Expert Claims Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2 Features ‘Fake HDR’ — Suggests Even Top Developers Aren’t Prioritizing HDR

Okay, so picture this: you’re diving into Mario Kart World on the Switch 2 and you’re all pumped for this epic high-def, colorful blast. But, uh, hold up—people are losing it over what’s being called ‘fake HDR.’ Yeah, I know, sounds a bit dramatic, right? But apparently, it’s a thing. There’s this tech guy, Alexander Mejia, who’s making some noise about it. And no, it’s not just your typical internet rage stuff. This dude knows his stuff—like, Dolby Vision and all that jazz on Xbox and Unreal Engine. Whatever those fancy terms mean.

So, what’s the deal? Turns out, Mario Kart’s all like “Look at us, 4K60 HDR!” but Mejia’s like, “Nah, not really.” He’s saying it’s all SDR-based with HDR slapped on like an afterthought. And if that means nothing to you, you’re not alone—took me a minute, too. But, apparently, if you’re gonna slap HDR on something, you should probably start from the beginning. Weirdly makes sense, I guess?

Anyway—whoops, lost my train of thought—so where was I? Ah, the developers kinda set themselves up for this mess. Like, promising the moon but not, you know, delivering it. Even Mejia’s saying, even the pros sometimes trip up on HDR. Relatable, much?

And get this—even if you crank that brightness right up to 10,000 nits (whatever nits are)—Mario Kart’s still like, stuck at 950 nits. Lame, right? It’s like decorating your room in confetti but finding out it’s literally just gray paper. Not good if you’re all about those bright, poppy visuals.

Mejia’s been doing this deep dive, testing brightness and whatnot. And, surprise, surprise, Mario Kart’s not living up to the hype. Like, game says peak brightness is a big deal, but it tops out at just 500 nits. Yeah, “big deal,” huh? That’s like buying a sports car that tops out at 30 mph. Um, no thanks.

Now, I was kinda sidetracked watching some comparisons. Mario Kart goes head-to-head with Godfall Ultimate Edition—another bright and shiny game. And side-by-side, well, let’s just say Mario’s not exactly the belle of the ball. Makes you wonder what’s going on at Nintendo HQ. Are they even trying?

Wrap it up, and Mejia’s kinda throwing some shade but also offering a help hand. Like, “Hey, I can fix this HDR mess.” Maybe they should take him up on it? Just saying.

Oh, and if you’re into staying clued up, hit that follow button on Google News for more deep dives and reviews. I dunno about you, but I might just stick to some old-school gaming for now. Less drama.