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

An indie developer with extensive experience creating games for the original Nintendo Switch has shed light on why the brief glimpse of Mario Kart 9 in the Switch 2 reveal suggests that the new console is "significantly more powerful." The grand unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 last week left many in awe, yet Nintendo has remained tight-lipped about the technical capabilities of its new handheld. While we've seen clear upgrades such as new Joy-Cons, a redesigned kickstand, and a larger form factor, the exact power of the Switch 2 remains undisclosed.

However, indie developer Jerrel Dulay of Sungrand Studios, known for his work on the Wii U and 3DS, believes that the brief footage of Mario Kart 9 offers crucial hints. In a recent YouTube video (via GamesRadar), Dulay delves into the technical aspects of the new Mario Kart footage. He highlights the use of "physically-based shaders" on cars and other textures, which can be influenced by reflections, lighting, and other effects, suggesting a leap in graphical capabilities.

Mario Kart 9 - First Look

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Dulay points out that these shaders, which were taxing on the original Switch, are used extensively in the new footage without apparent performance issues. He also notes additional material reflections from the ground and other elements, indicating enhanced rendering capabilities. The high-resolution ground textures featured in the trailer, which demand significant RAM, further suggest the Switch 2's increased power. The original Switch has just 4GB of RAM, whereas the Switch 2 is rumored to boast 12GB, as indicated by the Switch 2 motherboard leaks showing two SK Hynix LPDDR5 modules.

In late 2023, Digital Foundry released an extensive report on the Switch 2's new hardware, suggesting it includes the Nvidia T239 ARM mobile chip. This chip reportedly features 1536 CUDA Cores, a 500% increase over the original Switch's Tegra X1 chip, which only had 256 CUDA cores. The T239's 8nm Nvidia Ampere architecture, while having 40% fewer CUDA cores than the desktop RTX 3050 GPU, still marks a significant upgrade.

Dulay emphasizes that "every single piece of geometry" in the trailer uses physically-based rendering for shaders, showcasing the new console's capabilities. He also mentions the use of "true volumetric lighting" in the Mario Kart teaser, a feature that is demanding on any GPU. This lighting system accounts for distance, height, and density, and its smooth performance at 60 frames per second in the trailer is a testament to the Switch 2's power.

The presence of detailed shadows at far distances in the trailer further supports Dulay's analysis. Shadows, which were costly to render on the original Switch, are handled more efficiently on the Switch 2. The increased number of onscreen textures, high poly-count characters, and real-time cloth physics on the flagpoles all point to a significant leap in graphical power.

As we await more details and footage from the Nintendo Switch 2, Dulay's insights offer a compelling glimpse into the new console's potential. Nintendo has promised a dedicated Direct in April to reveal more about the Switch 2. Until then, stay tuned to IGN's comprehensive Switch 2 coverage for the latest updates.