The recent unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 has left the gaming community buzzing with excitement, but amidst the fanfare, one aspect remains shrouded in mystery: the console's technical capabilities. While we've seen new Joy-Cons, an improved kickstand, and a larger design, the raw power of the Switch 2 has yet to be officially detailed by Nintendo. However, a brief glimpse of Mario Kart 9 during the reveal might just be the clue we need, according to indie developer Jerrel Dulay from Sungrand Studios. With a deep understanding of Nintendo's hardware from his work on the Wii U and 3DS, Dulay offers insightful analysis on the Switch 2's potential.

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 9 footage, suggesting a significant upgrade in graphical capabilities. These shaders, which respond to lighting and reflections, were a challenge for the original Switch due to its limited hardware. A late 2023 report from Digital Foundry hinted at the Switch 2 using the Nvidia T239 ARM mobile chip, boasting 1536 CUDA cores, a 500% increase over the original Switch's Tegra X1 with just 256 CUDA cores. This substantial increase in processing power could explain the smoother and more visually impressive gameplay seen in the trailer.

Dulay also highlighted the high-resolution ground textures and additional reflections in the Mario Kart footage, indicating a demand for more RAM. The original Switch comes with 4GB of RAM, while leaks suggest the Switch 2 could have 12GB, supported by two SK Hynix LPDDR5 modules. This upgrade, combined with potentially faster RAM speeds, could significantly enhance texture loading and overall game performance.

The teaser also showcases "true volumetric lighting," a feature that is notoriously taxing on GPUs. Dulay notes that the ability to run this at 60 frames per second on the Switch 2 is a testament to its power. The presence of distant shadows and real-time cloth physics on flagpoles further underscores the leap in graphical fidelity and processing capability.

As we eagerly await more information and footage from Nintendo, Dulay's analysis provides a compelling preview of the Switch 2's potential. Nintendo has planned a dedicated Direct in April to reveal more about the Switch 2, and until then, you can stay updated with all the latest news and coverage on IGN.