Nintendo Switch 2 received VRR support in docked mode
Nintendo released system update 23.0.0 for Switch 2, which adds support for VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) when the console is connected to a TV. Previously, variable refresh rate worked only on the built-in display of the Nintendo Switch 2.
The update arrived just over 15 months after the launch of Switch 2. Now, when both the game and the TV support VRR, the screen refresh rate can synchronize with the frame rate. To use this feature, you must update not only the console but also the Nintendo Switch 2 dock.
VRR in TV mode
VRR synchronizes the display refresh rate with the game’s frame rate. This reduces screen tearing and makes motion smoother during performance fluctuations.
The most noticeable effect of the feature should be in games with unstable frame rates. However, the mere presence of VRR does not increase console performance or boost frame rates: the technology only synchronizes image output with a compatible display.
After the update, a separate option for managing VRR appeared in display settings. To use this technology, you need a compatible game, a TV or monitor supporting VRR, and an updated dock.
Other new features in update 23.0.0
Nintendo also added full data transfer between two Switch 2 consoles. You can transfer saves, screenshots, and other user data to the new console.
Mii characters can now be exchanged using QR codes. Additionally, background music has returned to the Mii editor: users have access to tracks in the style of Mii editors from Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U.
A toggle for the Handheld Mode Boost feature has been added to the Quick Settings menu. This mode allows compatible games designed for the first Nintendo Switch to use TV-connected performance settings while in handheld mode.
The update expands accessibility features. Brazilian Portuguese has been added to the text-to-speech system and to the text-to-speech function in GameChat.
TV sound settings are now saved separately for each connected TV. The display output information section has also become more detailed and shows the video signals supported by the connected display.
Changes affected GameChat and virtual game cards. The GameChat list now displays previously visited chats, new chats can be started without first selecting friends, and a screen size setting has been added to the menu under the C button. If a virtual game card cannot be transferred from another console, the purchased game can sometimes be temporarily launched using an online license.
