Since its launch, Kirby Air Riders for the Nintendo Switch has delighted fans with its creative gameplay and the new “My Machine” feature, which enables users to design their own unique ride machines.
Developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo, the latest Kirby installment quickly fostered a robust online community focused on sharing and ranking custom designs via Nintendo’s online features and the game’s internal leaderboards. However, among the influx of player creativity, a particular custom machine dubbed “Bikini Chef Kawasaki” surged to the top of the popularity charts soon after release.
This design is a nod to a long-standing meme within the Japanese Kirby community, where it was humorously speculated that Chef Kawasaki, one of Kirby’s classic support characters, sported a microbikini under his iconic apron.
This playful, yet risqué, concept quickly went viral among fans and dominated the top spots on the in-game rankings. Nintendo, known for upholding family-friendly values across its IPs and platforms, acted swiftly.
The “Bikini Chef Kawasaki” design was removed from the public listings within days.
Users took to social media to express frustration, with one player lamenting in a widely shared post, "It's gone.
I’ll never forgive Nintendo," reflecting disappointment at the sudden takedown. Despite Nintendo’s moderation, another similar design featuring Bikini Chef Kawasaki reappeared and quickly claimed the number one spot on the custom machine rankings.
However, according to coverage by Video Games Chronicle (VGC) and posts from users on X (formerly Twitter), this iteration was also removed by Nintendo moderators, reinforcing the company’s content guidelines for player-created material. Nintendo has consistently prioritized maintaining a safe and appropriate environment for players of all ages, especially on the Nintendo Switch and its online storefronts like the eShop.
HAL Laboratory and Nintendo have made public their stance on user-generated content in past titles, emphasizing regular monitoring of submissions to ensure they adhere to community standards and platform policies. The incident around Bikini Chef Kawasaki highlights both the vibrancy of the Kirby Air Riders community and the careful balance Nintendo seeks to strike between encouraging player creativity and upholding its content guidelines.
As the game continues to attract fans worldwide, it is clear that Nintendo’s moderation team is closely watching for designs that may not align with its family-friendly image. Kirby Air Riders continues to soar in sales on Nintendo Switch, further establishing the franchise as a staple of the platform’s library.
With regular updates and a passionate fanbase contributing to custom content, the “My Machine” feature is likely to remain a focal point for community engagement, albeit one under the careful watch of Nintendo’s content moderators.
Developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo, the latest Kirby installment quickly fostered a robust online community focused on sharing and ranking custom designs via Nintendo’s online features and the game’s internal leaderboards. However, among the influx of player creativity, a particular custom machine dubbed “Bikini Chef Kawasaki” surged to the top of the popularity charts soon after release.
This design is a nod to a long-standing meme within the Japanese Kirby community, where it was humorously speculated that Chef Kawasaki, one of Kirby’s classic support characters, sported a microbikini under his iconic apron.
This playful, yet risqué, concept quickly went viral among fans and dominated the top spots on the in-game rankings. Nintendo, known for upholding family-friendly values across its IPs and platforms, acted swiftly.
The “Bikini Chef Kawasaki” design was removed from the public listings within days.
Users took to social media to express frustration, with one player lamenting in a widely shared post, "It's gone.
I’ll never forgive Nintendo," reflecting disappointment at the sudden takedown. Despite Nintendo’s moderation, another similar design featuring Bikini Chef Kawasaki reappeared and quickly claimed the number one spot on the custom machine rankings.
However, according to coverage by Video Games Chronicle (VGC) and posts from users on X (formerly Twitter), this iteration was also removed by Nintendo moderators, reinforcing the company’s content guidelines for player-created material. Nintendo has consistently prioritized maintaining a safe and appropriate environment for players of all ages, especially on the Nintendo Switch and its online storefronts like the eShop.
HAL Laboratory and Nintendo have made public their stance on user-generated content in past titles, emphasizing regular monitoring of submissions to ensure they adhere to community standards and platform policies. The incident around Bikini Chef Kawasaki highlights both the vibrancy of the Kirby Air Riders community and the careful balance Nintendo seeks to strike between encouraging player creativity and upholding its content guidelines.
As the game continues to attract fans worldwide, it is clear that Nintendo’s moderation team is closely watching for designs that may not align with its family-friendly image. Kirby Air Riders continues to soar in sales on Nintendo Switch, further establishing the franchise as a staple of the platform’s library.
With regular updates and a passionate fanbase contributing to custom content, the “My Machine” feature is likely to remain a focal point for community engagement, albeit one under the careful watch of Nintendo’s content moderators.
