4K Mario Kart shows that we really need Nintendo Switch Pro

4K Mario Kart shows that we really need Nintendo Switch Pro

The Nintendo Switch Pro promises to be a console capable of delivering Nintendo games in 4K resolution, based on the bits of information we've seen so far. And we've gotten a glimpse of what it could look like. [YouTuber SnazzyAI managed to get the racing game "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe," which runs at 1080p resolution with a Nintendo Switch docked, to run at 4K. SnazzyAI did this using upscaling .

By using AI to add extra detail to the frame, upscaling allows the game to be boosted from 1080p to 4K.

Typically, when a 1080p image is displayed on a 4K display, its lower resolution is stretched to 6 million additional pixels. As a result, the image loses clarity and detail and can appear blurry or washed out. It is worth noting, however, that some TVs have great upscalers that alleviate these problems. In any case, it is always better to feed a 4K image (either natively or by checkerboard rendering) at source to an ultra-high-resolution display.

Upscaling is especially effective for cartoon art-style games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This is because the AI does not have to deal with very complex textures. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" has plenty of effects, but not a lot of fine detail.

"The cartoony graphics of 'Mario Kart' were a perfect match for the AI upscaler, because the AI didn't have to worry about adding detail to the textures and could focus purely on adding more pixels, smoothing edges, and making them sharper while maintaining the original look. SnazzyAI told Nintendo Life, "We were able to focus purely on adding more pixels, smoothing the edges, and making it sharper while keeping the original look.

"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" looks great on the current Switch thanks to its frenetic action and effects, but it is undeniably impressive in 4K. 60 frames per second at 4K is sharp and clean, and the game looks great on the Switch, with the game's "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" looking like it was made for the Switch.

And this gives us hope for the rumored Switch Pro. While it is not certain if it will be able to run some of the best Nintendo Switch games natively in 4K, rumors suggest that it will offer a 4K experience.

It should be noted, however, that "Mario Kart 8" was originally released on the Wii U in 2014 and can be run on a CEMU emulator via a PC. Those with powerful rigs have been able to play the Wii U version of Mario Kart 8 natively in 4K for years, and it looks just as beautiful, if not more so, as in the AI upscaling video above.

As for the Switch Pro, this could be accomplished by some sort of upscaler that could be built into an improved dock for the console, with a dedicated processor to upmix 1080p or 1440p games to 4K This could be accomplished by some kind of upscaler that could be built into an improved dock for the console with a dedicated processor for up-mixing. We would love to see what an upscaled "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" would look like, especially considering that "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" has a resolution of only 900p when docked. However, since this game was also released on the Wii U, it can be played in 4K with ray tracing via the CEMU emulator.

Of course, this is all speculation. There has been no official announcement that Nintendo is working on a Switch Pro. We are, however, cautiously optimistic that Nintendo is working on something and that we may see it by the end of the year.

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