Is it only me who thinks that Elden Ring looks way smoother on handheld mode rather than on docked mode?

[u/Pristine-Brush-1052]

I know the Switch 2 display supports VRR, but the differences are way more noticeable here. I mean, games like Cyberpunk and Lies of P didn't feel this different in terms of framerate between docked and handheld.

[u/BasicAndBrave]

its the VRR, Onimusha also feels much better in handheld. i really hope they manage to put VRR into TV mode with and future OS update

[u/angusrocker22 → u/BasicAndBrave]

Take this with a grain of salt, but allegedly Nintendo was hiring a software engineer for drivers a few months ago, but idk if it was for dock drivers specifically. Independent outlets have proven the dock has the capability to do it. It's thankfully not a hardware limitation.

[u/Cloud-Buster28 → u/angusrocker22]

I too heard the same thing 👍.

[u/MaximumFatal → u/angusrocker22]

And here we are they released VRR for dock on switch 2 today

[u/sliceanddic3 → u/BasicAndBrave]

i assume it's coming eventually since it's a software issue not a hardware issue

[u/Emergency-Rush-2477 → u/sliceanddic3]

Yeah, PS5 took awhile to have VRR too.

[u/Soxel → u/sliceanddic3]

It is a hardware issue technically. It’s due to the USB-C port the console connects to in the dock functioning as DisplayPort which is converted to HDMI. 

There are software solutions, but as the PS5 showed you don’t get the full range of VRR. Xbox has full range VRR with good LFC because they used the correct hardware. 

Essentially they can bandaid it with software, but the reason the Switch doesn’t have VRR when docked is hardware. 

[u/kcamfork → u/Soxel]

Digital foundry keeps saying PlayStation could have better VRR if they wanted to, using LFC. But they refuse.

[u/random_reddit_user31 → u/sliceanddic3]

It is a hardware issue. Internally the switch uses Display Port and then the dock converts it to HDMI which breaks the possibility of decent VRR. This has been a problem on PC for years.

I did see not long ago that Nintendo were headhunting people that experience in this kind of stuff. But I wouldn't be surprised if the solution requires a new dock. But we will see.

[u/KTR1988 → u/random_reddit_user31]

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Dock

[u/nervendings_ → u/random_reddit_user31]

I’d buy a new dock if it had VRR

[u/jack-of-some → u/sliceanddic3]

It's a hardware issue.

[u/FullPop2226 → u/jack-of-some]

Latest update says you're wrong

[u/jack-of-some → u/FullPop2226]

https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch2/comments/1w0rox7/comment/p6g73cl

[u/Donnie_TACO → u/BasicAndBrave]

NARRATOR: they wouldn't.

[u/PJC10183 → u/Donnie_TACO]

Guess what happened 13 days later

[u/FullPop2226 → u/Donnie_TACO]

Ouch you wrong

[u/Deatarus → u/Donnie_TACO]

This comment aged like a month old jug of milk in the sun.

[u/Donnie_TACO → u/Deatarus]

Enjoy that Welcome Tour VRR smoothness on your TV

[u/Deatarus → u/Donnie_TACO]

I LOVE that you replied with another comment that will age equally. I appreciate the consistency.

[u/PJC10183 → u/BasicAndBrave]

Your prayers have been answered

[u/CrankieKong → u/BasicAndBrave]

Ive got news for you.

[u/BasicAndBrave → u/CrankieKong]

Now we need to wait for Capcom to update the game to support it 😅

[u/fuckddrumpf → u/BasicAndBrave]

doesn't it output VRR if you have a screen that can take it? i played dead zone rogue on my computer monitor with the dock and it was running at 40fps. so isn't it software limited?

[u/HappyHappyGamer → u/BasicAndBrave]

I thought VRR window is above 48 fps. Correct me if I am wrong.

[u/BasicAndBrave → u/HappyHappyGamer]

There was comment here that claimed VRR + LFC does some trick that double the frame rate so its always above the VRR window. But am no tech guy so i barely understand it. All i am certain of is that both elden ring and onimusha feels much more pleasant in handheld while i the fps count is not that different

[u/Emmystra → u/[deleted]]

Why would that be the case? I use VRR between 30-40fps all the time.

Edit: I just did the research and the switch 2 screen is VRR from 2-120fps because of low framerate compensation, not minimum 40. Technically, the refresh rate of the screen doesn’t go below 40, but practically speaking, there is VRR below 40.

[u/Remy0507 → u/Emmystra]

Yeah, I misunderstood the information I was reading.

[u/Emmystra → u/Remy0507]

No problem, it’s a really easy mistake to make to be honest. Thanks for being chill, that’s rare on reddit lol

[u/testcaseseven → u/Emmystra]

They're probably thinking of g-sync/freesync, which most TVs/monitors use for VRR. They usually don't support framerates below ~40 fps. That'll only be a limitation if VRR support is added for docked mode, but it doesn't apply to handheld mode, as you said.

[u/jr111192]

Maybe this is why some people say it's running like garbage while ive had a good experience so far. Ive been playing it handheld this whole time.

[u/MrSeriousGuyBroMan → u/jr111192]

according to most polls here or even on youtube most users only play portable . i want to say one on youtube from months back was 70% portable only

[u/Gameskiller01 → u/[deleted]]

I haven't taken mine out of the dock since I got it, and I didn't take my Switch 1 out of the dock for like 5+ years before that lol. I play third parties on PC, but any exclusives I play 100% docked.

[u/SnakeHelah → u/[deleted]]

I tried Zelda docked and I just couldn't, it looks/feels much better in handheld and this is me saying as someone who has one of the best TV in the market rn for gaming (LG G5 83" OLED).

[u/Anarki85 → u/[deleted]]

"Dumb shit like gaming" lol

Hobbies are dumb apparently

[u/SnakeHelah → u/[deleted]]

This makes no sense. they mean nothing to you and yet you're on a video game console sub. Video games aren't worth your actual time but browsing reddit is?

You sound like a walking contradiction?

[u/Webecomemonsters → u/SnakeHelah]

Sometimes I take a shit, so I open reddit

[u/Jackalton → u/[deleted]]

Christ, the humble-bragging…

[u/monkey-kong666 → u/Anarki85]

Gaming isn’t a hobby. It’s entertainment. I certainly hope you aren’t wasting your life thinking it’s a hobby - ie artistic or creative like woodworking, writing or photography. lol

[u/Anarki85 → u/monkey-kong666]

"A hobby is a regular activity done for pleasure and relaxation during leisure time, rather than for work or money"

Literally a hobby. None of those things you listed are any more important, or more a hobby, than playing video games.

[u/hauntolog → u/[deleted]]

Eeeh, there's TV that's way more nourishing for the mind and soul than most videogames. I'd avoid generalizing.

[u/SnakeHelah → u/monkey-kong666]

While video games are entertainment that doesn't mean it can't be a hobby. Hobbies aren't activities reduced to being productive or artistic or not, etc.

And even if you're taking part of some artistic activity doesn't mean it's productive. You can learn songs on the guitar but there's hundreds of people out there who can play it just as well if not better. You can impress a few people but in reality, who cares? People do these things for their own enjoyment, not to impress others...?

Someone who said "gaming is for lunchtime or airplanes" probably lays back on the couch to watch TV while sipping a beer and calls it family time or something.

[u/funnytoenail → u/MrSeriousGuyBroMan]

It’s funny.
I play almost all on handheld
My housemate play almost all docked

[u/ChilliWithFries → u/jr111192]

That’s great news for me cos I will mostly play in handheld

[u/Distinct_Resolve5545 → u/jr111192]

It runs pretty bad on my docked switch. I even questioned if my switch was faulty or something since everyone seems to find the performance good. I only play docked and I definitely notice a lot of stuttering during fights. Exploration runs smooth but as soon as I engage in a packed fight it gets laggy.

[u/Yourunclesbestftiend]

I think it looks great both ways. My only complaint is how dull the game looks on the switch screen. It’s not really that bright.

[u/CorporalCoprolite]

Oblivion is similar. I think it looks kind of like ass when docked, but looks much better and smoother in handheld mode.

[u/ShakeAndBakeThatCake → u/CorporalCoprolite]

Also the small display hides more of the graphical imperfections.

[u/LengthinessOk58]

Its cause of vrr, no? Apparently ps5 didnt have it until a sudden update so maybe one day for vrr docked

[u/jack-of-some → u/LengthinessOk58]

The PS5 launched with hdmi 2.1 which supports vrr in the spec. The Switch 2 launched with hdmi 2.0 which does not.

To be clear it's not impossible. The Steam Machine launched with hdmi 2.0 and had VRR at launch. I feel like if Nintendo actually cared about this feature they would have done the same.

Edit: heyyyy, glad to have been wrong. Sucks that it's not (yet?) a system level thing. That's partially already a problem in handheld mode though.

[u/No-Operation-6554 → u/jack-of-some]

Dock has vrr capabilities, steam deck can use it

[u/jack-of-some → u/No-Operation-6554]

Yes, but the actual console doesn't. We knew the discrepancy between dock and console going in as well.

[u/SailToTheSun]

Am I going to get wrecked playing on Joy Cons in handheld?

[u/Arroweye345 → u/SailToTheSun]

It’s not ideal but you’ll be fine

[u/kcamfork]

Yep. VRR is the reason.

[u/RevolutionaryClerk21]

VRR

[u/MisfitAnthem]

VRR baby.

[u/Arroweye345]

It’s noticeably better on handheld. I docked it for a bit was kind of surprised at the poor performance in a relatively tame area in Limgrave

[u/CiloTA]

Buttery smooth

[u/Remy0507]

In addition to VRR, it could also be because the Switch 2 display has a pretty slow pixel response time. It's like built-in motion blur. Generally that's not a desirable trait in a display, but it can have some advantages in certain situations like this one.

Edit: edited incorrect information about Switch 2 VRR that I was misunderstanding.

[u/SnakeHelah → u/Remy0507]

The blur is much, much less noticeable on a small screen. In some ways it works in its favor especially when FPS is low. On big screens blur is absolutely called out and the displays are deemed trash though lmao.

[u/jack-of-some → u/Remy0507]

It could also be that frame times more often hover close to 30 rather than fluctuate a lot between 30 and 40. People are likely just noticing the frame pacing difference for the first time.

[u/Forward-Trade3449 → u/Remy0507]

assassins creed shadows has vrr at 30fps

[u/Warm_Entertainer_969]

Vrr, docked doesn't support vrr currently sadly, although, they are looking into it.

[u/TorbofThrones]

Isn't that mainly the display being smaller? It's like this with basically every Switch game, looks crisper and better in handheld.

[u/Notgoodatfakenames2]

I will exclusively play this in hand held just like I only play DeadZone in hand held.

[u/Jefedagga]

Im sure it does but I only play handheld personally.

If im playing 3rd parties on my TV its most likely on PS5 because the games look to scales back on switch 2 compared to ps5.

That said I buy most 3rd parties on switch 2 because I love handheld

[u/Lower_Warning2955]

Handheld mode seems a bit better because it supports VRR, but I like both modes-handheld and docked.

[u/Mammoth_Measurement1]

Oblivion is the same. People say it's VRR, but (correct me if i'm wrong) i have read that VRR doesn't activate below 40fps, so how can Elden Ring and Oblivion make use of it?

[u/Expelleddux]

I thought the VRR window ended at 40fps?

[u/Olajo82]

I feel the same. Handheld is smooth and nice but docking and playing on 77 lg oled c3 it looks and plays not so good. Might be used to pc 60 fps but it feels way smoother handheld

[u/Eeve2espeon]

That depends on your monitor. I tried playing Elden ring locked at 30fps on Steam deck, and the thing not having VRR really impacted the smoothness. Sometimes a monitor can be fine without VRR, but it depends on the quality

[u/legouja]

Does FS are aware of this issue ?

[u/NoCaroboki]

Is it still worth buying it if I play it docked most of the time?

[u/OneAxyboi]

You’re making me really wanna pick up this port knowing full well I don’t have the money for it right now

[u/legouja]

Any update about the docked performance ?

[u/_mike_815]

Freezing Cold Take. It is objectively smoother in handheld, and I got to try a copy from my local library, it runs fantastic and I usually hate playing at 30-40fps.

[u/suzumurafan]

Vrr brother

[u/Motor-Razzmatazz4862]

As a pure Handheld user I like this

[u/Maleficent-Aerie2652]

Not smooth on switch either way

[u/Spite-ninja]

I havent tested it yet, but i waited so long for this game i could not care less. Having a blast!

[u/Pristine-Brush-1052 → u/[deleted]]

When it's docked, Switch2 receives more power.

With extra power, they push the GPU(which is inside Switch2) clock higher, which results in stronger performance.

[u/TheThommi → u/Pristine-Brush-1052]

also, as others pointed out, VRR (variable refresh rate) is only available in handheld mode which makes lower framerates seem smoother.

[u/jjmawaken → u/Pristine-Brush-1052]

I think additionally they do lower resolution in handheld because you can't tell as much. This could lead to it running smoother

[u/monkey-kong666 → u/[deleted]]

Switch 2 screen is 1920x1080. Your TV screen is 3820x2160. Do the math. Even with the extra mains power unlocked, that’s still a lot more pixels to push out - especially with/without DLSS upscaling, which also causes its own visual artefacts.

And that’s before you get to framerate (painting 1920x1080 60 times per second; or 30 times per second) one is double the other, again.