PETA Urges Nintendo to Remove Nose Ring from Cow Character in Mario Kart World on Switch 2

PETA Requests Nintendo to Remove Cow Character’s Nose Ring in Mario Kart World for Switch 2 Mario Kart World, Nintendo’s latest addition to its long-running racing series, has been a notable success on the new Nintendo Switch 2 platform since its launch earlier this year.

Featuring innovative gameplay and an expanded roster of characters, one standout newcomer has sparked both fan excitement and controversy: Cow, a playable character for the first time in Mario Kart history. The introduction of Cow as a racer has drawn attention from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), a global animal rights organization.

PETA has issued a formal request to Nintendo, urging the company to remove the brass nose ring featured on the Cow character.

According to PETA, nose rings are commonly used in the livestock industry to manage and control cattle, practices the organization believes are exploitative and harmful to animals. In an open letter addressed to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, PETA describes its concerns regarding the portrayal of the nose ring.

The organization states that nose rings "are used by the meat and dairy industries to exploit, control, and even drag animals to their deaths." PETA further claims that such piercings can lead to prolonged pain and discomfort for cattle, and argues that including this detail in Mario Kart World inadvertently glosses over real-world abuses associated with the livestock sector. The letter appeals to Nintendo’s position as a family-friendly company and the positive impact its games often have on cultural perceptions.

PETA requests what it calls a "small but meaningful upgrade"—removal of the nose ring from the Cow character—to demonstrate empathy for animals and to avoid reinforcing negative imagery connected to animal welfare issues.

"Every animal is someone," PETA’s statement reads, as it encourages Nintendo to allow Cow to race "freely—without painful reminders of the industries that treat animals like profit-making machines." Mario Kart World launched for the Nintendo Switch 2 in early 2024, leveraging the hardware’s enhanced graphics and online features.

The title has received widespread acclaim for its creative track design and fresh character additions, attracting both longtime fans and newcomers.

The introduction of Cow as a playable racer was met with enthusiasm, highlighting Nintendo’s ongoing success in innovating while respecting storied franchise traditions. Nintendo has not yet publicly responded to PETA’s letter regarding the Cow character in Mario Kart World.

As the game continues to receive player feedback and updates via the Nintendo eShop, the debate underscores the broader impact of character design choices in popular video games.

For an industry leader like Nintendo, balancing creativity, cultural sensitivity, and fan expectations remains a central challenge as the Mario Kart series races into a new era on the Nintendo Switch 2.

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