The new display option should help smooth out games with less stable frame rates on compatible TVs.
Nintendo Switch 2 has received a sizeable new system update, with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support in TV mode standing out as the biggest addition for players who regularly use the console while docked.
The feature arrived with Switch 2 system update version 23.0.0, released on 10 September. Nintendo says VRR can now be enabled when both the game being played and the connected TV support the feature, although players will also need to update their Nintendo Switch 2 Dock before it can be used.
What does VRR support mean for Nintendo Switch 2 in docked mode?
Despite the intimidating name, VRR is essentially there to make games look smoother when their frame rate is not perfectly consistent. Normally, a TV refreshes its image at a fixed rate while the console produces new frames separately. If those two fall out of sync, players can see issues such as screen tearing, where parts of different frames appear on screen at once, or noticeable stuttering.
VRR lets a compatible TV adjust its refresh rate to better match what the Switch 2 is actually outputting. That means games with fluctuating performance can potentially appear smoother, with fewer visible interruptions when the frame rate changes. That does not mean VRR will suddenly make games run at a higher frame rate, however. It cannot add performance that was not there to begin with, and both the game and display still need to support the feature. What it can do is make those frame-rate dips less distracting by smoothing out how they appear on screen, which could be especially useful for games that struggle to hold a perfectly steady frame rate.
Version 23.0.0 also adds several smaller quality-of-life features. Switch 2 owners can now perform a complete data transfer between two Switch 2 consoles, including save data and screenshots, while GameChat has received new joining and display options.
Nintendo has also expanded Virtual Game Card functionality, added an online licence fallback when a card cannot be transferred from another console, improved Handheld Mode Boost controls, and added QR code sharing and background music options to the Mii editor.
