Why Mario Kart World Stuck to Mario Characters

The latest installment in the Mario Kart series, Mario Kart World, has a wide range of characters to choose from. But there's a catch: all of them are from the Mario universe. Fans of other Nintendo games might be wondering why characters like Link from The Legend of Zelda or Isabelle from Animal Crossing didn't make the cut. The reason behind this decision was recently revealed by the game's producer, Kosuke Yabuki. He explained that adding characters from other Nintendo franchises just didn't feel right. The Mario universe is already packed with iconic characters, and the development team wanted to focus on what made Mario Kart unique. Yabuki also mentioned that the sheer number of characters and customization options in Mario Kart World should be enough to keep players happy. With so many characters and costumes to choose from, there's bound to be something for everyone. This approach might seem limiting to some, but it's a deliberate choice to maintain the game's identity. The development team also had to make tough calls about which characters to include. For instance, NPCs like Cow ended up on the playable roster, which might seem surprising to some players. But every character in the game has a purpose, and the team put a lot of thought into who made the cut. It's also worth noting that the development team considered other factors beyond just character popularity. They wanted to create a cohesive experience that stayed true to the Mario Kart series. This means that while some fan-favorite characters might be missing, the game still feels like a true Mario Kart experience. The decision to stick with Mario characters might disappoint some fans, but it's clear that the development team had a vision for Mario Kart World. By focusing on the Mario universe, they were able to create a game that feels unique and true to its roots. Whether this approach will pay off remains to be seen, but it's certainly an interesting strategy.