The Nintendo Switch 2 has received support for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) in its latest system update, version 23.0.0, enabling smoother gameplay when the console is docked and connected to a compatible television. This feature has been available in portable mode since the console's launch. To enable VRR for docked play, users must activate it within the console's settings menu. A separate update for the dock itself will also be applied automatically the next time the console is docked.
The update also introduces a system transfer feature, which may prove useful for players preparing for the upcoming release of a special edition Nintendo Switch 2 commemorating the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda. However, the patch notes specify that VRR will only function with games that have been updated by their developers to support the technology, a requirement that could lead to inconsistent adoption.
Currently, "Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour" is the only title that supports docked VRR, with its VRR demo now unlocked for docked play. Variable Refresh Rate technology synchronizes a display's refresh rate with the frame rate output by the game, within a defined range. This is particularly beneficial for games with fluctuating or unlocked frame rates, as it can mitigate visual artifacts like screen tearing and stuttering. Both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 have included VRR support since their respective launches, and it has become a common feature in modern televisions.
This VRR addition follows a busy week for Nintendo, which included a Nintendo Direct presentation focused on the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, highlighting a remake of "Ocarina of Time." More recently, a traditional Nintendo Direct showcased new titles and editions, including "Metroid Ravenous," " and "Kirby and the World Beyond," alongside several special editions of popular Switch titles for the Nintendo Switch 2.