PETA accuses Nintendo: calls for the removal of the nose-ring cow from Mario Kart

Controversy has once again hit Nintendo's door, though this time not because of a bug or delays in its titles, but rather because of unexpected criticism from the animal rights organization PETA. The target of the controversy is one of the most striking racers in Mario Kart World , exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 : the cow with a nose ring, simply known as "Cow."

The organization Peta Peta published an open letter to Nintendo , demanding that the character be redesigned to eliminate the brass nose ring. According to the organization, this accessory is not merely an aesthetic detail, but a direct symbol of the cruelty that cattle experience in the meat and dairy industries.

In its statement, PETA asserts that nose rings cause real-life pain and discomfort to cows , as they are used as a control method on farms and livestock facilities. For the organization, seeing such a popular character in a family game with this accessory is a way of normalizing violent practices against animals.

The letter adds an ironic tone typical of its media campaigns:

“ 'Cow' has conquered the world; but did Nintendo slip on its own banana peel by including a brass nose ring? PETA thinks so .”

Furthermore, the NGO invites the Japanese company to "throw a blue shell against this sad design" and let the character "drift towards greener pastures" without mentioning livestock practices.

For now, Nintendo has not issued any official comments on the petition. However, this isn't the first time PETA has targeted the company. In recent weeks, the organization had already criticized the fact that Cow could eat hamburgers as a special item in the open world of Mario Kart World , which they considered a "low blow" to animal rights.

Despite the controversy, Vaca has established himself as one of the most popular racers among fans, to the point of becoming an unexpected icon of the new title. His charisma has led many players to share memes and fan art on social media, further reinforcing his popularity.

This isn't the first time PETA has made headlines in the gaming industry. In the past, the organization has also criticized titles like Pokémon for what it interpreted as "normalizing animal abuse," even going so far as to launch playable parodies online.

For some players, these campaigns help raise awareness about real animal welfare issues , but for others, they are nothing more than media-driven attempts that border on hype and limit the artistic creativity of video games.

The future of the Cow character is still uncertain. While PETA insists that Nintendo redesign the racer to eliminate any trace of animal cruelty, fans seem to enjoy the character as it is.

The big question is whether the Japanese company will give in to pressure, as it has done on rare occasions with other titles, or if it will maintain its artistic vision intact. The truth is that the controversy has already set in and has once again placed Nintendo at the center of the debate between entertainment, creativity, and social responsibility .