Nintendo Switch 2 finally gets the TV-mode VRR support it should have had at launch
Nintendo’s Switch 2 system update 23.0.0 adds VRR output in TV mode, but compatible games, televisions and an updated dock are all required.
Nintendo Switch 2 owners finally have one less reason to stare suspiciously at their television settings. System update 23.0.0 adds variable refresh rate output in TV mode, bringing smoother frame pacing to compatible displays — provided the console, dock, game and television all agree to cooperate.
What the update adds
Nintendo says system update 23.0.0 adds VRR output when the Switch 2 is being used in TV mode. Variable refresh rate allows a display to adjust its refresh timing to match the console’s changing frame rate, which can reduce tearing and make uneven motion look smoother.
The feature is not universal magic. Both the game and television must support VRR, and Nintendo says the Switch 2 dock also needs its own update before the feature will work. A new VRR setting has been added to the console’s display menu.
The update also includes full-system transfer support between Switch 2 consoles, alongside changes to GameChat, accessibility features and virtual game cards. Nintendo’s support information is the primary source for the firmware changes, while The Verge independently reports the addition of docked VRR.
What Switch 2 owners need
Owners with a VRR-capable television should update the console and dock, then check the display settings and the game’s own support information. VRR can make a real difference when a game’s frame rate wanders, but it cannot turn a poorly optimised title into a technical masterpiece. It is a smoothing tool, not a tiny software miracle worker.
Our opinion
Nintendo adding TV-mode VRR this late feels less like a surprise bonus and more like returning a tool that should have been in the box from day one. Still, late is better than never: Switch 2 owners with compatible TVs should enable it and enjoy the steadier motion. The only awkward bit is explaining to early adopters that their premium console has finally learned a trick the display has been waiting for since launch.
Sources
Sources: Nintendo Switch 2 system-update information; The Verge independent report.