Peach and Toad Get a New Set of Pipes: Mario Kart World Voice Cast Shake-Up!
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Nintendo's *Mario Kart World* gets a voice cast refresh, with Paul Castro Jr. and Courtney Lin taking over as Toad and Peach after Samantha Kelly's impressive 18-year run – here's hoping they bring the same level of charm to the race!
Right, so remember when *Mario Kart World* launched back in June 2025 to a mix of cheers and the odd disgruntled moan about… well, stuff? (Open-world karting – who’d have thunk it?!) Well, Nintendo's thrown another curveball, and this time it involves some fresh voices behind two of the Mushroom Kingdom's most iconic residents.
Turns out Samantha Kelly, who'd been voicing Peach and Toad for, like, *forever* (18 years!), is hanging up her vocal cords. Bit of a shock, that, especially since she found out around launch day. Fair play to her, though – took it like a champ and thanked everyone on socials. Good on ya, Samantha!
But fear not, karting faithful! Stepping into those teeny, tiny shoes are Paul Castro Jr. (taking on Toad) and Courtney Lin (as Peach and Baby Peach). Both actors took to social media to spill the beans and, honestly, their enthusiasm is rather infectious. Castro Jr., who's also lent his voice to Vegeta (mini) in *Dragon Ball DAIMA* (small world, eh?), seems absolutely chuffed to be voicing Toad. Lin, meanwhile, is understandably awestruck at carrying the legacy of Princess Peach. Can't blame her – it's a *massive* role!
Now, I reckon this voice actor swap is less about some grand conspiracy and more about Nintendo wanting to freshen things up. *Mario Kart World* is a brave new direction for the series, innit? (open world?! knockout tour mode?! bloody hell!) And perhaps they felt a new vocal dynamic was needed to match. Sound fair, though if you have been voicing for 18 years, that must be tough news to receive.
Regardless, both Castro Jr. and Lin seem genuinely stoked to be onboard. And while some fans might miss Kelly's take on Peach and Toad (nostalgia's a powerful potion, after all), it's worth giving the new cast a chance to prove their worth. After all, who knows? They might just bring a whole new layer of chaotic fun to the Mushroom Kingdom!
Source: Game Rant
Tags: Mario Kart World, Voice Acting, Nintendo, Gaming News, Character Voices
Original article: Game Rant