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Indie developer Jerrel Dulay shares his analysis of Nintendo Switch 2 gameplay footage. He believes the Mario Kart 9 footage, shown during a reveal trailer, reveals significant details about the system’s power and capabilities. Dulay notes the presence of “physically-based shaders” in the new footage, which can create complex lighting effects like reflections and fog. This contrasts with the original Switch, where developers had to be cautious about shader complexity due to limited RAM.
Dulay also highlights high-resolution ground textures on Switch 2 compared to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, suggesting better performance for detailed environments. He speculates that Nintendo might push the Switch 2’s RAM to 12-16GB, offering “true volumetric lighting,” which adds depth and realism in games.
Dulay warns that such advanced features would strain performance on lower-end systems like the original Switch, potentially dropping frame rates to as low as 15fps at 1080p. This suggests Nintendo aims for smooth performance with these enhancements. He also points out the variety of textures being used, which could be resource-heavy and problematic on older systems—something that doesn’t appear to be an issue on Switch 2.
Dulay’s analysis provides valuable insights from a developer who has worked extensively on Nintendo systems like the Wii U, 3DS, and Switch. While Nintendo has yet to reveal concrete specs for the Switch 2, which is expected in April, Dulay’s findings hint at a system far more capable than previously imagined.
Source: https://www.gamesradar.com/hardware/indie-developer-behind-the-last-wii-u-and-3ds-games-says-switch-2-mario-kart-textures-are-extremely-telling-that-this-system-is-significantly-more-powerful-than-the-switch