Nintendo has enabled variable refresh rate (VRR) support for Switch 2 games played on a television, bringing smoother motion to docked gameplay after previously removing references to the feature.
Switch 2 finally gets docked VRR support
Nintendo has confirmed on its Japanese website that a Switch 2 firmware update now enables VRR output when the console is connected to a compatible television. The company said, “VRR output is now supported in TV mode,” explaining that when both the game software and TV support VRR, the video output can adjust its refresh rate to match the game’s processing speed.
An update to the Nintendo Switch 2 Dock is also required before you can use the feature. This means owners must ensure both the console software and dock firmware are up to date, as updating the handheld alone will not enable VRR when playing on a television.
VRR is designed to make gameplay appear smoother by letting a display’s refresh rate change in line with the number of frames a game produces. Without VRR, differences between the game’s frame rate and the screen’s refresh rate can cause visible judder, tearing, and uneven motion.
The feature is particularly useful for games whose frame rates vary during play. Rather than forcing the display to refresh at a fixed rate, VRR allows it to respond dynamically to changes in performance. The result can be more consistent-looking movement, particularly during scenes where the game’s frame rate fluctuates.
Nintendo previously removed TV VRR from the plans
The addition is notable because Nintendo had originally indicated that Switch 2 would support VRR in both handheld and docked modes. When the console was first announced, the company described VRR as a feature for both the built-in display and televisions connected through the dock.
That plan changed before launch. Nintendo delivered VRR support for the Switch 2’s handheld OLED display, but later removed information about TV-based VRR. The company subsequently confirmed that VRR would initially be limited to handheld play, leaving owners unable to use the technology when connecting the console to a compatible television.
The latest update reverses that decision and gives Switch 2 owners access to a feature that is already widely available on competing gaming platforms. Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X support VRR, while the technology has also become common among PC gaming displays and televisions.
Nintendo hinted at renewed work on the feature earlier this year. In July, the company posted a job for a senior display engineer whose required knowledge included display technologies such as HDR and VRR. Although the listing did not confirm that TV VRR was returning to Switch 2, it suggested Nintendo continued to be interested in developing display-related technology for its hardware.
The timing of the update also indicates that the original decision to leave TV VRR out may not have been permanent. Nintendo has now added the capability through a software and dock update rather than requiring new hardware, allowing existing Switch 2 owners with compatible televisions to benefit.
Firmware update brings several other changes
VRR isn’t the only feature in the latest Switch 2 firmware update. Nintendo has also added a new handheld boost toggle, giving users another option for managing performance when playing on the console’s built-in screen.
The update also changes the Mii editor, though Nintendo’s announcement suggests the VRR functionality is the more significant display-related addition. Another new feature lets users transfer an entire system from one Switch 2 console to another, making it easier to move data and settings to a replacement or additional console.
The update arrives as Nintendo continues to expand the Switch 2’s software line-up. During its latest Direct presentation, the company announced Metroid Ravenous and a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, adding further major releases to the platform’s growing catalogue.
Nintendo has also revealed a special Switch 2 console themed around The Legend of Zelda to mark the series’ 40th anniversary. The themed system is scheduled to launch next month, giving fans another hardware option as Nintendo builds momentum around its latest console.
For Switch 2 owners who play primarily on a television, however, the arrival of docked VRR could be one of the most meaningful improvements. With a compatible TV and the required dock update, games that support VRR can now adjust their output to better match the display, potentially reducing distracting visual issues and providing smoother motion during gameplay.
