More than a year after its launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 finally has support for variable refresh rate when docked and connected to a TV–feature which has always been possible in portable mode.
Headlining the Switch 2 version 23.0.0 update, which is out now, VRR can now be enabled in the console’s settings menu for docked play. It will require a separate update for the dock itself too, which will be applied the next time you dock the console. Also included in the update is a system-transfer feature, which might come in handy a few weeks ahead of the release of the special edition Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Switch 2.
Curiously, the patch notes indicate that VRR will only engage with compatible games, suggesting that developers will need to update their games to make it available. Currently, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is the only game that supports docked VRR, with the game’s VRR demo now unlocked in docked play. It’s a strange requirement for a hardware-level feature, and might make its adoption either slow or inconsistent.
Variable refresh rate allows a compatible display to match the frame rate of the game being played, within a specific frame-rate window. It’s immensely useful for games with variable performance and unlocked frame rates, like Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, as it can alleviate distracting screen tearing and stuttering. It has been supported by the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 since their respective launches, and has been a staple in many TVs for the past couple of years.
It’s been a busy week for Nintendo, with a Direct for The Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary that was mostly focused on the remake for Ocarina of Time. A day later, Nintendo hosted a more traditional Direct, with reveals for Metroid Ravenous, Kirby and the World Beyond, and several Nintendo Switch 2 editions of popular Switch titles.
