Nintendo Restores Docked VRR Support for Switch 2
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The company brings back a feature previously scrubbed from the console's specifications to reduce screen tearing and judder in TV mode.
Nintendo has announced that the Switch 2 now supports variable refresh rate (VRR) when used in TV mode, according to reporting from Engadget. The feature allows the console to sync its refresh rate with a compatible television to match the game's processing speed, which helps eliminate screen tearing and judder.
According to Engadget, the company had initially promised VRR for both handheld and docked modes during the console's unveiling last year. However, Nintendo later removed the docked VRR information and stated the feature would be exclusive to the handheld OLED display. Engadget notes that a July job listing for a "senior display engineer" with expertise in VRR and HDR suggested the company was still developing the capability, which is already standard on PC, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5.
Nintendo stated that the docked VRR feature requires an update to the Nintendo Switch 2 Dock. The accompanying firmware update also introduces a handheld boost toggle, a revised Mii editor, and a system transfer feature for moving data between Switch 2 consoles, Engadget reports.
This update follows a Nintendo Direct event where the company revealed a Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and Metroid Ravenous. Next month, Nintendo intends to release a Switch 2 console themed for the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda.