences across the Nintendo Switch platform.
Therefore, we have removed select user-generated content that does not align with our established content guidelines." Kirby Air Riders has already made an impressive sales debut, ranking among the top downloads on the Nintendo Switch eShop within its first 24 hours of availability.
The game reaffirms the popularity of the Kirby franchise, which has remained a staple of Nintendo's portfolio since the original Kirby’s Dream Land released in 1992.
Developed by HAL Laboratory in partnership with Nintendo, Kirby Air Riders offers a robust suite of multiplayer features and customization options that have helped foster a passionate, creative player base. Nintendo’s swift action highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing player creativity with content moderation on modern gaming platforms.
As the Nintendo Switch continues to dominate the hardware market—with the Switch family exceeding 140 million units sold worldwide—maintaining family-friendly standards and upholding the brand’s reputation remain key priorities for the company.
This recent move in Kirby Air Riders’ marketplace underscores Nintendo’s commitment to those goals, ensuring that both new and returning players can enjoy a positive and inclusive gaming experience. Kirby Air Riders is now available globally for the Nintendo Switch, continuing the iconic pink puffball’s legacy and providing fans with new ways to connect, compete, and create in the Nintendo universe.
