The recent reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 has sparked excitement and speculation, especially regarding its technical capabilities. While Nintendo has been tight-lipped about the specifics, a brief glimpse of Mario Kart 9 in the reveal video has provided some tantalizing hints. Indie developer Jerrel Dulay of Sungrand Studios, who has extensive experience with Nintendo hardware, shared his insights in a new YouTube video (via GamesRadar), suggesting that the Switch 2 is significantly more powerful than its predecessor.

Mario Kart 9 - First Look

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Dulay pointed out several key indicators of the Switch 2's enhanced capabilities in the Mario Kart 9 footage. He noted the use of "physically-based shaders" on cars and other elements, which are affected by reflections and lighting. This is a significant upgrade from the original Switch, where using such shaders could severely impact performance.

A Digital Foundry report from late 2023 hinted that the Switch 2 might be equipped with the Nvidia T239 ARM mobile chip, boasting 1536 CUDA Cores—five times more than the original Switch's Tegra X1 chip. This was further supported by leaked images of the Switch 2’s motherboard, showcasing an 8nm chip.

Dulay observed that "every single piece of geometry" in the footage uses physically-based rendering, which was challenging for the original Switch's hardware. The new footage also showcases additional material reflections and high-resolution ground textures, which require substantial RAM.

Rumors suggest the Switch 2 could have 12GB of RAM, a significant jump from the original's 4GB. Leaks of the Switch 2 motherboard showed two SK Hynix LPDDR5 modules, potentially offering up to 12GB of RAM. The speed of these modules, which could reach up to 7500MHz, would greatly enhance texture loading and overall system efficiency compared to the original Switch's 1600MHz when docked.

Dulay emphasized the use of a high number of unique, high-resolution textures in Mario Kart 9, which would benefit from the increased RAM and its higher transfer rates. This could lead to significantly more visually appealing games on the Switch 2.

Another notable feature Dulay mentioned is "true volumetric lighting" in the Mario Kart 9 teaser, a demanding effect that considers distance, height, and light density. Implementing such effects at 60 frames per second suggests a considerable increase in the Switch 2's processing power.

Dulay highlighted the importance of volumetric lighting in the reveal trailer, noting its challenge on the original Switch. He also pointed out the presence of shadows at greater distances, which were costly to render on the previous console. The combination of increased CUDA cores, RAM capacity, and speed seems to alleviate these challenges significantly.

The Mario Kart 9 footage also showcased high poly-count characters and real-time cloth physics on flagpoles, further demonstrating the Switch 2's leap in power. As we await more details in Nintendo's scheduled Direct in April, Dulay's insights offer a promising glimpse into the graphical advancements we can expect from the Nintendo Switch 2. Stay tuned to IGN’s Switch 2 coverage for the latest updates.