August 18, 2025, 2:16 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
With the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, a new “Mario Kart” installment has also been released. Alongside familiar heroes like Super Mario, “Mario Kart World” features a cow as a playable character. This cow is now at the center of an unexpected controversy.
It all started so well, as the cow in “Mario Kart World” quickly became a fan favorite after its release, prompting even the New York Times to dedicate an article to it. However, what some see as an entertaining addition is a thorn in the side of others. The animal rights organization PETA recently reached out to Nintendo, claiming the design of the virtual ruminant is problematic.
Nose Ring on Cow in “Mario Kart World” Problematic
According to PETA’s own statements, they sent a letter to Nintendo on August 14, 2025, criticizing the design of the cow in “Mario Kart World.” The full letter seems to no longer be available on the organization’s website, but has been fully covered by other outlets such as GeekWire.
The main issue is the nose ring worn by the cow in “Mario Kart World.” PETA argues that Nintendo is trivializing animal cruelty. In the meat and dairy industries, such nose rings cause pain and discomfort to the animals.
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These rings are used to exploit, control, and lead animals to their death. “Mario Kart World” should represent an “entertaining escape” and not remind players of “painful tools” used on cows.
Negative Fan Reactions to PETA Complaint
An official statement from the gaming company is still pending. TECHBOOK has made an inquiry, but Nintendo does not wish to comment at this time, according to a response. Meanwhile, Deadline reports on fan reactions that are critical of PETA’s actions. On X, someone points out that the timing is puzzling. After all, the cow, which was previously just a passive background figure, has always worn a nose ring. And, as screenshots show, since “Mario Kart 64” from 1996. The account Nintendo Prime also writes: “Just stop. It’s not even a real animal.”
Even animal lovers don’t understand why PETA is taking the time to complain about the cow in “Mario Kart World.” “Maybe companies should be encouraged to treat their livestock better before asking Nintendo to change a fictional cow,” writes another user. One person is even more blunt: “‘Mario Kart World’ is telling PETA to pull the stick out of their a**!”
It’s not the first time PETA has criticized video games. Recently, they have complained about “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” and “Palworld.” They even released an “animal-friendly” parody of “Pokémon.”