Mario Kart World on Switch 2: Playable Cow and Other NPC Racers Revealed

Mario Kart World, the highly anticipated entry in Nintendo’s legendary kart racing franchise, is set to launch alongside the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.

Developed by Nintendo and overseen by longtime series veteran Masaaki Ishikawa, the new title is generating excitement for its distinctive approach to the playable character roster—including the unexpected debut of beloved non-playable characters (NPCs) as racers. For decades, Mario Kart has delighted fans with its broad array of Nintendo characters.

Building upon its predecessor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe—which saw an expanded cast and record-breaking sales—Mario Kart World pushes boundaries by adding surprising choices to the lineup.

One reveal generating particular buzz is the playable Cow, a fan-favorite familiar to players from Moo Moo Meadows. Discussing the decision during an official Ask the Developer interview, Masaaki Ishikawa explained that after Mario Kart 8 Deluxe featured so many newcomers, the team wondered how to creatively expand the roster.

According to Ishikawa, inspiration struck when one of the designers sketched the Cow character riding a kart, prompting the realization that many course-side NPCs could become memorable racers themselves.

Once a prototype was developed, Ishikawa said, the Cow blended into the lineup seamlessly—leading to the inclusion of other well-known course obstacles such as Cheep Cheep and Pokey as playable characters.

This fresh approach to character selection underscores Nintendo’s ambition to create an interconnected and evolving Mario Kart universe. Within the development team, these newly playable characters are referred to as ‘NPC Racers,’ and Ishikawa lightheartedly described Cow as a pivotal figure in the Mario Kart series.

To showcase this innovation, Nintendo released new gameplay footage depicting Cow in action during one of Mario Kart World’s special missions—appropriately, a race that involves elegantly navigating through a herd of fellow cows. Mario Kart World’s unveiling marks another milestone for the franchise.

The game was initially under development for the original Switch, but Nintendo chose to focus on leveraging the enhanced capabilities of the Switch 2, promising improved graphics and advanced gameplay features.

Nintendo also clarified that the decision to call it Mario Kart World rather than Mario Kart 9 stems from a desire to emphasize the game’s broader, more expansive vision for the series. Poised for release on June 5, 2025, Mario Kart World will be available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2.

For both long-time fans and newcomers, the introduction of NPC racers like Cow, Cheep Cheep, and Pokey signals a playful shift in approach that may redefine racing and character engagement for the next generation of Mario Kart on the Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart Nintendo Switch Mario Kart World Nintendo Mario Switch 2 Switch Kart Cow Cheep Cheep Masaaki Ishikawa Ask the Developer Pokey Moo Moo Meadows