Indie developer Jerrel Dulay has shared his insights on why the brief look at Mario Kart 9 during the Nintendo Switch 2’s grand reveal suggests the new handheld is “significantly more powerful” than its predecessor.
Dulay, who worked on titles for the Wii U and 3DS, believes that the use of physically-based shaders in Mario Kart footage demonstrates the Switch 2’s capabilities. These shaders can be affected by reflections, lighting, or other effects, which require significant processing power.
The developer points to high-resolution ground textures as an example of the increased graphical fidelity on the Switch 2. He also notes the presence of true volumetric lighting, which is taxing for any GPU to run. This technology allows for more realistic lighting effects and can significantly improve game visuals.
Dulay highlights the Switch 2’s upgraded hardware, including a potential Nvidia T239 ARM mobile chip with 1536 CUDA Cores, twice as many as the original Nintendo Switch’s 256 CUDA cores. The increased RAM capacity, rumored to be around 12GB, is also expected to improve performance.
The developer’s observations suggest that developers will face fewer challenges when creating games for the new console, allowing for more detailed graphics and effects. The upcoming Nintendo Direct in April will provide further details on the Switch 2’s specifications and capabilities.
For now, Dulay’s video offers a unique insight into what gamers can expect from the next-generation Nintendo console, with the possibility of smoother gameplay and enhanced visuals potentially becoming a reality.
Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/why-that-brief-look-at-mario-kart-9-suggests-nintendo-switch-2-is-significantly-more-powerful-than-the-original-according-to-a-developer