Nintendo’s recent reveal of a glimpse into the next Mario Kart game during its Switch 2 first look trailer left many feeling underwhelmed. However, a new analysis by Jerrel Dulay, a seasoned game developer with experience working on Nintendo hardware, has shed light on the potential capabilities of the Switch 2.
Dulay’s video highlights several features that demonstrate the significant improvement in graphics performance. The inclusion of physically based shaders, which simulate real-world lighting interactions, is particularly noteworthy. He also discusses the high cost of rendering textures at high resolutions and how volumetric lighting can create a sense of depth and realism.
One key takeaway from Dulay’s analysis is that the Switch 2 appears to have more than double the memory of its predecessor, which would enable true volumetric lighting capabilities. Additionally, the system’s real-time cloth simulation suggests significant improvements in physics performance.
Rumors suggest that the Switch 2 may use a semi-custom Nvidia processor called the Tegra T239, which would provide a substantial increase in CUDA cores – up to 500% more than the original Switch. This upgrade has the potential to greatly expand graphics complexity and improve overall performance.
While the analysis is based on observations from the trailer and speculation about the hardware specs, it’s clear that the Switch 2 has the potential to be a significant upgrade over its predecessor. With this new information, fans are eagerly awaiting the release of more details in April’s Switch 2 Direct event.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2025/01/21/nintendo-secretly-teased-the-switch-2s-power-and-we-totally-missed-it