Why That Brief Look at Mario Kart 9 Suggests Nintendo Switch 2 Is 'Significantly More Powerful' Than the Original — According to a Developer

An indie developer with extensive experience creating games for the original Nintendo Switch believes the brief glimpse of Mario Kart 9 in the Switch 2 reveal strongly suggests a significant power upgrade. Last week's reveal showcased new Joy-Cons, a redesigned kickstand, and a larger console, but specifics on the Switch 2's processing power remain elusive. However, Jerrel Dulay of Sungrand Studios, a developer with a history working on Wii U and 3DS titles, offers an insightful analysis in a new YouTube video (via GamesRadar).

Mario Kart 9 - A Closer Look

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Dulay highlights the use of physically-based shaders in the Mario Kart 9 footage. These shaders, affecting reflections and lighting, were computationally demanding on the original Switch, often impacting frame rates. The trailer, however, showcases their extensive use without apparent performance issues. He also points to detailed ground textures and reflections, demanding both high resolution and significant RAM.

Digital Foundry's late 2023 report (and subsequent Switch 2 motherboard leaks) pointed to an Nvidia T239 ARM mobile chip with approximately 1536 CUDA cores—a substantial increase from the original Switch's Tegra X1 with only 256. This represents a more than 500% increase in CUDA core count alone.

Dulay emphasizes the high-resolution textures and their abundance in the footage, noting the memory requirements. The Switch 2 is rumored to boast 12GB of RAM (two 6GB LPDDR5 modules), a significant jump from the original's 4GB. The potential for higher RAM speeds (up to 7500MHz compared to the original's 1600MHz) further enhances performance, enabling faster texture loading and improved visual fidelity.

The trailer also displays volumetric lighting and far-distance shadows, both computationally expensive effects. Dulay argues that their inclusion at what appears to be a smooth frame rate strongly indicates a substantial power increase. The combination of high-polygon characters, real-time cloth physics, and numerous textures further supports this conclusion.

In summary, Dulay's analysis of the Mario Kart 9 footage suggests a considerable leap in processing power for the Switch 2, a point further reinforced by the increased RAM and potential for higher RAM speeds. While official details remain limited, Nintendo's April Direct promises further insights.