"Mario Kart 9 Glimpse Hints at Significantly More Powerful Nintendo Switch 2, Developer Says"

The recent reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 has sparked excitement among gamers worldwide, but the specifics of its hardware capabilities have remained under wraps. While Nintendo showcased new features like updated Joy-Cons, a revamped kickstand, and a larger design, the true power of the Switch 2 has been a topic of speculation. However, a brief glimpse at Mario Kart 9 during the reveal video has provided some tantalizing clues about the console's potential.

In a detailed YouTube video analysis, indie developer Jerrel Dulay from Sungrand Studios, who has extensive experience with Nintendo's hardware, including the Wii U and 3DS, suggests that the Switch 2 is poised to be significantly more powerful than its predecessor. Dulay's insights focus on the new Mario Kart footage, which he believes showcases the capabilities of the upcoming console.

Mario Kart 9 - First Look

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Dulay points out the use of "physically-based shaders" on cars and other textures in the Mario Kart footage. These shaders, which can be influenced by reflections and lighting, indicate a leap in graphical fidelity. A late 2023 report from Digital Foundry suggested that the Switch 2 might be powered by the Nvidia T239 ARM mobile chip, boasting 1536 CUDA Cores—substantially more than the original Switch's Tegra X1 chip, which only had 256 CUDA cores. This represents a 500% increase in CUDA core count, promising a significant boost in performance.

"Every single piece of geometry I see here is using physically-based rendering for the shaders," Dulay explained. He noted that the original Switch struggled with complex shaders, often resulting in frame rate drops. In contrast, the new footage shows additional material reflections, suggesting a smoother gaming experience on the Switch 2.

Dulay also highlighted the high-resolution ground textures in the Mario Kart footage, which demand more RAM. While the original Switch comes with 4GB of RAM, the Switch 2 is rumored to have 12GB, with leaks showing two SK Hynix LPDDR5 modules capable of providing up to 12GB each. The potential RAM speed could reach up to 7500MHz, significantly enhancing memory bandwidth and allowing for faster texture loading and more detailed environments.

Another impressive feature Dulay pointed out was the use of "true volumetric lighting" in the Mario Kart teaser. This advanced lighting technique, which accounts for distance, height, and density, is computationally intensive and was challenging to implement on the original Switch. The presence of volumetric lighting at 60 frames per second in the new footage underscores the Switch 2's enhanced capabilities.

Dulay also mentioned the improved handling of shadows at greater distances, which were costly to render on the original Switch. The increased CUDA cores, RAM capacity, and speed in the Switch 2 appear to alleviate these challenges, allowing for more detailed and expansive game worlds.

The high number of textures onscreen, along with high poly-count characters and real-time cloth physics on flagpoles, further demonstrate the significant leap in power that the Switch 2 offers. As the gaming community eagerly awaits more details, Dulay's analysis provides a compelling preview of what to expect from the Switch 2's graphical prowess.

Nintendo is set to reveal more about the Switch 2 in a dedicated Direct in April. Until then, keep an eye on IGN for comprehensive coverage of the Switch 2 and all its exciting developments.