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.

https://youtu.be/ku-vSTDNsT8?si=fAk4QEFMZaiqk6QB

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.