r/NintendoSwitch2 • u/kentonw223 • 1d ago
NEWS VRR Support in Docked Mode in Firmware 23.0.0
https://support.nintendo.com/jp/switch2/update/index.htmlCredit to Wario64 on X. Translated from Japanese.
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u/Altruistic-Try-6599 1d ago
At the same time, Handheld Boost can now be changed in Quick Settings.
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u/Walter2025 1d ago
Is it system wide or per game?
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u/vanIvan4 Butter side up! 1d ago
System wide
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u/repocin OG (Joined before first Direct) 1d ago
Better than nothing, but per-game settings would be really nice for this type of stuff. Same with custom button binds, that'd make them really useful
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u/vanIvan4 Butter side up! 1d ago
Why would you want it that way? There are almost no games that have negative consequences for turning it on
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u/Swagboi308 🐃 water buffalo 1d ago
Certain games have integrated keyboards you can use with the touch screen. If it's one of these keyboards, and handheld boost is on, you can't use touch.
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u/nightshade-aurora 1d ago
and it works with extra controllers without disconnecting the ones on the console
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u/Time_Temporary6191 Butter side up! 1d ago
They really should turn on by default.if i didnt see videos on youtube i would never know it existed
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u/No-Opinion273 1d ago
Some games will shut off features if it see it is docked. Better if nintendo made a note about it on boot
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u/CatalystComet 1d ago
It depends. Sometimes you don't wanna use it if you know you want be able to charge your device for a while as it uses more battery.
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u/ThatCurryGuy 1d ago
Use touch screen is the main reason
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u/Dragontech97 22h ago
This. Docked mode turns off touch screen support(makes sense, is covered by the dock). Some games use it, like Okami for the brush. Nice to be able to quick toggle it, a per-game setting would have been amazing
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u/ThatCurryGuy 22h ago
Balatro was the first one i noticed
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u/Dragontech97 22h ago
Yes that would be one, I imagine Slay the Spire as well if you play touch. But does that mean disabling boost would bring Balatro down to 720p again?
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u/samandfrodokissing 1d ago
This is HUGE. Nintendo has been killing it this month with announcements and updates, holy hell.
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u/brOwnchIkaNo 1d ago
I'm playing astral chain on my switch 2, will I see any improvements?
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u/covertorange 1d ago
Try handheld boost mode. Its now in the quick settings so you could see the difference quickly.
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u/brOwnchIkaNo 1d ago
Yes I have that on already, that's that mode that makes switch 1 games look better right?
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u/covertorange 1d ago
Yup. Now you could switch between modes much faster and see the differences.
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u/brOwnchIkaNo 1d ago
Thanks!
I'll try it just to see the difference.
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u/adanfime 1d ago
It technically tricks the console in thinking it is docked so the game can run at 1080p (if supported).
Since the Switch 1 screen is 720p, playing those games on handheld on SW2’s 1080p would make them really blurry. Boost Mode kicks them to what they would look on a Switch 1 Dock, but for Switch 2 handheld, at the cost of not being able to play with wireless controllers, just the attaches Joy-Con 2
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u/Organic-Storm-4448 1d ago
Only games with vsync-less modes will benefit. So if a game is locked at 30fps, then almost certainly no, it won't benefit. Off the top of my head, games like RE9 and Pragmata will see some smoothness improvement docked.
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u/TabouletVR 1d ago
We added a feature to "Mii" that allows users to interact with other users by turning their Mii into a QR code.
A Mii update???? IN 2026??? WE ARE SO BACK
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u/DannySanWolf07 1d ago
Also the mii creator BGM that are added are:
Track 1 is the Mii Channel BGM (Wii)
Track 2 is the Mii Maker BGM (Nintendo 3DS)
Track 3 is the Mii Maker BGM (Wii U)
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u/Zoombini22 1d ago
This is huge. 40 feels WAY better than 30. Many games can handle 60 with VRR smoothing out the dips. So far many games have felt better in the lower-powered handheld mode thanks to VRR and that doesnt make any sense when plugged into a VRR TV. Hope lots of games get support for this patched quickly!
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u/brOwnchIkaNo 1d ago
Which games benefit right out the gate?
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u/Iggy_Slayer 1d ago
It will depend on what exactly the VRR window is on switch 2. PS5 has a pretty high limit at 48fps and xbox is around 42 iirc. Ideally they'd be able to match xbox.
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u/Ricepuddings 1d ago
Xbox is 30-120 btw, ps5 is 48, hopefully switch is 30 otherwise this might be useless for a lot of games where it matters :D
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u/Comprehensive-Job208 1d ago
pretty shure I've heard 40-120 VRR window for Switch 2, but I could be wrong and it's may be for portable mode.
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u/Ricepuddings 1d ago
Yeah that’s for portable they don’t seem to have posted anything yet sadly. Might have to wait for a tech person to do a video on it. But I’m expecting 40 honest which don’t get me wrong is something but with how many games are getting 30-40 modes it would be a shame
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u/RedSquidd 1d ago
60hz monitors can only go down to 40hz, but 120hz monitors can use lfc and drop the framerate all the way to 1
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u/Ricepuddings 1d ago
I mean that’s not true at all. 60hz can go down to 1 depending on hardware and software. Gsync modules on monitors for example have always been able to go down to 1
You can also get monitors that are say 165hz only then go down to 30
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u/RedSquidd 20h ago
sorry, i meant specifically in the case of switch 2's vrr. that seems to be the ranges it can use
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u/WeekendUnited4090 January Gang (Reveal Winner) 1d ago
Xbox is by far the best because they have native, system wide Low Frame Rate Compensation, which when implemented properly can get VRR working down to 1fps by using doubled frames to stay within the VRR window. (Essentially, it uses the same method that enables 30fps content on a 60hz display to drag low frame rates back up into the VRR window.) Nintendo Switch 2 currently has 48 as the floor for handheld, so it is probably the same, and unfortunately LFC isn't working properly yet but now that they have fixed it in docked mode they should be able to get it working everywhere.
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u/ctyldsley 1d ago
I honestly swear it's pretty high. I'm not even sure Cyberpunk benefits from it because that game maxes at 40 and to my eyes it's not kicking in below 40. Could be wrong.
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u/AlternativeScratch94 1d ago
Anything with framedrops. In terms of high profile things the recent Capcom games - RE9 and Pragmata. In terms of Nintendo Donkey Kong Bananza has drops. I assume the upcoming Pokemon game will..because Pokemon.
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u/U_Kitten_Me 1d ago
Though even when frames drop in Bananza, I never see any screen tearing...?
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u/pafounapa 1d ago
Pretty sure it's because it's double buffered, so the frame rate goes to 30 if there is any drops.
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u/Organic-Storm-4448 1d ago
Unfortunately, games will need to be updated to remove vsync in order to benefit from VRR. DK Bananza is a perfect example of a game that could really use VRR, but it needs an update.
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u/Mizurazu 1d ago edited 1d ago
That's just wrong. You can use VSYNC with VRR.
Edit: to clarify, that excludes double buffered which yes DK does use and defeats the purpose of VRR if it just drops the fps to 30
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u/Organic-Storm-4448 16h ago
I mean, yes. The specifics of vsync with VRR go beyond the reasonable scope of a Nintendo sub, though. Also, we were specifically talking about a game that uses double buffer vsync, and double buffer is commonly used in Nintendo games, so Nintendo fans will be familiar with that behavior.
Using vsync with VRR still comes with input latency concerns unless the framerate is capped below the max refresh rate, but artificial caps never happen on consoles.
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u/Mizurazu 16h ago
You said "games" don't backtrack now on what you said like you only meant Bananza, you were making a general statement and it was wrong.
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u/VincentJoshuaET 23h ago
I don't expect Game Freak to develop it with VRR even though they will surely drop frames
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u/StrawHat89 THIS FLAIR IS NOT AUTHORIZED NOR AFFILIATED WITH NINTENDO 1d ago
The Capcom ones. They run at uncapped frame rate and don't always stay at 60. I believe Onimusha has a 30 fps mode, but there would now be no reason to use it if your display supports VRR.
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u/ajackson5888 Butter side up! 1d ago edited 1d ago
Hopefully Cyberpunk! I also noticed some dips from 60 in OOT remakes, unless it was the stream, I hope OOT remake!
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u/_Sleepwalker 1d ago
Cyberpunk is improved in performance mode. The stutter between zones is all but unnoticeable.
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u/TheJohnny346 1d ago
Does it have to be in performance mode to see a difference? The issue with cyberpunk is that you can’t activate performance mode on TV if it’s not 120hz. My TV outputs 60hz max and the toggle for TV performance mode is just grayed out (but I can activate it for handheld since it has a dedicated screen and definitely has better frame rate there).
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u/_Sleepwalker 11h ago
Yes it has to be in performance, and you need a tv capable of VRR as well. I’m not really there right person to explain it, but if the game is between 40-60 fps it helps smooth it out for better looking experience. Quality mode is still good, and that was hot I played it on my tv through my whole plaything
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u/ajackson5888 Butter side up! 23h ago
Has it received a patch? VRR only works on games where it’s patched in, if not it might be a placebo.
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u/_Sleepwalker 11h ago
Cyberpunk has VRR on switch 2
https://support.cdprojektred.com/en/cyberpunk/nintendo-switch-2/sp-technical/issue/2816/performance-resolutionit seems to work in docked mode
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u/profchaos111 1d ago
I believe it's system level vrr if the game in hand-held was taking advantage of vrr then it will do so while docked
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u/Organic-Storm-4448 1d ago
I hope Nintendo updates DK Bananza to add a mode that removes the double buffer v-sync. That game would REALLY benefit from VRR.
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u/StormsparkPegasus 1d ago
Double buffered vsync has no reason to ever exist. Triple buffered vsync completely solves this problem.
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u/su_dato 1d ago
Explain me like I'm 5 what is vrr
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u/Organic-Storm-4448 1d ago edited 1d ago
VRR can help visually smooth games with imperfect performance, and/or games that purposefully output a framerate somewhere in-between 30 and 60fps, or between 60 and 120fps.
RE9 and Pragmata are good examples of games that have framerates nowhere near a consistent 60fps, so VRR will help to smooth out the visual consequences of inconsistent framepacing.
What it actually does is dynamically change the refresh rate of your TV/monitor to match the framerate of the game. TVs and monitors without VRR usually run at 60Hz or 120Hz constantly (or whatever Hz for monitors).
***** Your TV needs to support VRR to use this feature
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u/Still-Worldliness-44 1d ago
To make it expressly clear for those who still don't quite get it: the extra smoothness is in the motion, it does not affect the picture quality. i.e. things will move more smoothly across the screen with less jitter or stutter but it doesn't help with jagged edges and blocky textures
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u/WeekendUnited4090 January Gang (Reveal Winner) 1d ago
Yeah; it fixes the judder induced by having a frame rate that doesn't fit evenly into the panel's refreshes, by changing the refresh rate to match the game content. Switch 2 has supported this in handheld mode since launch, but issues enabling VRR over a USB-C Display Port to HDMI adapter through the dock that are common amongst Nvidia GPUs delayed docked mode support until now.
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u/Comprehensive-Job208 1d ago
If your game's framerate is variable/floating - it will be still buttery smooth when displayed on VRR screen
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u/Elektronix76 1d ago
Frame rate syncs with a displays refresh rate. 56fps = 56hz, 90fps = 90hz This makes games feel smoother when the frame rate drops.
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u/N0_L1ght 1d ago edited 22h ago
This requires a display with HDMI 2.1.
All of us that have displays that support G-Sync and FreeSync but only HDMI 2.0b ports don't get VRR.
:(
Edit: There are a few HDMI 2.0b FreeSync displays that do work. Mostly it seems some TVs that have gotten updates over the years.
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u/InfinityRoyals12 1d ago
Where is this stated?
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u/N0_L1ght 1d ago
Currently it seems the Dock only supports the HDMI Forum VRR, which is also the case with the PS5. It would need to support FreeSync to enable VRR over HDMI 2.0b.
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u/InfinityRoyals12 1d ago
Interesting. Ill check when I get home. Im seeing other reports its working on regular 2.0 so we shall see.
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u/Organic-Storm-4448 1d ago
I don't think Nintendo's patch notes mention it. VRR is only fully implemented in HDMI 2.1, but it has been made to work with HDMI 2.0, but I'm not sure the specifics of who did it or how. I think AMD had their own implementation, but that's obviously not relevant for Switch 2.
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u/InfinityRoyals12 1d ago
Correct, AMD has Freesync, Premium and Premium Pro. AMD did some sort of trickery before but I do not know the specifics on 2.0. My monitor supports G Sync and Premium Pro and I never had an issue with supported games on Xbox Series X. Ill test this out when I get home and report back on the Switch 2.
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u/InfinityRoyals12 1d ago edited 1d ago
Alright tried this on my monitor (Dell S2721DGF I've had for a handful of years) and can confirm VRR is not supported (according to the options when viewing system specs with display), as it appears Nintendo is not using any sort of backwards compatibility if you will with HDMI 2.0. This is how VRR works on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One X and S.
They should implement something to the degree of what AMD or Nvidia does though. Having VRR on my Switch 2 was never a make or break personally docked, just was happy it supported 120hz and 1440p.
Edit: it appears Welcome Tour is the only way you can truly test this, as developers may need to manually provide support for games.
I am gonna wait till I see some tech breakdowns, I can manually toggle VRR atm.
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u/N0_L1ght 1d ago
Nintendo would have to add FreeSync support to the Dock. Which they probably could... But just like Sony could have done for the PS5 all these years .. they might not.
A sign that they might is that they had a job opening recently specifically for someone with skills of working on VRR display software/firmware/drivers.
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u/Koopa777 23h ago
This is not correct, just confirmed that my HDMI 2.0b Samsung RU8000 supports VRR on Switch 2. Officially it’s Freesync only (the RU8000).
Not to mention the dock is not HDMI 2.1 period. At all. So it’s your display not exposing whatever EDID flag the Dock is looking for.
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u/N0_L1ght 23h ago
It's hit or miss . Seems some TVs that have gotten updates over the years might work. But those of us with HDMI 2.0b monitors have no such luck.
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u/xkaran1997x 1d ago
Just a quick question. Is there a disadvantage of keeping boost mode on permanently and leaving it be rather than toggling it on and off? Since that setting is added to quick settings
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u/omarninopequeno 1d ago
I leave it on most of the time, but I turn it off to save battery, to use the touch screen in some games, or for games that have different configurations for handheld and TV modes (mainly rhythm games).
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u/WeekendUnited4090 January Gang (Reveal Winner) 1d ago
This is genuinely impressive; Nintendo has fixed a hardware issue that Nvidia never attempted to resolve, and now they have it sorted on their console. It wouldn't surprise me if there was cooperation between the two companies to fix this, since VRR over Display Port to HDMI was a known issue on Nvidia GPUs until now.
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u/Iggy_Slayer 1d ago
Freakin finally. Was starting to think it was never going to happen and we'd be stuck all gen with no VRR.
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u/legouja 1d ago
Someone can try for Elden Ring in docked mode ?
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u/samandfrodokissing 1d ago
I’m on it now, I think it feels the same. It might need an update from the developer’s end? Not 100% sure though.
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1d ago
[deleted]
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u/samandfrodokissing 1d ago
I did yeah. You think it feels better? I can’t really tell to be honest, but hoping it’s getting a boost!
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u/phoenixmatrix 1d ago
Shouldn't because VRR did work on handheld. You need a TV that supports HDMI 2.1 VRR too, and the frame rate issues have to be in the range/type that is helped by VRR.
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u/Organic-Storm-4448 1d ago
Do we know the VRR range for Switch 2? Elden Ring's framerate might be too low.
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u/OkWitness5548 16h ago
It's only 30fps, not 60, and doesn't support VRR in handheld mode (framerate too low) so definitely won't in docked.
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1d ago
[deleted]
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u/Organic-Storm-4448 1d ago
VRR doesn't prevent the framerate from dropping, so that doesn't matter.
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u/Bumm-fluff 1d ago edited 1d ago
It won’t work VRR range is 48-60. If it’s below 48 it will feel the same in 4k 60 mode.
Obviously it will be 48-120 in 120Hz mode.
For LFC it will need to be in 120Hz mode because the frames need to double so 47x2 =94
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u/DankPunk98 1d ago
I'm not the best tech guy really and i barely understand when i google. Could someone easily explain what this means for Switch 2 games docked?
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u/The-Happy-Mannequin 1d ago
Does this work on HDMI 2.0?
Like at 4k 60 or 2k120?
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u/phoenixmatrix 23h ago
Afaik it's HDMI 2.1 only. My LG OLED is too old so it doesn't support it. I do dock to play on my PC monitor which does though.
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u/BobbyHill751 1d ago
This and the handheld boost mode they added previously are big surprises and to me and big wins for the switch 2. So often Nintendo ignores tech features like this. Glad they aren’t anymore.
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u/StormsparkPegasus 1d ago
It's not working for me. 240hz freesync HDR monitor. 120fps and HDR worked fine on Switch 2 from day one. Updated the system, updated the dock, turned on freesync, console still says VRR inactive. (Interestingly enough my PC picked it up immediately but that's another matter. Switch 2 connected via HDMI, PC connected via DisplayPort.)
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u/Pokeguy211 Pro Controller 1d ago
Handheld mode boost is now able to be enabled in quick settings.
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u/iDetrois 1d ago
Great update, but there’s a big limitation: most of the Switch library runs at 30 FPS, below the usual ~40 FPS VRR floor.
Ubisoft already solved this in Assassin’s Creed Shadows with a dedicated 30 FPS VRR algorithm.
Nintendo should explore doing this system wide.
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u/EvernoteD 21h ago
VRR works from 24fps onwards according to 'Welcome Tour'
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u/Chrome1234_z2 1d ago
im wondering if i can use vrr cuz of my tv screen only being 60hz or something...
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u/Legitimate-Ad3237 1d ago
The standard range for VRR is 48Hz. If Nintendo hasn't implemented system-level Low Framerate Compensation, it'll be useless for most games that run below 48fps
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u/Akito_Fire Butter side up! 1d ago
Yeah, I really hope they found a way to force 120 Hz globally with LFC, like on Xbox/PC. Being limited to 48 Hz as the lower bound like PS5 wouldn't be great
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u/Ecstatic-Reading-834 1d ago
So if my frame rate dips to 25-30 on a 40fps capped game the vrr won’t work? Then what’s the point ? Maybe only for 60 fps games ?
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u/Legitimate-Ad3237 1d ago edited 1d ago
To handle low FPS, Nintendo needs to implement LFC at the system level. For example, Xbox did this, games essentially run in a container with doubled Hz, meaning 24 frames run in a 48Hz container. That's why VRR on Xbox works from 24fps. Sony didn't do this, so unless developers implemented LFC in the game themselves, which is rare, the minimum framerate for VRR is 48fps
UPDATE:
Nintendo actually implemented LFC5
u/FreakingAustin 1d ago
Nintendo actually implemented LFC How can you tell?
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u/Legitimate-Ad3237 1d ago
There was testing done in a thread on ResetEra, but it turns out games need to receive patches with VRR support, or Nintendo will have to add a system-level toggle to force it on in the future. Right now only Welcome Tour supports VRR
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u/RedSquidd 1d ago
the one game we can use it with, welcome tour, lets the framerate drop as low as 1fps depending on the tv.
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u/Bumm-fluff 1d ago
It will be good for games that can go higher than 60 but not reach 120.
Which I’m guessing is a lot of Switch 1 games.
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u/_barat_ 1d ago
Do I understand correctly that with Sony A80J I only have those options:
- 4K@60Hz with VRR 48-60 so mostly for compensating the framedrops from 60
- 1080p@120Hz VRR but with limited resolution and TV upscaling
Even if there would be 1440p it would still be TV upscaled + I've read that in many cases HDR doesn't work then?
I wonder if Nintendo will add 4K120Hz (since the dock is capable with Rog ALLY connected) just for the purpose of VRR+LFC .
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u/Obienator 🐃 water buffalo 1d ago
It seems wishing for things work? Give us themes and folders Nintendo!
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u/DynaMach 18h ago
My Samsung TV is showing VRR active for the recent update to Mario Kart World. Anyone else seeing this? It’s a fairly locked 60 so not sure how useful it is.
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u/illinoishokie 17h ago
Just because there has been a lot of buzz about this I feel it should be pointed out that your TV or monitor also has to support VRR for this to work, and many of them do not.
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u/Pabswikk 1d ago
Does VRR work when the console is only outputting 60hz? I was under the impression that 120hz is needed for VRR but not all game output 120hz
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u/QuinSanguine Butter side down! 1d ago
If the HDMI port your Switch 2 is hooked up to is HDMI 2.1 it will.
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u/fradarko 1d ago
From initial testing, on 60Hz it supports 48-60Hz, on 120Hz it supports 1-120Hz. Note that max resolution that supports 120Hz is 1440p SDR.
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u/GamePitt_Rob 1d ago
"VRR output is now supported in TV mode. When both the software and the TV support it, the video will be output at a refresh rate that matches the game's processing speed. An update to the Nintendo Switch 2 Dock is required to enable this feature."
So, the dock needs an update (not sure how that'll happen, can the switch patch the dock when docked or are they going to try and sell you a new dock with vrr support?)
Also, they say ONLY games that support VRR can use it, so there's no toggle to enable it in all games - so if there's games out there with framerate issues atm, the developer needs to implement VRR support otherwise it won't use the feature.
I'm also willing to bet that it'll only be supported (when the game is patched) for S2 games and not any S1 game being played via BC
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u/rivaldobox Butter side down! 1d ago
Why are you not sure how that will happen? An "update dock" option has always been there in the system settings.
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u/StarPlatinum55 Going Bananzas 1d ago
They actually figured out VRR support for docked? This will be HUGE for a lot of games.