Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2: Digital Foundry Analysis Reveals 1440p Resolution and 60fps Performance

The highly anticipated Mario Kart World is poised to set a new standard for kart racing games as it races onto the Nintendo Switch 2.

Developed by Nintendo, Mario Kart World represents the next evolution of one of the company’s flagship franchises, continuing a legacy that has sold over 150 million copies worldwide since its inception in 1992.

As fans eagerly await official launch details, the gaming technology experts at Digital Foundry have turned their attention to early gameplay footage, offering an in-depth technical analysis of how Mario Kart World performs on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 hardware. Drawing from extended footage provided through official Nintendo Treehouse sessions, Digital Foundry reports that Mario Kart World operates at a crisp 1440p resolution when played in docked mode.

Notably, this resolution is achieved without the use of temporal anti-aliasing (TAA) or temporal upsampling, techniques commonly used to boost image clarity in demanding titles.

Instead, the analysis notes that the game leans heavily on advanced baked lighting solutions, which help to minimize aliasing and create smooth visual presentation during typical gameplay scenarios. Performance is another key highlight.

According to Digital Foundry, Mario Kart World consistently maintains a seamless 60 frames per second throughout standard racing gameplay—an important benchmark for both competitive and casual players.

This robust performance extends to split-screen multiplayer, with the analysts confirming 60fps support for at least two-player split-screen races, as demonstrated in side-by-side setups during the Nintendo Treehouse showcase.

While footage of four-player split-screen is not yet available, the consistency shown in two-player mode sets promising expectations for local multiplayer fans. In addition to the core gameplay, Digital Foundry’s breakdown reveals that the newly introduced Photo Mode runs at a steady 30fps, trading frame rate for enhanced visuals to allow players to capture and share stunning in-game moments.

The technical team also alludes to the existence of a 120fps mode within Mario Kart World.

Although no direct gameplay footage of this mode has surfaced, its mention suggests Nintendo is pushing hardware boundaries to offer an ultra-high frame rate option, potentially for displays that support it. The close examination by Digital Foundry leverages official Nintendo Treehouse playthroughs as their primary source, ensuring that all insights are grounded in verified media, not speculation.

Their assessment paints a bright technical future for Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2, one that emphasizes both visual fidelity and high-performance gameplay—qualities that have long been hallmarks of the Mario Kart series. As Nintendo continues to unveil more information about Mario Kart World and the Nintendo Switch 2 ecosystem, players and industry insiders alike will be watching closely for further announcements and hands-on opportunities.

Digital Foundry’s findings underscore just how much attention Nintendo is dedicating to leveraging new hardware for flagship franchises, making Mario Kart World one of the most closely watched titles headed to the Nintendo Switch 2 and its eShop.

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